Who Will Win a 2025 Emmy Award? My Official Predictions, Including Best Drama Series & More

Prep your ballots

2025 emmy predictions severance
Courtesy of AppleTV+

On the morning of July 15, I gave Harvey Guillén and Brenda Song my undivided attention as they announced the full list of 2025 Emmy nominations. As I expected, all of the categories are stacked, including standout actors, like Jeremy Allen White, and popular TV shows, like The Bear, Only Murders in the Building and Severance.

Although the 2025 Emmy nominations have been out for quite some time, there’s only one question lingering: Who will take home a highly coveted statuette on September 14? Luckily, I have thoughts on that very topic.

In anticipation of the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which will air on Sunday, September 14 on CBS, here are all the shows and celebs I think will walk away with an Emmy—including a few surprises.

2025 emmy predictions best comedy hacks
Courtesy of Max

Outstanding 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
  • Predicted Winner: Hacks

Hacks is one of those shows that has only gotten better with each season—and my money's on the Jean Smart-led series to take home the statuette. It wouldn't be a giant upset either. After all, the HBO Max series already won the Golden Globe this year and won the Emmy last year.

2025 emmy best drama severance
Courtesy of AppleTV+

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Nominees: Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, Severance, Slow Horses, The White Lotus
  • Predicted Winner: Severance

Succession snagged the award for two years in a row, and then the award went to Shōgun. But with a new slate of nominees, I'm betting on Severance to take the stage for a number of wins. It was arguably the most talked-about show of the year. Plus, season two was just really really good.

2025 best limited series emmy netflix adolescence
Courtesy of Netflix

Outstanding Limited Series

  • Nominees: Adolescence, Black Mirror, Dying for Sex, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, The Penguin
  • Predicted Winner: Adolescence

This buzzy Netflix series is set to clean up at the Emmys—mark my words. A 13-year-old boy is accused of murder in this intense psychological thriller. And while Penguin is likely to take a trophy or two (see: Cristin Milioti), Adolescence is the obvious frontrunner for Outstanding Limited Series.

emmy winner predictions actor comedy
Courtesy of FX

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)
  • Predicted Winner: Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

Jeremy Allen White dethroned Jason Sudeikis two years ago, and then came out on top again last year. Although this category is packed with great nominees, White stands out as a rare talent who consistently delivers a brilliant, layered performance as Chef Carmy.

jean smart 8
Jake Giles Netter/Max

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)
  • Predicted Winner: Jean Smart (Hacks)

Now this is what I call a stacked category. There's Jean Smart, who already has six Emmys under her belt, and Ayo Edebiri, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023. Then, of course, there's Kristen Bell who nabbed a well-deserved Emmy nod. But as much as I'd like to see them all take home a “W,” I fully expect Jean Smart to walk away with a back-to-back victory. (She won the same category during last year’s ceremony.)

2025 emmy award prediction best actor drama gary oldman
David Lee/Prime Video

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)
  • Predicted Winner: Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)

This one could be considered a toss-up between Brown, Oldman, Pascal, Scott and Wyle. And, honestly, I'm rooting for all of them. But thanks to Oldman's solid performance in Slow Horses, though he lost last year to Shōgun's Hiroyuki Sanada, I (cautiously) expect him to inch ahead of the others.

2025 emmy winner best actress britt lower
Courtesy of AppleTV+

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)
  • Predicted Winner: Britt Lower (Severance)

This is Britt Lower's moment. After being snubbed by the Emmys for Severance season one, she's rightfully up for a statuette this year. Her performance as Helly in season two is complex, layered and, frankly, award-worthy. I just hope Kathy Bates doesn't rip up her speech again when she loses...

2025 emmy award predictions best actor limited series stephen graham
Courtesy of Netflix

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)
  • Predicted Winner: Stephen Graham (Adolescence)

Back to Adolescence. While it's totally possible that Farrell ends up with the win—he did snag the Golden Globe this year—I suspect Stephen Graham will be the one delivering an acceptance speech. His nuanced portrayal as the father of a 13-year-old accused of murder is one of the most talked about performances of 2025.

2025 emmy award predictions best actress limited series cristin milioti
Macall Polay/HBO

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

  • Nominees: Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer), Meghann Fahy (Sirens), Rashida Jones (Black Mirror), Cristin Miloti (The Penguin), Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)
  • Predicted Winner: Cristin Miloti (The Penguin)

As I already mentioned, Milioti is clearly the most deserving for the "W" here. Her performance in The Penguin was so so good. As a rising crime boss out to take down Colin Farrell's Penguin, she is absolutely incredible—and terrifying. I said it while watching the show and I'll say it again: "Give her all the awards."

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  • Oversees news and entertainment content
  • Is an award-winning playwright and has hosted two entertainment podcasts
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