Emmy Nominations 2025 – Full List, Biggest Surprises & Celeb Reactions

Emmy Nominations 2025 – Full List, Biggest Surprises & Celeb Reactions

The nominations for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards were unveiled on July 15, 2025, kicking off awards season buzz. The announcement – made by actors Brenda Song and Harvey Guillén – revealed a wide-ranging field of contenders and some big surprises. Leading the pack is Apple TV+’s mind-bending drama Severance, which scored a whopping 27 nominations, the most of any series this year. Close behind is HBO’s The Penguin with 24 nods, and both Apple’s Hollywood satire The Studio and HBO’s tropical anthology The White Lotus with 23 each. It’s a strong showing for prestige platforms HBO and Apple, which have been duking it out for awards supremacy in recent years. Notably, the nominee list spans both U.S. hits and international productions – from big-budget American crowd-pleasers to British and Irish shows – reflecting the global reach of today’s TV. Several new series made impressive debuts in major categories alongside returning favorites, setting up an exciting competition come the Emmy ceremony on September 14, 2025.

 Seth Rogen (bottom right) in the Hollywood satire The Studio, Adam Scott (top) in the tech-thriller Severance, and Jason Isaacs with Parker Posey (left) in the luxe drama The White Lotus. These three series are among 2025’s top Emmy contenders – Severance and The Studio alone accumulated 27 and 23 nominations respectively. Premium cable and streaming services dominated the field, as HBO’s titles and Apple TV+ originals racked up many of the most prestigious nods this year. In fact, Severance leads all shows across drama and comedy, reflecting broad recognition in writing, directing, and acting categories.

Outstanding Drama Series

Nominees: Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat (Netflix), The Last of Us (HBO), Paradise (AMC), The Pitt (Max), Severance (Apple TV+), Slow Horses (Apple TV+), The White Lotus (HBO). This lineup blends established hits with first-time contenders. HBO’s The White Lotus (now in its third season) and Apple’s Severance return after previous acclaim, while newcomers like Paradise (a futuristic thriller led by Sterling K. Brown) and The Pitt (Noah Wyle’s spiritual successor to ER) are making their Emmy debut. The inclusion of Britain’s spy drama Slow Horses adds some international flair to the category. Not surprisingly, Severance stands out among these nominees – it not only earned the best series nod but also piled up nominations for its writing, directing, and ensemble cast. With Severance’s staggering 27 nominations and The White Lotus’ continued dominance (23 noms including multiple acting slots), the drama race is stacked with heavyweights.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Nominees: Abbott Elementary (ABC), The Bear (FX), Hacks (Max), Nobody Wants This (Hulu), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Shrinking (Apple TV+), The Studio (Apple TV+), What We Do in the Shadows (FX). The comedy series lineup is a mix of network hits and streaming successes. Fan-favorites like the schoolhouse sitcom Abbott Elementary and Hulu’s whodunit Only Murders in the Building are back in the running, joined by critically adored cable fare such as FX’s dramedy The Bear and the vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. They’re up against streaming darlings like Hacks and Shrinking and a couple of bold new entrants: Nobody Wants This, an offbeat satire led by Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, and The Studio, Seth Rogen’s insider Hollywood comedy. Hacks, coming off an acclaimed fourth season, actually outpaced The Bear in total nominations (14 to 13) – a sign that the veteran Max series still has momentum. But the biggest threat might be The Studio, which wowed industry voters by snagging 23 nominations in its first season. Rogen’s show of showbiz mayhem made him a triple-nominee (as producer, writer, and actor) and has quickly become an awards-season darling. With such a diverse set of contenders – from a heartwarming network comedy to edgy streaming originals – the comedy series category is one of the most competitive in years.

