Movie fans were watching closely to see if the talked-about movie The Apprentice would grab any gold at the 2025 Oscars. This movie about Donald Trump's early days had people buzzing especially for the performances by Sebastian Stan as young Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. Did it take home any awards? Let's get into it.
'The Apprentice' Movie Shut Out at the Oscars: No Wins Despite Big Nominations for Stan and Strong
Unfortunately for fans of The Apprentice the movie didn't win any Oscars on Sunday night. Both Sebastian Stan who was up for Best Actor and Jeremy Strong nominated for Best Supporting Actor lost out. It is always tough when a movie you are rooting for does not win especially when there was so much hype around it.
Maybe this is not a total shock though. The Apprentice has been causing quite a stir. It looks at Donald Trump's life in the 1980s focusing on his relationship with Roy Cohn his mentor. This movie made some people angry especially Donald Trump himself. His lawyers even threatened to sue the filmmakers.
One of the things Trump really did not like was a scene in the movie that suggests Trump raped his then-wife Ivana Trump . This definitely added fuel to the fire of controversy. Even though critics seemed to like The Apprentice and it got a long standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival it had a hard time finding a movie distributor. Eventually Briarcliff Entertainment an indie distributor picked it up and it did make it to theaters in October.
Despite all the drama and some folks in Hollywood being worried about upsetting Trump The Apprentice still managed to get those two Oscar nominations. That is something to celebrate even without a win.
Jeremy Strong's Roy Cohn: Method Acting and the Man Who Shaped Trump's Worldview
Jeremy Strong was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for playing Roy Cohn in The Apprentice. Roy Cohn was a lawyer known for being ruthless and he became a mentor to young Donald Trump. Strong is known for his deep dive Method acting and he really got into character to play Cohn. His performance showed how Cohn taught a young Trump his famous three rules: attack always deny everything and never admit defeat. These are principles that seem to have stuck with Trump throughout his career.
Even though Strong did not win Kieran Culkin from A Real Pain took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Culkin and Strong actually worked together on the TV show Succession and Culkin even gave a shout-out to Strong's performance during his acceptance speech. It is all in good fun even if fans might have wanted Strong to win.
Sebastian Stan's Donald Trump: Exploring Trust and the Man Behind the Persona
Sebastian Stan's Best Actor nomination for The Apprentice was also a big deal. He took on the challenge of portraying Donald Trump a figure everyone has opinions about. Stan has said that his main question when playing Trump was "can you trust this person?". He wanted to bring that question to life in a way that people had not seen before. He really wanted to get under the skin of who Trump was especially in his early years before he became the well-known figure he is today.
Ultimately Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist. Stan may not have won but getting nominated for playing such a complex and controversial role is still a major achievement. He brought attention to the movie and got people thinking about his portrayal of Trump.
Why 'The Apprentice' Matters Even Without Oscars: Controversy Truth and Performance
Even though The Apprentice did not win any Oscars its impact is still significant. The movie sparked conversations it challenged perceptions and it showcased strong performances from Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. It dared to take on a controversial figure and explore his origins and the influences that shaped him. Whether you agree with its portrayal or not The Apprentice is a movie that got people talking and thinking. That in itself is a kind of win even without the gold statue.
Key Takeaways About 'The Apprentice' Movie and Oscars 2025
- Oscar Shutout: The Apprentice received zero Oscars despite nominations for Best Actor (Sebastian Stan) and Best Supporting Actor (Jeremy Strong).
- Controversial Content: The movie faced backlash for its portrayal of Donald Trump including a rape scene and his relationship with Roy Cohn.
- Strong Performances: Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong were praised for their portrayals of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn respectively.
- Indie Distribution: Due to controversy the film was distributed by indie company Briarcliff Entertainment after struggling to find a distributor.
- Exploration of Power: The Apprentice delves into themes of power mentorship and the making of a controversial figure.