Streaming Stardom & Star Power: The 2025 Emmy Nominations Reviewed

1. Drama’s Heavy Hitters & Streaming Wars Intensify

The 77th Annual Primetime Emmy nominations, announced on July 15, 2025, highlight television’s deep bench of dramatic excellence between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025. Leading the Outstanding Drama Series field are both established contenders and fresh faces: Andor, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Severance, Slow Horses, The Diplomat, and newcomers such as Paradise and The Pitt. Apple TV+ emerges as a force with Severance, earning a record-breaking 27 nominations including key acting nods for Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, and even a directing nod for Ben Stiller. Meanwhile, HBO’s The Penguin secured 24 nominations, and The White Lotus received 23, marking HBO’s resurgence in limited series acclaim. These streaming behemoths are now cornerstones of Emmy contention, emphasizing a shifting landscape away from legacy networks.

Fast-rising platforms like Netflix and Disney+ are asserting themselves too: Netflix saw its thriller Andor earn drama nods, while Hulu’s The Diplomat and Prime Video’s Slow Horses manifested strong showings. Notably, cable network FX reappears via Paradise, affirming that traditional programming still plays a key supporting role amid streaming dominance.

2. Comedy in Bloom: New Voices & Old Favorites

This year’s Outstanding Comedy Series race is particularly dynamic, with eight contenders led by staples such as Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Only Murders in the Building. Riding the wave is Apple TV+ again, as its new satire The Studio garnered 23 nominations including acting, writing, directing, and guest star nods for heavyweights like Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, and Zoë Kravitz. Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, enters the fray with its first comedy nods. Other first-time nominees include Shrinking and What We Do in the Shadows, rounding out a healthy genre mix that blends rebooted classics, industry roasting, and fresh perspectives.

Performances across comedy offer a powerful snapshot of talent. Jeremy Allen White returns for The Bear, while Uzo Aduba (The Residence), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), and Jean Smart (Hacks) lead the acting race. In the lead actor category, nominees include Adam Brody, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Short, and Jeremy Allen White—a melting pot of comedy icons and rising stars.

3. Limited Series & TV Movies: A Showcase of Quiet Power

Limited series and TV movies have emerged as Emmy powerhouses, with The Penguin, Black Mirror, Adolescence, Dying for Sex, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story topping nominations. The Penguin stars Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti, each earning acting nods, while Adolescence features Stephen Graham and breakout Owen Cooper in its run. Netflix’s exploration into youth demographics propelled Adolescence to major category attention . Black Mirror and Dying for Sex earned acclaim for using the mini-series format to tackle heavier themes.

Supporting categories shine with powerhouse names. Javier Bardem (Monsters), Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent), Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex), and Peter Sarsgaard (*) lead the men’s side, while Erin Doherty, Ruth Negga, Chloe Sevigny, and Jenny Slate anchor the women’s side. This eclectic group illustrates the breadth and depth of talent in mature narratives.

4. Acting Accolades & Career Turning Points

This Emmy season weaves nostalgia with prestige as venerable actors like Kathy Bates (Matlock at age 77), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), and Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) secured nominations in lead drama categories. Drama actress nominees range from Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) to Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) and Keri Russell (The Diplomat). In comedy, breakouts Kristen Bell and Quinta Brunson join seasoned talents like Uzo Aduba, Ayo Edebiri, Jean Smart, Adam Brody, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Martin Short, blending legacy and new talent.

Supporting actor races also highlight a diverse set: The Bear and Severance actors like Zach Cherry, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Sam Rockwell, Patricia Arquette, Carrie Coon, among others, were singled out for stellar ensemble work.

Guest acting shines too. The Studio snagged nominations for Bryan Cranston, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, and The Bear honored Jon Bernthal and Olivia Colman. These nods reflect the richness of television’s supporting ecosystem.

5. Beyond the Big Five: Reality, Talk & Technical Categories

The Emmys further encapsulate excellence in unscripted and technical fields. Reality competition nominees include The Amazing Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Survivor, Top Chef, and The Traitors. Talk shows such as The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert strengthen the landscape. Variety series categories feature icons like Last Week Tonight and Saturday Night Live, showcasing journalism satire and comedic performance .

In writing and directing, Emmys reflect high creative standards. Notables include writing team nods for Abbott Elementary, Hacks, The Rehearsal, Somebody Somewhere, The Studio, and What We Do in the Shadows, while dramas like Andor, The Pitt, Severance, Slow Horses, and The White Lotus drew attention for storytelling prowess. These categories highlight television at its artistic best.

From: doublejoydesigns