If awards season was a marathon, the Oscars would be the finish line. Each year, the prestigious ceremony takes place to celebrate the films and creatives that shone brightest on our screens, as voted for by the Academy. In 2025, the Oscars are slated for Monday, March 3 (at 11am, for those watching from Australia), and it's shaping up to be a very tight competition indeed. But for all the projects that, deservedly, got a nod at this year's ceremony, there are several hidden gems that were overlooked.
From Harris Dickinson's beguiling portrayal of a bright-eyed intern in Babygirl, to the cinematic masterpiece that was Luca Guadagnino's Queer, a handful of our favourite films and performances didn't make the cut in 2025. But, just because the Oscars snubbed them, doesn't mean you have to.
Below, take a closer look at the movies we think deserved a nomination but were left off the ballot—and why you shouldn’t miss them.
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl has earned Pamela Anderson some of the most glowing reviews of her illustrious career, but it still didn't receive a nod at the Oscars. But that doesn't mean it's not worth your time. The film — which is now showing in Australian cinemas — tells the story of a veteran Las Vegas showgirl, Shelley, whose career comes to an abrupt end when her show is closed down. Co-starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Kiernan Shipka, and Brenda Song, it's a moving tale of family, identity, and womanhood.
Challengers
No surprises this one made our list. A full year after it premiered in Australia, and the RUSSH team still can't stop talking about Luca Guadagnino's Challengers. From the heart-thumping score, to the titillating tension between leads Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, there's nothing not to love about this feature film. And no, you don't have to be a tennis buff to enjoy.
The Outrun
We were thrilled to see Irish actress Saoirse Ronan back on our screens in The Outrun. Based on the memoir by Amy Liptrot, the film sees Ronan as Amy, who returns to the Orkney Islands after struggling with addiction. With Ronan leading the way, The Outrun explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and redemption, and is a raw and intimate portrayal of recovery. A crime that Ronan was overlooked for Best Actress, if you ask us.
Queer
Another Luca Gaudagnino masterpiece worthy of a place on your watch list. This time, Gaudagnino tackles William S. Burroughs’ notorious Queer, enlisiting Drew Starkey and Daniel Craig to do so. Craig plays a semi-fictionalised version of Burroughs himself, Lee, an expat in post-war Mexico City. But it's not until he sets his sights on Eugene (Starkey) that his vision truly sharpens, and Lee quickly became all-consumingly fixated on his relationship with the younger, charismatic man.
Hard Truths
It's Marianne Jean-Baptiste missing out on a Best Actress role for her work in Hard Truths that really had us scratching our heads. The actress plays Pansy, a mother and wife so deeply entrenched in her depression that she's isolated herself from and lashes out at just about everyone — except, that is, her sister Chantal (Michele Austin). Tensions really reach a boiling point on Mother's Day, when the cause of Pansy's deep frustrations are finally unearthed.
Babygirl
If it were up to us, Harris Dickinson would've swept every awards show this season for his role as Samuel in Halina Reijn's Babygirl. And it's not just his performance that had us captivated. From Nicole Kidman's portrayal of a deeply conflicted CEO, to the dog that eats from Samuel's hand on the street outside their offices, there's really nothing we can fault about this film.
