The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has struck a chord with the Academy, earning eight nominations for the 2025 Oscars, including a coveted spot in the Best Picture category. Here’s a closer look at where it stands in the competition.
Competing among a strong field of ten films, A Complete Unknown finds itself in the running for Best Picture. Its rivals include Anora, The Brutalist, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.
Timothée Chalamet’s transformative portrayal of Bob Dylan earned him a nod for Best Actor in a Leading Role. His competition includes Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).
In the supporting categories, Monica Barbaro’s performance as Joan Baez secured her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, where she faces Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), and Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez). Meanwhile, Edward Norton is recognized for his turn as Pete Seeger, earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination alongside Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Yura Borisov (Anora), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice).
James Mangold’s direction of the biopic has been acknowledged with a Best Director nomination. He competes with Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Perez), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance). Additionally, Mangold shares a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay with co-writer Jay Cocks, alongside scripts for Conclave, Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, and Sing Sing.
The film’s immersive soundscape, created by Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco, earned a nod in the Best Sound category. It faces competition from Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Wicked, and The Wild Robot. Costume designer Arianne Phillips is also in contention for her work on A Complete Unknown, up against teams from Conclave, Gladiator II, Nosferatu, and Wicked.
Though celebrated by the Academy, A Complete Unknown faced disappointment at the Golden Globes, walking away empty-handed. Chalamet lost to Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) for Best Actor - Drama, while Norton was bested by Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) for Best Supporting Actor - Drama. Additionally, The Brutalist edged out A Complete Unknown for Best Picture - Drama.
Released on Christmas Day, A Complete Unknown has already grossed over $62 million at the box office, though details about its streaming or home video debut remain under wraps. Meanwhile, Chalamet, fresh from his Oscar nomination, is set to pull double duty as host and musical guest on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live. He’s expected to perform Dylan classics, adding another layer to his already praised portrayal of the legendary musician.
With its deep dive into Dylan’s life and career, A Complete Unknown seems poised to leave its mark not just on this awards season, but on the enduring legacy of one of music’s greatest icons.
