Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest project is making serious waves in awards season.
His politically charged thriller One Battle After Another has dominated the 2025 Bafta Film Awards nominations, earning an impressive 14 nods across multiple categories.
The film leads a competitive pack that includes vampire-horror Sinners with 13 nominations, while Shakespeare drama Hamnet and table-tennis biopic Marty Supreme each secured 11 nominations.
What makes this year’s Bafta nominations particularly intriguing is how they diverge from the Oscar nominations—offering recognition to several notable actors who were surprisingly snubbed by the Academy.
DiCaprio’s Thriller Dominates Without Breaking Records
While One Battle After Another leads the pack with 14 nominations, it falls short of Bafta’s all-time record of 16 nominations, which was set by 1982’s Gandhi.
Still, the politically charged thriller’s strong showing demonstrates its resonance with Bafta’s 8,300 film voters. The film’s nominations span technical categories as well as major awards, signaling broad appreciation for its craft and storytelling.
Sinners, the vampire-horror film trailing closely behind with 13 nominations, represents a genre often overlooked in major awards conversations. Its recognition suggests Bafta voters are embracing diverse storytelling approaches beyond traditional prestige fare.
Oscar Frontrunners Maintain Momentum
Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley, both considered frontrunners in their respective Oscar categories, repeated their nominations at the Baftas.
Their dual recognition reinforces their status as this season’s leading performers. The parallel nominations create momentum heading toward both ceremonies, with the Baftas taking place on Sunday, February 22nd at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Actor and TV presenter Alan Cumming will host the prestigious ceremony, adding his characteristic wit and theatrical flair to proceedings.
Where Bafta and Oscar Nominations Diverge
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this year’s Bafta nominations is where they differ from the Oscars—and why.
Chase Infiniti and Paul Mescal both received Bafta recognition despite being notably absent from Oscar nominations. This divergence can be partially explained by Bafta’s expanded category structure, which includes six nomination slots in many categories compared to the Oscars’ five.
Four Oscar-nominated actors missed out entirely at the Baftas:
- Amy Madigan for Weapons
- Delroy Lindo for Sinners
- Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent
- Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value
Moura and Fanning didn’t even make Bafta’s initial longlist, highlighting significant differences in voting preferences between the two organizations.
Conversely, Jesse Plemons earned a Bafta nomination for Bugonia after missing out at the Oscars. Odessa A’Zion also received recognition for Marty Supreme despite Oscar voters overlooking her performance.
British Talent Gets Special Recognition
Bafta’s unique categories celebrating UK talent—outstanding British film and outstanding debut by British writer, director or producer—create additional opportunities for homegrown filmmakers.
British films I Swear, Pillion, H is for Hawk, and The Ballad of Wallis Island all received recognition across various shortlists.
It is thrilling to see British indie films and debuts in the company of blockbusters that have taken the world by storm.
That’s according to Bafta chair Sara Putt, who emphasized the democratic nature of this year’s selections.
We hope the public enjoy watching these films as much as our 8,300 BAFTA film voters have.
British actors also secured more nominations in acting categories compared to the Oscars. Robert Aramayo and Peter Mullan both earned recognition for I Swear, while Carey Mulligan received a nod for The Ballad of Wallis Island and Emily Watson for Hamnet.
Wunmi Mosaku repeated her Oscar nomination for Sinners, demonstrating consistent recognition across both awards bodies.
Unexpected Winners and Notable Surprises
Wicked: For Good might have been completely shut out at the Oscars, but Bafta voters recognized the film with two nominations for costume design and makeup and hair.
This acknowledgment of technical craft demonstrates Bafta’s willingness to celebrate excellence even in films overlooked for major categories.
Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent received two Bafta nominations—half the number it secured at the Oscars, where it made appearances in major categories including best actor and best picture. This reversal highlights how different voting bodies prioritize different aspects of filmmaking.
Frankenstein, a fresh interpretation of Mary Shelley’s classic tale about mad science and creation, earned multiple nominations. The film’s recognition suggests appetite for reimagined classics when executed with vision and craft.
Directors Category Shows Slight Variation
The director category features the same five nominees as the Oscars, maintaining consistency in recognizing filmmaking excellence.
However, Bafta’s additional sixth slot allowed Yorgos Lanthimos to squeeze in for his conspiracy theory drama Bugonia. The Greek director’s inclusion adds another distinctive voice to an already accomplished lineup.
Lanthimos has built a reputation for unconventional narratives and visual style, making his Bafta recognition particularly meaningful for fans of boundary-pushing cinema.
What These Nominations Mean for Awards Season
The Bafta nominations serve as a crucial bellwether for the Oscars, taking place just weeks before the Academy Awards ceremony.
Films that perform well at Bafta often gain momentum heading into Hollywood’s biggest night. However, the significant differences in this year’s nominations suggest less predictability than usual.
The expanded recognition of British talent, genre films like Sinners, and technical achievements in films overlooked elsewhere demonstrates Bafta’s increasingly independent voice in global film culture. Rather than simply echoing Oscar preferences, Bafta voters are asserting distinct values and priorities.
For casual viewers, these nominations offer a roadmap to some of 2024’s most accomplished filmmaking across diverse genres and approaches. From DiCaprio’s politically charged thriller to vampire horror to Shakespearean drama, this year’s slate celebrates storytelling in all its forms.