Ariana Grande's Oscars 2025 Hopes For Wicked May Have Just Been Completely Dashed

Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda in Wicked has impressed a lot of audiences and critics throughout its ongoing theatrical release, but her Oscar-winning chances have diminished a bit. Grande stars alongside Cynthia Erivo as the lead cast members of Wicked, and their chemistry in Glinda and Elphaba’s growing friendship is a joy to watch. While in the past few years, musical adaptations have struggled to become popular with audiences, Wicked has far outpaced anyone’s predictions for its success. In fact, Wicked even won the Golden Globe for Box Office Achievement, pointing to its massive popularity.

Because Ariana Grande’s performance was the surprise standout and has garnered awards attention, especially following the box-office success of Wicked, it is no surprise that she was nominated for Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes. However, as always, the competition was very tough, and the win ultimately went to Zoe Saldaña for her work in Emilia Pérez. While the Oscars nominees and winners are far from set in stone yet, Ariana Grande’s loss at the Golden Globes certainly means that her Oscars hopes for Wicked are looking a lot less likely now.

The Golden Globes Were A Huge Chance For Ariana Grande To Win For Wicked

The Ceremony Would Have Been The Perfect Chance To Become The Oscars Front-Runner

As the first major awards ceremony of the 2025 awards season, the Golden Globes were the perfect chance for Ariana Grande to get a Best Supporting Actress win and continue building support for her Oscars campaign. The Golden Globes, while often a good indicator of whom to watch for at the Oscars, are still slightly different in their approach to the other major awards because of their willingness to branch out more. Generally, the Golden Globes are more likely to nominate films that have a lot of buzz and celebrity backing, as well as those that have found box office success.

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Given the Golden Globes’ more buzz-centered approach, it should have been one of the best chances for Ariana Grande to take home an award for her performance as Glinda. Especially considering the press tour that Grande has had and her and Erivo’s social media popularity, her Wicked performance seems like something that the Golden Globes should have loved. While the Golden Globes are not always a predictor for the Oscars, their frequent overlap, unfortunately, does not bode well for Grande.

Does Ariana Grande Still Have A Shot At Winning The Best Supporting Actress Oscar?

The Competition Is Not Over Yet

Ariana Grande as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba looking in the mirror during the Popular sequence in Wicked

While Ariana Grande not winning Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes is undoubtedly disappointing for fans of her Wicked performance, the Oscars competition is not over yet. It is still early in the race, so there is still time for Grande to gain momentum ahead of the 97th Academy Awards ceremony in March. Additionally, Grande has already been recognized with numerous awards from smaller competitions and critics societies, meaning that her performance is by no means being overlooked.

Since there is still time before the Oscars, and Wicked remains so popular, it is possible that Grande could eventually go on to win, but, for now, it seems like Saldaña has taken a decisive lead in the Oscars race.

Ariana Grande’s recognition thus far indicates that she will likely earn at least a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. It would be a huge snub to her performance if she was not recognized at all, especially considering that, prior to the Golden Globes, Grande was high in the running next to Zoe Saldaña in the 2025 Oscars predictions. Since there is still time before the Oscars, and Wicked remains so popular, it is possible that Grande could eventually go on to win, but, for now, it seems like Saldaña has taken a decisive lead in the Oscars race.

Wicked Could Miss Out On All The Major Oscars

Though It Should Still Receive Several Nominations

Again, there is still time for awards predictions to change leading up to the Oscars, but based on the Golden Globes, Wicked does not look likely to win any of the major awards. Currently, it seems likely that Wicked will earn nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, with a Best Director nomination seeming much more tenuous. However, since Cynthia Erivo lost the Best Actress category with Demi Moore’s surprise Golden Globes win, her winning the Oscar for Best Actress seems less likely.

Currently, Wicked is predicted to gain Oscars nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design.

Despite Erivo’s loss, much like Ariana Grande for Best Supporting Actress, her nomination seems all but guaranteed, and they both still have a shot at winning. Additionally, Wicked remains a contender for a Best Picture nomination, but it faces very stiff competition from films like The Brutalist, Anora, and Emilia Pérez, which currently lead the race. With such great films in the competition, the 2025 Oscars will certainly be an interesting watch, and regardless of how Wicked and Ariana Grande fare at the awards ceremony, the movie will be remembered as one of the best of 2024.