Welcome to Variety Awards HQ! Your weekly command center for the Oscars race.
It’s Dec. 8, 2025, and we’re deep in the thick of it. The past seven days have been a whirlwind of major awards season benchmarks, and if anyone thought this year’s race would follow a predictable script, they were proven wrong.
The Golden Globe nominations dropped Monday, marking a notably international and genre-diverse field, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” leading all films with nine nominations. Other top contenders included “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners,” “Marty Supreme” and “The Secret Agent,” while films like “Jay Kelly” and “Wicked: For Good” fell short in best picture (comedy), despite multiple nods.
Just days prior, the Critics Choice Awards nominations added fuel to the fire, helping clarify which films are gaining real momentum. “Bugonia” snagged a surprise best picture nom, in addition to its star Emma Stone. At the same time, there were strong showings with acting nominations for Jacob Elordi (“Frankenstein”) and Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”) signaled real heat behind the performances.
Then came the Los Angeles Film Critics Association on Sunday night, throwing a few calculated curveballs. Ethan Hawke picked up leading performance for “Blue Moon” alongside Rose Byrne’s work in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” which brings her three of the “Big Four” critics awards, with the National Society of Film Critics still to come in January.
This week also brought major events across the circuit, from studio FYC screenings and Q&As to the early guild buzz already beginning to percolate. It’s been a week that sharpened the picture, and in some cases, rewrote it entirely.
As always, each week, we’ll deliver sharp analysis, exclusive interviews with key contenders (both above and below the line), and inside reads on the behind-the-scenes shifts affecting the race.
We’re always looking to spotlight unique angles, rising talent, and sharp on-the-ground reporting. Email me at cdavis@variety.com for submissions and coverage consideration.
Catch up on the week’s top five events below.
Inside the NYC ‘Sinners’ Luncheon: A Starry Celebration In Soho
On Dec. 2, Warner Bros. hosted an intimate luncheon at Manuela in Soho to celebrate Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” one of the season’s most closely watched awards contenders.
The event brought together an eclectic and powerful mix of filmmakers, actors, producers, and tastemakers for a day of conversation, connection and celebration of the film’s rising momentum.
Hosted just days before Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations were announced, the luncheon functioned as both a quiet flex and a strategic push, reminding voters and influencers alike of the film’s cultural impact and deep creative bench.
Among the attendees were writer and director Ryan Coogler, star Michael B. Jordan, and co-star Delroy Lindo. Also present at the event were: Gayle King, Laverne Cox, Phylicia Rashad, Shaka King, Julie Dash, Elegance Bratton, and Barbara Broccoli.
Other notable guests included Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, Todd Komarnicki, Stella Meghie, Omar Benson Miller, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and comedian Hannibal Buress.
The room also included several award-winning filmmakers and Academy members such as Dee Rees, J.C. Chandor, and Lisa Cortés, as well as casting director Francine Maisler and composer Jon Batiste.
Reba McEntire Hosts Starry ‘Song Sung Blue’ Event at DGA
Hugh Jackman, Reba McEntire, Kate Hudson and Craig Brewer seen at a special screening of ‘Song Sung Blue’
Focus Features via Getty Images
On Dec. 7, Focus Features teamed up with country music icon Reba McEntire to host a special screening of “Song Sung Blue” at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.
The event was part of the ongoing awards push for Craig Brewer’s musical drama, which has been building strong word of mouth the past few weeks.
The evening drew a packed house of Academy members, DGA voters, and industry insiders, with representation from major agencies including WME. Following the screening, McEntire introduced a lively and heartfelt Q&A featuring director/writer/producer Craig Brewer alongside stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
“Song Sung Blue” has been quietly emerging as one of the season’s sleeper contenders, particularly for Hudson, whose performance has been singled out in recent screenings, and just garnered a Golden Globe nom for best actress (comedy).
Charlize Theron Joins Baz Luhrmann for ‘Wicked: For Good’ Celebration in L.A.
Miranda McDonald
On Dec. 2, Baz Luhrmann hosted a special celebration for Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good,” featuring a live performance and reception in Los Angeles. The event, part of the studio’s ongoing awards season campaign, highlighted the film’s original music and showcased its ensemble cast. Among the notable attendees was Charlize Theron, adding star power to the evening. The celebration drew industry voters, guild members, and creatives for a night honoring the musical’s achievements. As “Wicked: For Good” builds momentum this season, the Luhrmann-led event served as a stylish reminder of the film’s artistic and cultural impact.
Documentary Oscar Hopeful ‘Predators’ Gains Awards Momentum
After premiering at Sundance 2025 to widespread acclaim, “Predators” has steadily emerged as one of the year’s top documentary contenders. Directed by David Osit and distributed by MTV Documentary Films, whose recent Oscar track record includes “Ascension,” “The Eternal Memory,” and “Black Box Diaries,” the film has built momentum through the fall season.
Currently boasting a 98% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Predators” has resonated with critics and audiences alike across its theatrical run in over 35 markets.
With support building from both critics and the documentary branch, “Predators” is positioning itself as a dark horse contender in a competitive nonfiction field this awards season.
‘Sentimental Value’ Ramps Up Awards Season Presence With Tastemaker Events in L.A. and NYC
Stephanie Augello
Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” continued to solidify its status as a major awards season contender with a series of high-profile screenings and Q&As this past week, drawing enthusiastic support from voters according to sources and attendees.
On Dec. 1, the Directors Guild of America hosted a packed screening followed by a thoughtful conversation between Trier and editor Olivier Bugge Coutté, moderated by Judd Apatow.
The campaign continued in New York on Dec. 3, where the “Sentimental Value” team held a tastemaker screening at iPic Fulton for Academy members. Trier was joined by stars Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve and Elle Fanning. Academy Award winner Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”) introduced the screening, adding an extra layer of prestige and support.
