The 2025 Oscars voting has wrapped up, and the emotions behind the ballots tell a wild story. Anonymous voter opinions, as reported by Variety, reveal a race filled with surprises, daring picks, and some major snubs. With Sean Baker’s Anora dominating the pack, it seems like a strong contender. But will the Academy stick to its recent love for bold, character-driven films? Or could a prestige epic like The Brutalist shake things up? And what about Conclave, which made waves at BAFTA?  

Oscar history shows that anything can happen, and if these ballots are any indication, the Oscars might be heading for a few upsets. So, which films and performances have voters split? Here is a breakdown of the most telling revelations from the anonymous ballots revealing the possible takeaways in this year's wild race.

With the 97th Academy Awards just around the corner, the Best Supporting Actor and Actress races are heating up. Kieran Culkin has been sweeping awards left and right for A Real Pain, riding a wave of momentum that feels a lot like Robert Downey Jr.’s winning spree last year. But is there a twist coming? The former Succession co-star Jeremy Strong has been gaining traction for The Apprentice, making things a little more interesting now by opening up the doors for a possible surprise. 

The Best Supporting Actress category, on the other hand, is quite the rollercoaster. Zoe Saldaña, despite the Emilia Pérez controversy, has been at the forefront of the awards season, but other contenders like Ariana Grande for Wicked and Monica Barbaro for A Complete Unknown are picking up steam. Veteran actress Isabella Rossellini, nominated for Conclave, brings more mystery to the mix. With such a diverse lineup, the winner is anyone's guess, promising an exciting reveal on Oscar night.

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Winning an Oscar is like getting into an exclusive club—some actors wait decades for an invite, while others slip past the velvet rope early. Timothée Chalamet, at 29, could join the latter if he pulls off a win for A Complete Unknown. Some Academy voters, however, murmur, not yet, just like they did with Leonardo DiCaprio before finally handing him a trophy at 41. 

Adrien Brody, who famously became the youngest Best Actor winner at 29 for The Pianist, now stands in Chalamet’s way. And the catch—Brody has dominated awards season so far, much like Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind, who won everything except the Oscar. Could Chalamet be the spoiler in Brody's way? 

He has got the talent, the buzz, and a killer performance as Bob Dylan. But history is not really on his side. Only six actors have won Best Actor on the strength of just a SAG win. Will Chalamet be lucky number seven, or will the Academy keep him waiting like they did for so many others?

The Best Actress category has turned into the ultimate Hollywood thriller, filled with surprise twists. Mikey Madison pulled off a shocker at the BAFTAs, taking home the award for Anora even when the film itself lost big. Some say it is giving Brie Larson in Room—a pure, raw performance that Academy voters love to reward. Meanwhile, Demi Moore was supposed to be the clear frontrunner for her jaw-dropping transformation in The Substance, but now? The genre bias and mixed reactions to the film could sink her chances.

"I despise," one voter bluntly admitted to disliking the movie, while others argue that Moore deserves her moment regardless. Then there is Cynthia Erivo, sliding up steadily with Wicked. If SAG backs her, she could swoop in and even snatch the prize. And do not sleep on Fernanda Torres—one voter claimed they were not even considering her until last week, but now? They are voting for her!   

She has the classic Oscar narrative- an activist fighting an oppressive regime. But with only a Golden Globe under her belt, history is not really on her side. And finally, there is Karla Sofía Gascón and the controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez. Will the scandal impact the votes? The real question here is if this race will have a clear winner, or is it heading for one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history?

The Oscars always bring surprises, but this year’s screenplay races are keeping everyone on edge. Sean Baker's Anora, a $6 million indie film about a Brooklyn stripper, has defied expectations, winning the Producers Guild of America award and has emerged as a dark horse candidate. However, history has shown that the Best Picture nominee often clinches this award, leaving room for surprises. Meanwhile, Conclave seems like a sure bet in Adapted Screenplay. Yet, the possibility of an upset looms with Nickel Boys gaining industry-wide respect.

And then there is Dune: Part Two. The lack of nominations for Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic has some voters downright furious. Many argue that if Dune: Part One could score big nominations, its more ambitious sequel should have been an even bigger contender with one voter comment saying they "hate sci-fi" echoing through the real frustration, and for many, the snub remains the biggest shock of the season.

The Best Director race at this year’s Academy Awards is shaping up to be an all-out battle between two directors with distinctly different styles- Sean Baker, the indie maverick behind Anora, and Brady Corbet, the ambitious storyteller behind The Brutalist. Baker’s win at the Directors Guild of America Awards has given him a major edge, but Corbet’s recent BAFTA win keeps the competition fierce. 

The last time a BAFTA-winning director lost the Oscar? Sam Mendes in 2019. Could history repeat itself? Corbet, who poured everything into The Brutalist, revealed that despite its critical success and global earnings of millions, he has not made a single penny from the film. “I just directed three ads in Portugal,” he quipped on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast. Meanwhile, anonymous Oscar ballots reveal voters torn between the two. One voter sang Corbet’s craftsmanship praises, calling him the clear winner, while another backed The Brutalist for Best Picture but hesitated in the director category.  

 So, will the Academy love Baker’s daring storytelling, or will Corbet’s epic, meticulous vision take center stage? With emotions running high and ballots revealing unexpected choices, this year’s Oscars are looking to be anything but predictable. Frustration over snubs and surprising picks only adds to the drama, making this one of the most exciting races in years.  

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Now, the big question remains—will the Academy follow the expected path, or are you in for a major upset? What do you think? Leave your guesses in the comments below!