Oscar Spotlight: A Complete Unknown Scores Big With 8 Nominations
The Bob Dylan-inspired biopic A Complete Unknown is riding high in Hollywood, earning a stunning eight Academy Award nominations, including the coveted Best Picture. Directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, the film has officially cemented its place as one of this year’s most talked-about contenders.
Best Picture Showdown
A Complete Unknown is in the running for Best Picture, facing off against a diverse and formidable field that includes Anora, The Brutalist, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked. With a blend of prestige projects and pop-culture powerhouses, this year’s race is tighter than ever.
Chalamet Channels Dylan – and Scores
Timothée Chalamet earned a Best Actor nomination for his layered, nuanced portrayal of Dylan during the folk icon’s early Greenwich Village years. His competitors include:
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Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
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Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
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Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
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Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Chalamet, already a critical darling, could be poised for his first Oscar win.
Standout Supporting Performances
Monica Barbaro received a nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role as folk legend Joan Baez, delivering a performance both fierce and fragile. She’s up against:
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Ariana Grande (Wicked)
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Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
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Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
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Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez)
On the men’s side, Edward Norton is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his take on folk hero Pete Seeger. His competition includes:
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Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
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Yura Borisov (Anora)
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Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
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Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Direction, Writing, and Craft Categories
Director James Mangold is up for Best Director, alongside:
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Sean Baker (Anora)
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Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
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Jacques Audiard (Emilia Perez)
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Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
Mangold also shares a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination with Jay Cocks. They’ll compete against the writing teams for Conclave, Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, and Sing Sing.
In the technical categories:
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The film’s sound team (Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco) competes in the Best Sound category against Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Wicked, and The Wild Robot.
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Costume designer Arianne Phillips earned a nod for Best Costume Design, going up against Conclave, Gladiator II, Nosferatu, and Wicked.
Golden Globes Recap & Box Office Success
While A Complete Unknown didn’t take home any Golden Globes, it’s been a hit with audiences—grossing over $62 million since its Christmas Day release. Streaming and home video release plans are still in the works.
What’s Next for Chalamet?
Fresh off his Oscar nomination, Chalamet is set to host Saturday Night Live this weekend. Rumor has it he might pay tribute to Dylan with a few musical moments of his own.
The Countdown Begins
The 96th Academy Awards will air live Sunday, March 2, at 7 PM ET on ABC. Will A Complete Unknown take home Oscar gold? With 8 nominations and industry buzz at its back, it’s anything but an underdog.