Oscar Nominations 2025: Emilia Pérez Gets 13 Nods Despite GLAAD Calling It Bad Transgender Representation

The Oscars have a long history of nominating films that spark controversy, and this year is no different. Last year, Bradley Cooper’s Maestro caused a lot of talk, and now, it’s the musical Emilia Pérez that’s taken the spotlight for the 2025 nominations. Surprisingly, it’s leading the pack with 13 nominations—the highest of the year—which has left many shocked, especially considering the film’s polarizing nature.

Emilia Pérez has secured nominations in some major categories, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Cinematography, and Best Picture. The film’s lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, has been nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of the title character. Zoe Saldaña, who plays Rita Mora Castro, earned a nomination for Actress in a Supporting Role as well. The film also received nods for Best Original Song, International Feature Film, Sound, and Editing, making it one of the most recognized films this year.

This is a huge surprise, especially since other big blockbusters like Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, didn’t get as much attention from the Academy. In fact, Emilia Pérez is being called the “villain” of this year’s awards season, a term used by critic Bobby Finger to describe a film he sees as his “cinematic kryptonite”—something that, for him, represents everything wrong with the industry.

Online reactions have been mixed. One user on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that while everyone was focused on criticizing Wicked, Emilia Pérez turned out to be the real villain all along.

The film has drawn heavy criticism from some quarters, particularly the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD. They criticized the way the film used the protagonist’s transgender identity as a plot device for redemption, calling it “profoundly retrograde” and a setback for transgender representation in film. Harron Walker, a writer for The Cut, also expressed concerns, arguing that the film’s portrayal of Emilia Pérez seemed to lack an “informed understanding” of gender transition, with the character being depicted as a woman still grappling with the man inside her.

So, is Emilia Pérez receiving so much attention because of its star-studded cast and controversial themes, or is there something deeper at play with its storytelling? Will this tradition of controversial films getting Oscar recognition continue in future years? Time will tell, and we’ll be watching closely for more updates.

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