20. Two People Exchanging Saliva (Best Live Action Short)

Easily the most inventive of the short film nominees, Two People Exchanging Saliva is more than just a catchy title. The film envisions a world where physical intimacy is strictly forbidden, and the national currency is slapping someone in the face. With such an absurd premise, you’d be surprised to see how emotionally mature the film becomes, but it slowly builds to be an affecting dystopian fable. A kind of bonkers riff on Carol, the film follows a lonely department store clerk and the unspoken romance between her and a married patron. Sometimes the Oscar-nominated shorts work simply as auditions to be made into feature films, and while I wouldn’t brisk at seeing an expansion on this material, Two People Exchanging Saliva works perfectly fine as it already exists.

19. The Alabama Solution (Best Documentary Feature)

America’s prison system is fundamentally broken, and The Alabama Solution is a comprehensive look at just how broken it’s become. Filmed almost completely in secret using smuggled cell phones within an Alabama prison, Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman’s film looks at how even the most basic necessities and denied or withheld from prisoners. Whether it’s a lack of funding or simple human cruelty, the film should change the way we view prisoners and the way we approach policy aimed at rehabilitation. Unfortunately, because of our simplistic way of treating our most vulnerable citizens, The Alabama Solution will likely go unnoticed by those who need to see it most.

18. Retirement Plan (Best Animated Short)

I’m not yet at an age where I need to start seriously considering retirement, but Retirement Plan speaks to people of all ages, so long as they have plans which may or may not ever come to fruition. The film uses humor to depict one man’s laundry list of ways he’ll improve his life in big and small ways once he reaches the age where he’ll stop working. Any movie that invites self-reflection gains a few points in my book, and it’s hard not to do so with Retirement Plan; where the protagonist fails, of course I’ll succeed instead. The animated short category tends to either be overly serious or geared towards children. Here is a film that feels like a healthy mix of the two.

17. The Voice of Hind Rajab (Best International Feature)

The most important film of 2025, The Voice of Hind Rajab, takes a creative approach to its storytelling. Director Kaother Ben Hania has excelled at blurring the line between fiction and non-fiction, and her latest utilizes the real audio from its titular subject, but professional actors to react. The film centers around a child trapped within a car caught in a firefight, and the rescue workers tasked with coordinating a way out. The result is a heartbreaking confrontation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and the cruel methods, inhumane used by the IDF to kill ordinary citizens – including children – and the lengths they’ll go to obstruct any aid from reaching them. Righteously angry and necessarily real, The Voice of Hind Rajab will burrow under its viewers skin and show the uphill battle faced by those who are simply trying to do the right thing.

16. Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (Best Animated Feature)

Little Amelie or the Character of Rain is a film that will appeal to children – because it’s told from a child’s perspective – but contains enough wisdom for adults to appreciate. Based on the “autobiography” by Amelie Nothomb, the film follows a young girl of 3 who is torn between worlds in more ways than one. Much of the film concerns Amelie’s dual heritage, as her parents are Belgian but live in post-war Japan, and the clash of cultures found within her parents, her siblings, and her caretakers. But also at play is the Japanese belief that, until a child reaches the age of 3, they’re considered to be descended from gods. Through wonderfully vibrant animation and a genuine sense of fun, the film harkens to Miyazaki, specifically, My Neighbor Totoro, and the sense of care taken towards telling a story through a child’s eyes. And any film that rightly earns a comparison to Miyazaki is deserving of praise in my book.

15. F1 (Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Film Editing)

For better or worse, F1 does what worked so well for director Joseph Kosinski’s last Best Picture nominee. That is, visceral thrills , dynamic camerawork, and exciting action set pieces. Sure, the story is more basic this time around, as Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes comes back from the wasteland of professional racing for one last shot at glory. But the racing sequences – filmed during the real F1 season across the world – mostly make up for any deficiencies within the plot or characters. There are some who loathe the film because of its sports story cliches and thin characterizations, and I can’t entirely fault them for it, but I found F1 to be an exciting thrill ride that scratches a certain itch in a way that so few films did in 2025.

14. The Perfect Neighbor (Best Documentary Feature)

The most formally ambitious of the Documentary Feature nominees, The Perfect Neighbor serves as a perfect microcosm for race relations in modern America. Filmed almost entirely using body camera and security camera footage, the film follows the trajectory of a troubled White woman and the multiple complaints she makes to the police regarding her mostly non-White neighbors and their kids. At times, the film feels like a kind of slow-motion car crash, as we can sense the tragedy coming right from the opening moments. Of course, when the tragedy does inevitably strike, it doesn’t make the aftermath any easier to stomach, but it’s a fascinating look at a number of prevalent American topics – from mental health to gun rights to criminal justice – and a vital document which shouldn’t be missed.

13. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (Best Actress)

Parenthood, and specifically motherhood, is the worst. Director and screenwriter Mary Bronstein’s mission statement with If I Had Legs I’d Kick You was to shine a spotlight on the trials and tribulations of motherhood, and thanks to Rose Byrne’s Oscar-nominated performance, it’s rendered in frightening detail that you can’t look away from. With a touch of the supernatural thrown in for good measure, the film follows a mom who simply can’t catch a break, whether it’s through her work as a therapist, her relationship with her daughter, navigating the endless repairs to their home, or any number of endless issues. Whether the story feels familiar or not, the reason to see If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is the fearless performance from Byrne, who fully embodies the frustrations of someone whose troubles never feel confined to the events of the film.

12. Come See Me in the Good Light (Best Documentary Feature)

I was entirely unfamiliar with poet Andrea Gibson before watching Come See Me in the Good Light, but I left with a deep appreciation for their art and a life lived fearlessly. The documentary charts Gibson’s battle with cancer, their relationship with fellow poet Megan Falley, and struggles to return to live events during treatment. For anyone who’s dealt firsthand or secondhand with a cancer diagnosis, the film hits the highs and lows of the journey. And yet, Gibson and Falley choose to spread joy to each other through it all, speaking honestly and openly about their hopes, fears, and frustrations.

11. Avatar: Fire and Ash (Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design)

If you’re going to see Avatar: Fire and Ash, you’ve likely already made up your mind on how you feel about the franchise, and James Cameron doesn’t do much to change your mind. Sure, the third entry at times feels warmed-over from The Way of Water, but where else are you going to find cinematic thrills and spectacle on such a grand scale? The film continues the adventures of the Sully clan, and introduces a new subculture of Na’vi, who have turned their backs on the traditions and religious beliefs which have defined everyone we’ve met in the previous two films. At a time when Disney is using post-production 3D to wring a few extra bucks out of moviegoers, Cameron continues to make the gimmick feel impactful and inspiring, and the result is appointment viewing on the biggest screen possible.