2025 Mid-Season Movie Awards

I recently combed through the 2025 new releases that I've seen so far to come up with the movies and performances that are both some of my favorites and also considered "awards-worthy," as in Oscars and prestige Awards Season. In other words, there may be movies that I like more than these personally, but they would most likely not be in contention for major awards. Let me know in the comments if I got it right, and what your favorites of the year (so far) have been!

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE

*can include Lead or Supporting

Sally Hawkins - Bring Her Back

Florence Pugh - Thunderbolts*

Lea Myren - The Ugly Stepsister - WINNER

Hailee Steinfeld - Sinners

Sophie Thatcher - Companion

Alicia Vikander - The Assessment

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE

*can include Lead or Supporting

Miles Caton - Sinners

Chris Evans - Materialists

Michael B. Jordan - Sinners - WINNER

Tim Key - The Ballad of Wallis Island

Robert Pattinson - Mickey 17

Tim Robinson - Friendship

BEST DIRECTING

Emile Kristine Blichfeldt - The Ugly Stepsister

Ryan Coogler - Sinners - WINNER

Mike Flanagan - The Life of Chuck

Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza - Warfare

Joseph Kasinski - F1: The Movie

Celine Song - Materialists

BEST PICTURE

The Assessment (Magnolia)

Ballad of Wallis Island (Focus)

Black Bag (Amzn/MGM)

F1: The Movie (Apple)

Friendship (A24)

Materialists (A24)

Sinners (WB) - WINNER

Thunderbolts* (Marvel)

The Ugly Stepsister (Shudder)

Warfare (A24)

Watch my full breakdown and commentary on YouTube HERE.