Award season is always interesting as it is infuriating to see some of your favorite stars get let off the award list. Numerous actors, actresses, directors get snubbed from the Academy Awards every year no matter if it is a nomination or win. However, there are eight Oscar snubs that stick out like a sore thumb.
Kicking off our Top eight is
8). Glenn Close Never Winning
Glenn Close starts off our list hot as it is apparent how an actress of this talent can never be handed the award. Despite being nominated a whopping EIGHT times, the well-respected actress has never won. After turning in career-defining performances in films like The Wife and Fatal Attraction. It is alarming how the academy has never given the actress the respect that she deserves.
Many think her edgy work is what is turning her away from finally receiving the golden statue. However, I disagree as it is apparent especially recently that the Oscar’s seem to support edgy or even original movies. One thing for certain is that Close never winning an Oscar is truly unexpected.
7). Amy Adams Never Winning
Amy Adams never winning is another example of pure disrespect to an artist. She has turned in some of the most vulnerable performances, displaying so many layers of emotions, not to receive an Oscar. Her performance in Arrival is extraordinary as she portrayed a woman being frightened by the future so well. She also can show her insane range as an actress doing something like The Fighter or American Hustle.
These films have highlighted just the insane talent she possesses. It is truly a crime that she has never won that golden statue. However, that doesn’t define just how talented she is.
6) Timothée Chalamet Not Winning Best Actor (2025)
This one is hard to wrap my head around, as it genuinely concerns me for the future of the Oscars. He put his heart and soul into portraying Bob Dylan for almost six years without gaining any respect from the academy. His performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown this past year was revolutionary, as you didn’t see an actor playing a character—you saw an actor become the character.
Losing to Adrien Brody, who yes is a wonderful actor, is disappointing due to the fact Brody used A.I to enhance his accent for his role in The Brutalist. It felt as though Chalamet’s commitment to this role was overlooked by the academy, which is extremely upsetting. Hopefully, one day Chalamet will hold that golden statute.
5) Denis Villeneuve Not Nominated for Best Director (2025)
This one was also a recent one that hurts to think about. This past year, he created a Sci-fi epic and masterpiece with Dune: Part Two. It transcended what it meant to create a Sci-fi film, as this movie was beloved by many. There was no more creative film this past year than this film.
His direction in the film was otherworldly, as he gave movie lovers the best third act we have ever seen in the past decade. Adapting one of the hardest source material out there so effortlessly was unreal to see. It was just that he got no recognition at all this past award season.
4) The Iron Claw Getting Completely Snubbed (2024)
This one was hard to process as it is almost comedic that this film didn’t even get a single nomination. Whether it was acting, directing, or screenplay, there was not a single nomination. One of the most gut-wrenching performances I have ever seen was Zac Efron portraying Kevin Von Erich. His ability to hide his depression and guilt within this movie was second to none. I will never understand how this performance didn’t gain any recognition from the academy. His final scene was one of the best displays of acting I have ever seen.
Even the cinematography was jaw-dropping, as it depicted how some of the characters felt in this movie. It completely captures the mood and tone of each scene from the way this movie was shot. This film is truly generational, as it depicts depression and grief in a way I have never seen before.
3) Charles Melton Not Being Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (2024)
Within this film, it is certainly a very heavy film dealing with all sorts of subjects. However, in the film May December there was one thing that was certain. Charles Melton gave an absolutely groundbreaking performance as a person who was obviously taken advantage of. He hides his character emotions so well within the film. His acting with just his eyes makes you feel for the character as you can see he is carrying so much grief.
This was Charles Melton’s star-making performance as he was undeniably one of the best parts of the entirety of the movie. To depict an adult who is emotionally still a teenager is one of the hardest things an actor can do with little screen time. However, Melton rose to the occasion and exceeded expectations by a landslide. Hopefully one day Melton will hold the golden statue smiling.
2) Challengers Not Receiving a Nomination for Best Score (2025)
Any movie lover knows how vital the film’s score is. It depicts the mood or maybe what the characters are going through. Challengers being a movie involving tennis, it is apparent that there should be an innovative score. This film’s score completely captures the characters’ emotions, as it feels like a constant tennis match between the three.
The score is a constant tonic beat that makes you feel the anxiety of the characters’ choices. Almost as they are desperately trying to score the next point, but are running out of time on the scoreboard. This was one of the most unique film scores that audiences have ever witnessed. Which came as a shock to be entirely left off the nomination score.
1) Jake Gyllenhaal Not Being Nominated for Best Actor (2015)
A career-defining performance to put it is the best way I would describe it. Gyllehaal was completely unrecognizable as Lou Bloom in the very unsettling film NightCrawler. Movie lovers worldwide thought he was a lock to be even nominated at the Academy Awards. However, the Academy had other plans as they completely shunned him out of a nomination and a hopeful win.
After the multiple other award shows nominated Gyllenhaal for best lead actor, it was a positive sign that Gyllenhaal would receive the nomination. However, it came as a shock to everyone around the world as the nominees were announced and his name was nowhere to be found. Gyllenhaal’s performance within this film is the type of performance that can inspire someone to want to chase their Hollywood dreams. This is without the biggest snub in Oscar history for my money.
