The2025 Oscarsare getting closer, which means that the Best Picture nominees are likely to see some uptake at the box office, but the ranking from the highest to lowest-grossing isn’t likely to change. Now that the2025 Oscar nominationshave been announced, moviegoers who want to expose themselves to some prestige films will naturally go to see contenders that are still in theaters ahead of the event. However, Oscar nominees are still typically not the highest-grossing movies in Hollywood, compared to the biggest action and sci-fi-fantasy blockbusters.
The Oscars' history with the box office is messy, asaudiences have long complained that the Academy refuses to recognize movies that people actually enjoy seeing.There has been some change in recent years, with more of the year’shighest-grossing movies showing up at the Oscars, but there is still a clear divide between the types of movies that make the most money and the ones most likely to win. However, as this line grows blurrier, all of this year’s nominations are enjoying various kinds of critical and commercial success.
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Nickel Boyslands in the2025 Oscars Best Picture tierof “just happy to be nominated,” especially when this may still go a long way in helping it at the box office. Following the announcement of its Best Picture and Best Screenplay nominations,Nickel Boyssaw a modest increase in profits from the previous weekend during the January 24 to 26 weekend (viaboxofficemojo.com). However, with a budget of $23 million,Nickel Boysis still a long way off from breaking even.
Nickel Boyscertainly deserves the same success as the other Best Picture nominees. While it faces some of the common obstacles among these titles to major profits — namely being intended for an older audience — it doesn’t have the same publicity as other contenders. Being based on the winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction also should have helped it, butNickel Boysis still this year’s lowest-grossing Best Picture nominee.
The Brutalistfaces a major hurdle in terms of getting people to come to the theater: It’s three-and-a-half hours long. Even with 15 minutes of that being taken up by an intermission, it’s a big commitment for moviegoers' schedules. However, word could spread as reviewers continue to argue thatthe grandiose nature and old-school presentation ofThe Brutalistdemands to be seen in theaters.
The Brutalisthas also experienced a surge in ticket sales since the Oscar nominations were announced, and with its notably small budget of $10 million, is potentially set up for a modest profit. However, such a movie asThe Brutalistwas made more with artistry and critical acclaim in mind than the box office. A serious contender for Best Picture,The Brutalistis exactly where one would expect it to be with critics and audiences.
Emilia Pérezwas (and is still) primarily watched by U.S. audiences via Netflix, meaning Box Office Mojo has recorded no domestic gross for it. It did remarkably well with an international audience, although this was not particularly surprising given its accoladed debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. Netflix bought the rights to the movie shortly after, and following its strong festival tour and release in several European countries, it debuted on Netflix.
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Emilia Pérez’s box office run would be expected to come to a halt,as most viewers will simply choose to stream it. Some theaters are still showing it ahead of its shocking 13 Oscar nominations, and it is still making money internationally. On the other hand, many are also strongly arguing thatEmilia Pérez’s Oscar nominations make no sense, and negative word of mouth presumably won’t encourage more people to go see the film.
After Fernanda Torres' win for Best Actress in a Drama at the Golden Globes,I’m Still Herebecame the underdog of the 2025 Oscars,achieving a surprise Best Picture nomination.I’m Still Herehas also seen a modest turnout at the box office, but is financially secure when it was made on a budget of only $1.5 million.I’m Still Herehas also now surpassedThe Brutalistwith the highest per-theater average (viaCollider).
The majority ofI’m Still Here’s profits are also from an international audience, as its official release date in the United States is February 7. There would have to be a major upset forI’m Still Hereto gross more than other Best Picture nominees, which are also getting attention and therefore profits, but Torres and the movie’s nominations will almost certainly mean more ticket sales.
Anorais looking to be where being an audience favorite intersects with actually being a possible Best Picture winner.The comedy-drama about a sex worker who has a runaway romance and marriage with the son of a Russian oligarch is still proving to be a hit,with a significant bump up in profits from the Best Picture nominees ranking below it. It lacks some of the biggest stars and marketability of other nominees, but it is doing comparatively well.
