Nerdtropolis Movie Awards 2025 celebrates the best films across genres.
The Oscars may dominate the global awards conversation, but award season does not officially end until the Nerdtropolis Movie Awards deliver their final verdict.
Each year, the Nerdtropolis Movie Awards celebrate the movies, performances, and filmmakers that defined the cinematic year. From blockbuster spectacles and comic book epics to emotional dramas and genre standouts, the awards highlight the films that captured audiences’ imaginations.
With the Academy Awards winners now announced, the Nerdtropolis Movie Awards 2025 officially close the book on the film year by recognizing the most exciting achievements across the industry.
The Lance Reddick Legacy Luminary Award: Titus Welliver
The Lance Reddick Legacy Luminary Award honors performers we have interviewed whose careers reflect excellence, dedication, and a lasting impact on audiences. This year’s recipient, Titus Welliver, has built a body of work defined by commanding screen presence, consistency, and deep respect for his craft. Across film and television, he continues to deliver performances marked by strength, depth, and authenticity, making him a fitting honoree for an award that celebrates the same passion and professionalism that defined Lance Reddick’s remarkable legacy.
Hidden Gem of the Year
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Director: James Griffiths
Starring: Tim Key, Tom Basden, Carey Mulligan
Synopsis
A quiet island retreat becomes the stage for an emotional reunion when a reclusive lottery winner invites his favorite folk musician to perform a private concert. When the singer arrives with his former bandmate and ex-lover, unresolved history resurfaces and forces everyone to confront the past.
Documentary of the Year
John Candy: I Like Me
Director: Colin Hanks
Synopsis
This heartfelt documentary celebrates the life and career of legendary comedian John Candy. Through archival footage and interviews with family, friends, and collaborators, the film explores Candy’s lasting legacy and the warmth that made him one of the most beloved performers in Hollywood history.
Family Movie of the Year
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Director: Ryan Crego
Starring: Laila Lockhart Kraner, Kristen Wiig, Gloria Estefan
Synopsis
Gabby and her lovable cat friends set off on their biggest adventure yet when a mysterious threat puts the magical dollhouse world in danger. Along the way, Gabby learns the power of imagination, teamwork, and believing in herself.
Comedy of the Year
One Battle After Another
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti
Synopsis
A bizarre political conspiracy sends a group of unlikely allies on a chaotic journey filled with unexpected twists. As alliances shift and the stakes grow stranger, the characters must navigate an increasingly absurd series of events.
Horror Movie of the Year
Weapons
Director: Zach Cregger
Starring: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, and Amy Madigan
Synopsis
When several children mysteriously vanish from a quiet town on the same night, panic spreads through the community. As investigators search for answers, dark secrets emerge, and the true horror behind the disappearances begins to unfold.
Drama of the Year
Rental Family
Director: Hikari
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Akira Emoto and Shannon Gorman
Synopsis
An American living in Japan begins working for a company that rents actors to serve as stand-in family members for lonely clients. What starts as a strange job slowly becomes a deeply emotional journey about connection and belonging.
Action Movie of the Year
F1 The Movie
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Synopsis
A retired Formula One driver returns to the track to mentor a talented young racer. As the two navigate fierce rivalries and high-speed danger, the sport pushes them to their limits.
Animated Film of the Year
KPop Demon Hunters
Directors: Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Starring: Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami.
Synopsis
A world-famous K-pop girl group secretly protects humanity as demon hunters. When supernatural forces begin to threaten the planet, the group must balance global fame with their hidden mission.
Sci-Fi Movie of the Year
Predator: Badlands
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
Synopsis
A remote desert region becomes a deadly hunting ground when a Predator arrives on Earth. Survivors must outsmart the alien warrior in a brutal fight for survival.
Comic Book Movie of the Year
Superman
Director: James Gunn
Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult
Synopsis
Clark Kent struggles to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing while protecting Earth as Superman. As new threats emerge, he must prove why the world still needs a symbol of hope.
Box Office Achievement
Ne Zha 2 – $2.26 Million
Director: Jiaozi
Starring: Crystal Lee, Griffin Puatu, Aleks Le, Vincent Rodriguez III, Michelle Yeoh and Christopher Swindle
Synopsis
The rebellious young deity Ne Zha faces powerful new threats that challenge the balance between the spirit and human worlds, leading to an epic battle that captivated global audiences.
Male Performance of the Year
Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme
Director: Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator
Synopsis
A young table tennis prodigy rises to fame while navigating intense pressure, ambition, and the cost of chasing greatness.
Female Performance of the Year
Jessie Buckley — Hamnet
Director: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn
Synopsis
Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, the film explores the emotional story behind Shakespeare’s family tragedy through the eyes of Agnes Shakespeare.
Visionary Director of the Year
Guillermo del Toro — Frankenstein
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz
Synopsis
Victor Frankenstein’s obsession with conquering death leads him to create life itself. The result becomes a haunting exploration of humanity, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God.
The Nerdtropolis Movie Awards Close the Film Year
The Nerdtropolis Movie Awards 2025 celebrate the creativity, imagination, and storytelling that defined the year in cinema.
While the Oscars mark Hollywood’s biggest night, the Nerdtropolis Movie Awards provide the final celebration of the films that truly captured the spirit of moviegoing.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
