Oscar 2025 Nominations: Elton John, Pharrell Williams, and Trent Reznor Contend for Best Original Song

The shortlists for the 2025 Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score have been revealed – see the complete lists below.

• READ MORE: 'Kneecap' Review: Punchy, bold and one of the best music biopics ever made

Oscar Shortlists Announced

Last night (December 17) the Academy unveiled the shortlists for several categories for the 2025 awards ceremony. Among the revealed categories are “Best Original Song” and “Best Original Score.”

The shortlist for the Best Original Song award features songs composed specifically for the films they represent. This list includes several prominent names from the music industry, such as Elton John, Pharrell Williams, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross, Kneecap, and others.

Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s “Never Too Late” is highlighted in the list Elton John: It’s Never Too Late, while Kneecap’s “Sick In The Head” is noted in their biopic of the same name. Other notable mentions include “Piece By Piece” by Pharrell Williams from the Lego movie of the same name, and “Compress/Repress” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross from Contenders. Additionally, “Mi Camino” by Selena Gomez from Emilia Perez and “Forbidden Road” by Robbie Williams from Best Man were also shortlisted – see the complete list below.

Best Original Song Shortlist

The shortlist for Best Original Song included:

Aaron Pierre and Tiffany Boone – “Tell Me It’s You” (Mufasa: The Lion King)
Adrian Quesada and Abraham Alexander – “Like a Bird” (Sing Sing)
Auli'i Cravalho featuring Rachel House – “Beyond” (Moana 2)
Camilla, Zoe Saldaña and Carla Sofia Gascon – “El Mal” (Emilia Perez)
Elton John and Brandi Carlile – “Never Too Late” (Elton John: It’s Never Too Late)
Kneecap – “Sick in the Head” (Patella)
Kristen Wiig – Harper and Will Go West (Will and Harper)
Laney Wilson – “From Oklahoma” (Twisters)
Maren Morris – “Kiss the Sky” (Wild Robot)
Pharrell Williams and the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers of Princess Anne High School – “Piece by Piece” (In Parts)
Robbie Williams – “Forbidden Road” (Best Man)
Saoirse Ronan and Nicholas Britell – “Winter Coat” (Blitz)
Selena Gomez – “My Way” (Emilia Perez)
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – “Compress/Repress” (Contenders)

The shortlist for Best Original Score Award included:

Aaron Zigman – Six Triple Eights
Amelia Warner – Young Woman and the Sea
Andrea Datzman – Inside Out 2
Alberto Iglesias – Room Next Door
Benjamin Wallfisch – Alien: Romulus
Bryce Dessner – Sing Sing
Chanda Dancy – Blink Twice
Clément Ducole and Camille – Emilia Perez
Cristobal Tapia de Veer – Baby
Daniel Bloomberg – Brutalist
Danny Elfman – Beetlejuice
Hans Zimmer – Blitz
Harry Gregson-Williams – Gladiator II
John Cardon Debney – Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1
Chris Bowers – Wild Robot
Robin Carolan – Nosferatu
Tamar-kali – Fire Inside
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Contenders
Volker Bertelmann – Conclave
John Powell and Stephen Schwartz – Wicked

The acclaimed biopic Patella has also been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film.

NME interviewed Kneecap at the Reading and Leeds Festival in August to discuss what a potential Oscar nomination would mean for them. During the interview, they were aware they would be considered for IFTA nominations but were hopeful to secure a shortlist spot.

They expressed: “We only made this film because we believed it was a great story, representing our Irish language narrative in Belfast. The fact that it resonates with people of different cultures and indigenous languages is a bonus for us… especially when considering that an indigenous language disappears every 40 days. The loss of these languages affects our future opportunities.”

NME described Patella as “possibly one of the best musical biopics of all time” in their five-star review, naming it the best film of 2024.

“Unforgivably assertive and bold, Patella should not be as remarkable as it is – it’s not only one of the standout films of 2024, but arguably one of the best music biopics ever made,” wrote NME Andrew Trendell. “After careful reflection, here is your full analysis: Wow, what a movie.”

Earlier this month, The Block secured seven wins at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including a joint award for its stars.