Anorawas also made with a budget of $6 million and has therefore long since broken even, and it stands out as director Sean Baker’s highest-grossing film to date.Anorais now available to rent (for less than the price of an average movie ticket), meaning that it is probably more or less cemented as a mid-tier movie in terms of gross among its contemporaries. It is still a huge success for Baker and everyone involved.
It can never be said that Oscar-bait movies with major stars don’t mean box office profits. Director James Mangold is well-known for his work on amazing movies likeFord v FerrariandLogan, and has curated goodwill with both the Academy and general audiences.A Complete Unknown’s star-studded casthas Timothée Chalamet in the monumental role of musical icon Bob Dylan, with no small number of other actors playing famous musicians. Thus,A Complete Unknownhas made almost double whatAnorahas.
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However,A Complete Unknowncost $60 to $70 million to make (viaDeadline), and it is a long way off with marketing costs added. Its digital and streaming releases are uncertain, meaning that the studio could be hoping to raise profits by keeping it in theaters a while longer. However, it saw a drop of 17.8% during the January 24 to 26 weekend and is on shakier footing financially despite technically making more money than other nominees.
Just a little bit higher thanA Complete UnknownisThe Substance, which has absolutely taken off in Hollywood. It has made back its budget with this turnout and is well-discussed as a new movie that is helping overturn the Academy’s noted bias against horrors. Audiences love it for its unique premise and the career-defining performance by icon Demi Moore and only love it more when it is actually getting recognition from major awards bodies.
The Substanceis also back/remaining in some movie theaters as part of the Oscars hype, but is available to rent and stream via the Prime Video MUBI channel. However, it has achieved groundbreaking results that make it one of the Oscars' top earners this year.Moore and rising star Margaret Qualley have cemented themselves in Oscars historyby playing two versions of the same character in this disturbing exploration of beauty standards and self-esteem.
Conclavehas made more internationally than in the U.S. but has also proven to be an audience favorite this year. Based on the novel by bestselling mystery-thriller author Robert Harris, the movie came with a built-in fanbase. It is also notably rated PG, broadening the potential audience somewhat from the largely R-rated nominees, even if young children might not find the story especially interesting.
Overall,Conclaveis a solid movie that was primed to be an Oscar nominee and possibly winner from the beginning,with a riveting plot that keeps viewers engaged throughout. It has a talented, well-known cast, and reviews and word-of-mouth can speak to its strong, but reality-based thriller format. While other titles might be more likely to win Best Picture,Conclavewas there this fall for anyone who wanted something more highbrow but genuinely engaging.
Then, there are the true box office phenomenons of 2024 which luckily got their well-deserved places in the Oscars line-up. Made on huge budgets with the expectation of this kind of profits,movies likeDune: Part Twoare simply on another level and represent a different kind of entertainmentfromConclaveandA Complete Unknown. Timothée Chalamet’s second Best Picture nominee this year,Dune: Part Tworaked in hundreds of millions.
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All of this makes complete sense:Duneis now a huge modern sci-fi franchise, based on famous source material, with an impressive cast. It is the kind of movie designed to break the box office, even though it falls well below thehighest-grossing movies of all time. Beyond that,Dune: Part Twomixes mainstream appeal with its Oscar-worthy story and presentation, following the rise of a religious leader who walks the line between revolutionary and tyrant.
However, the runaway box office success of the year is decidedlyWicked. Anychallenges theWickedmovie had to faceevaporated in light of the brilliant direction and out-of-this-world performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The movie was already primed to make money due to being an adaptation of a beloved Broadway musical, as well as a family-friendly story. However,Wickedsurpassed all critical and commercial expectations.
Wickedhas gradually been seeing a downturn heading into 2025 as it arrived on digital and began to fade at the box office. It will probably remain in theaters for the2025 Oscarsseason simply because it is a huge movie that has been nominated, but a lot of people have likely already seen it. While it is not primed to be a Best Picture winner,Wickedis certainly the most popular nominee of the year, and perhaps the only one that is a true cultural phenomenon.
All Rotten Tomatoes and box office information contained in this list is as of July 17, 2025.
