The 2025 Emmy nominations are in — and they mark a major shift in television’s power centers. Streaming platforms didn’t just show up; they took over.
Leading the pack is Severance, which earned an impressive 27 nominations across drama, acting, directing, and writing categories. Not far behind are The Penguin, The Studio, and The White Lotus — each scoring over 20 nominations and proving that bold storytelling and genre-bending formats are what’s driving award season heat.
This year’s top contenders reflect not only the artistic influence of streaming but the way audiences are connecting with complex, high-concept storytelling. The Studio, a breakout satire set in Hollywood, tied the record for the most nominations by a freshman comedy series — signaling that witty, inside-baseball takes on celebrity culture are thriving.
Top Drama Series Nominees
- Severance
- The Last of Us
- The White Lotus
- Andor
- The Diplomat
- Paradise
- The Pitt
- Slow Horses
Top Comedy Series Nominees
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Hacks
- Nobody Wants This
- Only Murders in the Building
- Shrinking
- The Studio
- What We Do in the Shadows
Limited/Anthology Series
- Adolescence
- Black Mirror
- Dying for Sex
- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
- The Penguin
Big Moments and Breakthroughs
This year’s nominations included some jaw-dropping surprises and long-overdue recognition:
- Harrison Ford earned his first-ever Emmy nomination at age 83 for his role in Shrinking.
- 15-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the youngest acting nominee ever, thanks to his breakout role in Adolescence.
- Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White continue their awards season dominance with fresh nods for The Bear.
- Quinta Brunson returns to the spotlight with a lead comedy nomination for Abbott Elementary.
Cultural Shifts and What to Watch For
The 2025 Emmy slate is a snapshot of where TV is heading toward more daring formats, diverse creators, and genre hybrids that defy traditional expectations. Shows like The Studio and Paradise blend comedy, critique, and cinematic style in ways that feel uniquely Gen Z, while dramas like Severance and The Last of Us prove that surrealism and genre storytelling can still lead to prestige accolades.
As anticipation builds for the September 14 ceremony, one thing is clear: the television landscape isn’t just evolving — it’s being rewritten by a new generation of creators and platforms that are defining what’s next.
