The Oscar Nominations Are Out—7 of 10 of the Best Picture Nominations Are Adaptations

The 2025 Oscar nominations were just announced this morning after being delayed twice becaue of the Los Angels wildfires. So far, the fires have consumed around 40,000 acress, more than 14,000 buildings, and have resulted in 28 people dead. The Academy has donated $1 million to wildfire relief efforts, and this year’s Oscars ceremony will honor Los Angeles.

As for the ceremony itself, the majority of the movies up for the Best Picture Award are adaptations, but not just of books. One was adapted from an opera (which was adapted from a book), and one was based on an Esquire article from 20 years ago. Unsurprisingly, though, most of the inspiring works don’t come from diverse perspectives.

Continue below to see what inspired 7/10 of this year’s Best Picture nominees.

A Complete Unknown (Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks) was adapted from the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric by Elijah Wald.

Conclave (Screenplay by Peter Straughan) was adapted from 2017’s Conclave by Robert Harris.

Emilia Pérez (Screenplay by Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi) was adapted from an opera of the same name that itself was inspired by the 2018 novel Écoute by Boris Razon.

Nickel Boys (Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes) was adapted from Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name.

Finally, Sing Sing (Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield) was actually based on a 2005 Esquire article by John H. Richardson titled “The Sing Sing Follies (A Maximum Security Comedy).”

To learn more about the nominations, visit The Hollywood Reporter.

Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.