The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has revealed its 2025 awards nominations, highlighting an intriguing mix of favorites, surprises, and fresh opportunities created by ineligible contenders.
In the Original Screenplay category, Sean Baker’s Anora has emerged as a top contender, widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Oscars. Joining it is Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, a personal and semi-autobiographical drama that has earned critical acclaim throughout the season.
Justin Kuritzkes’ Challengers, a romantic sports drama starring Zendaya, also made the cut. This nomination could revive the film’s awards season momentum after its absence from the BAFTAs. Adding diversity to the list are Alex Garland’s intense post-apocalyptic thriller Civil War and Megan Park’s lighthearted comedy My Old Ass. Park, who gained recognition with her debut film The Fallout, is also nominated for a Directors Guild Award in the first-time director category.
The Adapted Screenplay category features equally strong competitors. James Mangold and Jay Cocks’ Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, leads the pack alongside Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts’ Dune: Part Two, which continues to dominate across various award categories. Other notable nominations include RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes’ adaptation of Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox’s script for the musical blockbuster Wicked.
This year’s nominations reflect the impact of strict eligibility rules, which excluded several high-profile films. Notable absences include Robert Eggers’ gothic horror Nosferatu, Pixar’s Inside Out 2, and The Piano Lesson, adapted by Malcolm Washington and Virgil Williams.
On the television side, the WGA acknowledged fan favorites. In the Drama Series category, nominations went to FX’s Shōgun, Netflix’s The Diplomat, and Prime Video hits like The Boys, Fallout, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Comedy nominees included popular shows like Abbott Elementary, The Bear, and What We Do in the Shadows. Meanwhile, The Penguin (HBO/Max) and Say Nothing (Hulu) received attention in the Limited Series category.
This year’s WGA nominations showcase a wide array of talent, with fresh names and seasoned creators vying for top honors.