Sebastian Stan's best movies include Fresh, I, Tonya, and The Martian. He is also well-known for portraying Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Stan has had an incredibly successful career, but he arguably had the best year of his career in 2024. In 2024, Stan starred in The Apprentice and A Different Man, two movies that have been applauded by audiences and critics.

After a successful year, Stan has officially been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar at the Best Actor at the 2025 Academy Awards. Stan is up against some incredible actors, but no matter the result, his nomination is well-deserved after his outstanding work in 2024.

Sebastian Stan Delivered Two Great Performances In 2024 With The Apprentice & A Different Man

The Apprentice & A Different Man Are Two Of 2024's Best Movies

It is rare for an actor to receive awards buzz for two different roles in the same year. However, this is what Stan accomplished heading into the 2025 Academy Awards. In 2024, Stan starred in both The Apprentice and A Different Man. A Different Man is a dark comedy film about Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis which has led to a disfiguring facial condition. Edward undergoes a procedure to change his face, only for him to end up envying Oswald, a man with the exact same facial condition he once had.

The Apprentice is a biopic about a young Donald Trump as he is on the rise as a real estate businessman in 1970s New York.

While Stan was not nominated for A Different Man, he did receive a nomination for his role in The Apprentice. The Apprentice is a biopic about a young Donald Trump as he is on the rise as a real estate businessman in 1970s New York. The Apprentice currently has a score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes (via cast of The Apprentice also features Jeremy Strong, who received an Academy Award nomination in the ing Actor category.

Sebastian Stan's Oscar Nomination Continues The Awards Recognition For His Performances

Stan Won A Golden Globe For A Different Man

Stan's nomination for The Apprentice marks the first time he has been nominated for an Academy Award. However, it was not entirely unexpected, as he has been receiving a lot of recognition during awards season for his roles in The Apprentice and A Different Man. At the 2025 Golden Globes, he was actually nominated for an award for both of the films. He was nominated for Best Actor in the Drama category for The Apprentice, and won in the Musical or Comedy category for A Different Man.

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The Apprentice Review: Sebastian Stan’s Uncanny Trump Performance Is Award-Winning In Striking Biopic

While the film is exactly what you'd expect, it comes with stunning performances and an exciting script that enchants you with its drama.

However, Stan missed out on a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be held on February 23, 2025, one week before the Oscars. All of Stan's fellow Best Actor nominees are nominated for a SAG Award, and they are ed by Daniel Craig for his work in Queer. After the SAG nominations, it was clear that either Stan or Craig would receive the last spot in the Best Actor category at the Oscars. Obviously, the Academy favored Stan's performance in The Apprentice.

Will Sebastian Stan Win Best Actor At The 2025 Oscars?

It Is Unlikely That Stan Will Win The Best Actor Oscar

It is an incredible achievement to be nominated for an Academy Award. However, Stan is not currently a favorite to win an Oscar at the 2025 ceremony. Brody, Chalamet, Domingo, and Fiennes were all considered to be guaranteed nominees, whereas Stan was battling with Craig for the last spot. Therefore, out of all the 2025 Best Actor nominees, Stan is probably the least likely to win.

2025 Best Actor Nominees

Movie

RT Critics Score

Adrien Brody

The Brutalist

93%

Colman Domingo

Sing Sing

97%

Ralph Fiennes

Conclave

93%

Sebastian Stan

The Apprentice

82%

Timothée Chalamet

A Complete Unknown

80%

Currently, it seems like the Academy Award for Best Actor will go to either Brody or Chalamet. Brody previously won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in the Drama category, besting Chalamet, but his film, The Brutalist, has recently received criticism for utilizing AI. Therefore, the controversy over The Brutalist could lead to Chalamet winning the Best Actor Oscar. Even though Sebastian Stan's performance in The Apprentice was amazing, it is highly unlikely that he will win the Oscar.

  • The Apprentice - Poster

    Your Rating

    The Apprentice
    R
    Drama
    Biography
    Release Date
    October 11, 2024
    Runtime
    123 Minutes
    Director
    Ali Abbasi

    WHERE TO WATCH

    The Apprentice depicts a young Donald Trump in 1970s New York, highlighting his formative relationship with Roy Cohn, a ruthless attorney. As Trump seeks to establish his own legacy, Cohn identifies him as an ideal protégé, drawn to his ambition and determination to succeed at any cost.

  • A Different Man 2024 New Film Poster

    Your Rating

    A Different Man
    Release Date
    October 3, 2024
    Runtime
    112 Minutes
    Director
    Aaron Schimberg

    WHERE TO WATCH

    A Different Man is a thriller written and directed by Aaron Schimberg and premiered in 2024. An actor named Edward attempts to make himself a more marketable actor by having significant reconstructive surgery on his face, but the results leave much to be desired. Now, having lost the role of his dreams, Edward takes extreme measures to get it back as his obsession turns dark.