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

Nominees: Adolescence (Netflix), Black Mirror (Netflix), Dying for Sex (Hulu), Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix), The Penguin (HBO). In the limited-series arena, true crime and anthology hits face off against unique newcomers. Netflix’s British-produced drama Adolescence emerged as a surprise heavyweight, earning 13 nominations – a breakout showing for a series that many viewers discovered only recently. Meanwhile, the venerable sci-fi anthology Black Mirror returned to the Emmys with a strong 10 nods, proving that Charlie Brooker’s dystopian tales still pack a punch after nearly 14 years on air. On the other end of the spectrum, HBO’s The Penguin (a dark Batman-universe spinoff starring Colin Farrell) dominated this category with 24 total nominations across all fields – an astonishing haul that underscores the show’s craft and performances. Rounding out the lineup are Dying for Sex, a provocative series based on a true-story podcast, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the latest Ryan Murphy true-crime installment, which earned a respectable 11 nominations of its own. From Netflix’s gritty UK dramas to HBO’s comic-book noir, the limited series category encapsulates the wide variety of storytelling on TV this past year.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees: Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Adam Scott (Severance), Noah Wyle (The Pitt). This year’s drama lead actor race features both Emmy mainstays and new faces. Sterling K. Brown – already a two-time Emmy winner from This Is Us – picked up a nod for his new futuristic drama Paradise, joining veteran film icon Gary Oldman, who continues to impress as the cantankerous spy in Apple’s Slow Horses. Fan-favorite Pedro Pascal is also in the mix for his heartfelt role in The Last of Us, giving that post-apocalyptic hit a leading man in the race. Severance star Adam Scott secured a nomination as well, adding to his show’s across-the-board recognition this year. Rounding out the category is Noah Wyle for HBO’s hospital drama The Pitt – remarkably, this is Wyle’s first Emmy nomination in 26 years, a fact not lost on long-time viewers who remember his ER heyday in the 1990s. One notable absence in this category: Diego Luna, who many expected to see here for Andor. Despite Andor’s Best Drama Series nod, Luna’s omission was flagged among the snubs, given his acclaimed performance in the Star Wars prequel series.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees: Kathy Bates (Matlock), Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Britt Lower (Severance), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), Keri Russell (The Diplomat). This category is a dynamic mix of Hollywood legends and rising stars. Oscar-winner Kathy Bates returns to the Emmys with a nomination for the new Matlock reboot, putting her signature spin on the classic legal role. In a delightful twist, Sharon Horgan earned her first Emmy nod for the darkly comic thriller Bad Sisters – an Irish-produced series that brought international flavor to Apple TV+. Britt Lower scored a nomination for her haunting performance in Severance, a breakthrough moment for her career. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Bella Ramsey continues her post-Game of Thrones ascent, picking up a nod as the fierce young survivor in The Last of Us. And Keri Russell is recognized for Netflix’s diplomatic drama The Diplomat, marking her return to Emmy contention after past nods for The Americans. Notably, this year saw a few former regulars shut out – for instance, Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) did not make the list for the first time in that show’s run, as the final season of Handmaid’s received a rather “chilly goodbye” with minimal Emmy attention.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees: Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Seth Rogen (The Studio), Jason Segel (Shrinking), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear). The competition for comedy lead actor brings together seasoned comedians and a few new contenders. Jeremy Allen White, last year’s winner in this category, returns to defend his title for his intense-yet-heartfelt turn in The Bear. He’s joined by comedy legend Martin Short, who earned another nod for Only Murders in the Building – though notably Steve Martin, Short’s co-star, did not make the cut this year, a surprise omission that fans quickly noticed. Seth Rogen landed here for playing a ruthless studio executive in The Studio, but he isn’t just competing for acting – Rogen also snagged writing and directing nominations for the show, making him a potential triple-threat on Emmy night. First-time Emmy acting nominees Jason Segel and Adam Brody round out the lineup: Segel earned praise for his role as a grieving therapist in Apple’s Shrinking, and Brody scored a nod for Hulu’s Nobody Wants This, a quirky new comedy he’s called one of the most rewarding projects of his career. Together, this group represents a spectrum from veteran star power to fresh comic energy, reflecting the broadening landscape of TV comedy.