2024 Oscar Nominations: Snubs and Surprises

With the Oscar nominations for 2024 out, the excitement across the film world is almost palpable. The 96th Academy Awards are all set to be held on March 10th, celebrating the crème de la crème of cinema from 2023, and it’s safe to say there are a fair share of surprises. 

While Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie are expected to steal the spotlight, let’s just say there are a few eyebrow-raising omissions. The list is a whirlwind of delightful additions, expected front-runners, and a few unexpected snubs.  As the Oscar season kicks into high gear, here are some of cinema’s biggest snubs and surprises at this year’s 96th Academy Awards.

Sorry Charles Melton — No Best Supporting Actor for You 

To say the competition for the Best Supporting Actor this year was intense would be an understatement. With the obvious, strong performances from Robert Downey., Ryan Gosling, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert De Niro, there’s been quite some speculation going around for who would secure the fifth spot. 

Would it be Willem Dafoe from Poor Things or perhaps Dominic Sessa for The Holdovers? Surprisingly though, Sterling K. Brown joined the fray for his performance in American Fiction, snubbing Charles Melton in May December. While Brown certainly deserved the spot, we’re hoping we see some more nominations for Melton in the future. 

America Ferrera for Best Supporting Actress in Barbie 

This year’s remarkable surprise is probably America Ferrera securing a Best Supporting Actress nod for her role in Barbie. Ferrera, frequently overlooked in Oscar season discussions, previously garnered quite the attention with a Critics’ Choice Movie Awards nomination. 

Since she was up against such tough competition, Ferrera’s nomination is one of the biggest surprises we’ve gotten from the 2024 Oscar nominations. She’s left seasoned actresses such as Julianne Moore, Penélope Cruz, and Rosamund Pike for their roles in May and December, Ferrari and Saltburn respectively, behind. 

Better Luck Next Time Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Unfortunately, Leonardo DiCaprio has often found himself overlooked in acting categories for some of his best roles. From The Deported and Gangs of New York to Django Unchained and even the iconic Titanic. Yes, you read the right. 

Sadly, the streak seems to continue, with DiCaprio being left out for his role in Killers of the Flower Moon; instead being replaced by Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper, and Paul Giamatti. On a positive note, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone did earn acting nominations, acknowledgments well-deserved for their respective performances. 

Sorry, No Oscar for this Barbie 

Now since Ken got a nomination, it makes sense for Robbie’s Barbie to get one too. Right? Wrong.

Margot Robbie‘s omission from the Best Actress nominations for her portrayal of Barbie stands as perhaps the most surprising snub of this year’s awards. Robbie, who practically brought Barbie to life, has been actively promoting the movie for months. Since her performance was central to the film’s storyline — and success, her exclusion from the nominations is all the more shocking.

Godzilla’s Much Awaited Oscar Moment 

Seventy years after its debut, the legendary movie monster Godzilla has finally been given the green light. Godzilla Minus One has been nominated for Best Visual Effects. This nomination is a testament to the film’s quality, making it stand out as one of the finest in Godzilla’s extensive film history. 

Godzilla Minus One faces stiff competition from Napoleon, The Creator, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. Despite the strong competition, many are hopeful that this will be the year when Godzilla is awarded a well-deserved Oscar.

Diane Warren’s Oscar Streak Continues Unrewarded

As the Oscars roll around again, Diane Warren finds herself in a familiar spot — nominated but not victorious. This marks her 14th nomination for Best Original Song, this time for her work in Flamin’ Hot, with the previous 13 attempts not securing a win. 

Impressively, Warren has been a nominee in this category for seven consecutive years. Despite her persistence and an Honorary Oscar in 2022, her chances this year seem slim, particularly with the strong competition from dual nominations for Barbie. 

2024 Oscar Nomination Summary: Oppenheimer Leads the Race 

Oppenheimer has emerged as the Oscars’ frontrunner this year, securing an impressive 13 nominations. These include nods for Best Picture, Best Director for Christopher Nolan, and several in the acting categories. Hot on its heels is Poor Things, which garnered 11 nominations, narrowly outpacing Barbie for second place. Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon claims the third spot with 10 nominations, while Barbie holds its own with eight, making it the fourth most nominated film.

This year’s Oscars also bring their share of surprising omissions. Notable snubs include Greta Gerwig for Best Director, Margot Robbie in Barbie, Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon, Charles Melton in May December, and Barry Keoghan in Saltburn.

The Best Actor race seems to be leaning in favor of Cillian Murphy, following his victories at the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards. However, Paul Giamatti emerges as a strong contender in this close competition. The Best Actress category is shaping up to be a duel between Emma Stone, a previous Academy Award winner for La La Land, and Lily Gladstone, who has made history as the first Native American woman nominated in this category.

All eyes are on the Oscars, set to be aired on March 10, 2024, where the winners of these closely watched categories will be unveiled. Till then, fingers crossed!