Universal's Film Empire Achieves Historic 25 Nominations at the 2025 Oscars, While Netflix Tops the Individual List with 16

A24 made a strong impact with 14 nominations, while Searchlight Pictures secured 10, contributing to Disney’s extensive film portfolio reaching a total of 15 nominations.

This year’s Oscar nominations saw widespread recognition across the distributor landscape, from established Hollywood studios and their specialty arms to streaming platforms and bold indie distributors.

Netflix led all individual distributors on Tuesday with 16 nominations, thanks in part to Emilia Pérez, which earned recognition in 13 categories—the most for any film this year, setting a new record for a non-English-language film. It also comes just one nomination shy of the all-time record held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land, each with 14.

Following closely behind on the Academy’s list of top-nominated distributors was powerhouse A24, with 14 nominations, 10 of which were for The Brutalist. The film, which dominated the Golden Globes, will leverage its front-runner status as it continues to expand in theaters, where it has already earned a strong $5.9 million despite being shown in just a few hundred cinemas.

Universal Pictures’ Wicked also earned 10 nominations, marking a significant triumph for a film that’s both an awards contender and a commercial success. For years, many have pointed to the dominance of niche, arthouse films in the Oscars as a reason for declining viewership. In contrast, Wicked has grossed over $800 million globally, making it the highest-grossing film in the race for Best Picture. With Cynthia Erivo, nominated for Best Actress, and Ariana Grande, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, both boasting massive fan followings, the film could help boost the telecast’s ratings.