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees: Uzo Aduba (The Residence), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Jean Smart (Hacks). The lead comedy actress race delivered some of the biggest jaw-droppers of nomination morning. On one hand, we have familiar favorites: Quinta Brunson is back after winning last year for Abbott Elementary, and Jean Smart returns for Hacks, looking to add to her Emmy haul (Smart nabbed her third career Emmy for this role at last year’s ceremony). But joining them are a couple of unexpected faces. Uzo Aduba scored a nod for the Netflix whodunit The Residence – a surprise in part because that show was quietly canceled after one season, yet Aduba’s performance as an eccentric detective clearly impressed voters. Similarly, Kristen Bell broke into the field thanks to Nobody Wants This, marking her first Emmy nomination for a role that let her flex zany comedic muscles. And let’s not forget Ayo Edebiri, who jumped to leading status this season on The Bear; her nuanced, funny, and vulnerable turn as an ambitious young chef earned her a well-deserved first nomination as well. Missing from the list once again was Selena Gomez of Only Murders in the Building – despite the show’s continued success, Gomez was notably snubbed, to the dismay of many fans who hoped this might be her year.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Nominees: Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent), Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief), Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story). The limited-series lead actor category is stacked with big names and powerhouse performances. Colin Farrell leads the charge for his transformative turn as the Penguin in the Batman-universe drama, marking another high-profile recognition for the Irish film star on the small screen. Joining him is Presumed Innocent’s leading man Jake Gyllenhaal, who thanked the Television Academy and even gave a cheeky shoutout to his also-nominated brother-in-law Peter Sarsgaard in his reaction statement. British actor Stephen Graham earned a nod for Netflix’s Adolescence, further cementing that show’s impressive Emmy breakout. Brian Tyree Henry picked up a nomination for the crime thriller Dope Thief, continuing his run of acclaimed roles across film and TV. And rounding out the group is relative newcomer Cooper Koch, recognized for portraying one of the notorious Menendez brothers in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters miniseries. It’s a category full of Emmy first-timers and Hollywood veterans alike. One high-profile name who didn’t appear here: Renée Zellweger. The Oscar-winning actress had been predicted by some to contend for her role in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, but ultimately she was left off the list – a notable omission in an otherwise star-studded lineup.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Nominees: Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer), Meghann Fahy (Sirens), Rashida Jones (Black Mirror), Cristin Milioti (The Penguin), Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex). This category might as well be dubbed “Oscar Winners (and Friends)” given its illustrious roster. Two Academy Award winners – Cate Blanchett and Michelle Williams – face off here for their limited series roles: Blanchett for the psychological thriller Disclaimer, and Williams for the poignant true-story drama Dying for Sex. They’re joined by Rashida Jones, who brought emotional heft to Black Mirror’s latest season, and Cristin Milioti, who shined as a mob wife in The Penguin. Perhaps the biggest surprise is Meghann Fahy, who scored her first-ever Emmy nomination as the lead of Peacock’s Sirens. Fahy, previously best known for The Bold Type, wasn’t on many prediction lists, but Emmy voters took notice of her work in Sirens. Her inclusion – alongside that of several other newer names across categories – signals the Academy’s openness to fresh faces. (As one TV critic quipped, Blanchett and Fahy were “fine in mediocre shows,” but it seems voters still admired their performances.) All told, this category pits Hollywood heavyweights against an up-and-comer, making it one to watch closely. Like the men’s side, it also saw a snub of a presumed contender: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy didn’t nab a nod for its star, despite the pedigree behind it.

Snubs and Surprises

Of course, every Emmy nomination announcement comes with its share of cheers and groans, and 2025 was no exception. Many of the nominees were expected – as TIME wryly noted, the TV Academy clearly loves its White Lotus, Severance, Abbott Elementary, Hacks, and The Bear, so no shock there. But mixed in with the predictability were genuine surprises and notable omissions that had critics and fans buzzing. On the snubs side, several high-profile series and actors were left empty-handed. For instance, popular franchises like HBO’s House of the Dragon and Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 (the Yellowstone prequel) failed to garner any nominations, nor did the global phenomenon Squid Game (which had made history at past Emmys but had no new eligible season this cycle). Even The Handmaid’s Tale – once an Emmy darling – received virtually no recognition for its final season; one outlet described it as a “chilly goodbye” for the Hulu series, which had dominated drama categories in years past. Fans on social media were also disappointed to see Only Murders in the Building stars Selena Gomez and Steve Martin shut out yet again, and some were stunned that Andor’s lead Diego Luna didn’t make the drama actor list despite the show’s presence in Best Drama. Critics pointed out “egregious exclusions” like Taylor Dearden from The Pitt, whose breakout performance as an autistic doctor was overlooked despite the show’s many noms. Likewise, Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne (a previous nominee) was snubbed for the Peacock series’ second season, which TIME argued was puzzling given that Lyonne is the show. On the surprise side, however, there was plenty for underdog supporters to celebrate. The nomination for Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere) in supporting actor – a first Emmy nod for both him and his small HBO dramedy – was hailed as a “thrilling” and well-deserved surprise, bringing some recognition to the beloved but low-key series in its final season. First-time nominees like Meghann Fahy (Sirens) and Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons) also had viewers cheering; their unexpected nods (in lead actress limited and supporting actor comedy, respectively) showed the Academy’s willingness to spread the love beyond the usual contenders. And with venerable shows like Survivor sneaking back into competition (it earned a spot in Outstanding Reality Competition Program after years out of contention), it’s clear the Emmy voters weren’t on autopilot – they threw in a few curveballs this year.

Reactions from Nominees and Industry

The nominees themselves reacted to the news with a mix of gratitude, humor, and disbelief. Many expressed heartfelt thanks to their collaborators. Noah Wyle, nominated for The Pitt, said he was “overjoyed” that the show’s nominations were “spread across all the different departments” – reflecting a true team effort – and that he was “humbled and grateful” for the recognition. Severance creator Dan Erickson took a more lighthearted approach: he quipped in a statement, “I cannot begin to express how excited I am to return to the Emmys and see if the sunglasses I left in the bathroom 3 years ago are still there.” Meanwhile, The Studio’s resident scene-stealer Kathryn Hahn joked that she was “in Dublin raising a 2nd pint and literally looking at a rainbow” when she heard about her supporting actress nomination, calling the experience “a total joy” and shouting out the “beautiful coven” of colleagues she worked with. Other newcomers were overwhelmed: Adolescence star Ashley Walters said his nomination was “such an honour” and a testament to “how far I’ve come,” dedicating it to everyone who believed in him, and reality show personality Connor Tomlinson (Love on the Spectrum) adorably likened his excitement to feeling “like a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day” upon learning of his show’s five nominations. Industry veterans also hit major milestones. In a feel-good story, Harrison Ford received his first-ever Emmy nomination at age 83 (for supporting actor in Shrinking), prompting an outpouring of congratulations from colleagues and fans alike. Similarly, Hollywood legend Ron Howard scored his first acting nom – for guesting as himself on The Studio – and joked that he got a “nice kiss” from his wife upon hearing the news. With reactions ranging from tearful joy to tongue-in-cheek wit, it’s clear how much these Emmy nods mean to the people behind the shows.

As the countdown to the ceremony begins, the stage is set for an Emmy night full of suspense. Will a newcomer like The Studio upset the established champs? Will Severance continue its surge and sweep the drama side? And which actors will get to deliver emotional acceptance speeches on stage? There’s plenty of time for debate and predictions – the 77th Emmy Awards take place on Sunday, September 14, 2025, airing live on CBS – but one thing is certain: with such a rich and varied crop of nominees, TV fans around the world will be eagerly tuning in to see who takes home the gold. It’s shaping up to be an Emmys for the books, celebrating a year in television that truly had something for everyone.