The Academy Awards, or the Oscars, are the most prestigious in the film industry. Every year, filmmakers, actors, and fans eagerly await to see who will take home the golden statue. However, not every deserving performance or film gets the recognition it deserves. Over the years, there have been several shocking snubs that left both fans and critics stunned. Let’s take a look at the top 10 Oscar snubs that are still talked about to this day.
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Alfred Hitchcock – Best Director (Never Won)
Despite being one of the greatest directors of all time, Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar for Best Director. The director of classics like Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window was nominated five times but never took home the trophy. Hitchcock’s legacy is undisputed, but the Academy’s repeated snubs remain one of the most glaring oversights in Oscar history.
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Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street (2014)
Before winning his first Oscar in 2016 for The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio was famously snubbed for years. One of the most shocking of these snubs came in 2014 when he lost the Best Actor award for his role in The Wolf of Wall Street to Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club. Many felt that DiCaprio’s manic, powerhouse performance was worthy of an Oscar, but it wasn’t his year—again.
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Citizen Kane – Best Picture (1942)
Considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, Citizen Kane shockingly lost the Best Picture Oscar to How Green Was My Valley at the 1942 Academy Awards. Orson Welles’ masterpiece redefined cinema with its innovative storytelling and technical brilliance, yet it failed to win the top prize. This remains one of the most infamous snubs in the history of the Oscars.
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Glenn Close – Best Actress (Eight Nominations, No Wins)
Glenn Close has been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar an astonishing eight times but has yet to win. Despite incredible performances in films like Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Wife, she remains one of the most overdue actors in Oscar history. Many expected her to finally win in 2021 for Hillbilly Elegy, but she was passed over again, leaving fans and critics wondering when her time will come.
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Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2021)
One of the most recent Oscar snubs that caused major controversy was the 2021 Best Actor category. Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020, was heavily favored to win posthumously for his powerful performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. However, the award went to Anthony Hopkins for The Father. While Hopkins delivered a brilliant performance, many felt that Boseman’s final role deserved the Oscar, and the shock of the announcement left viewers stunned.
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Brokeback Mountain – Best Picture (2006)
In 2006, Brokeback Mountain, a groundbreaking film about a same-sex relationship, was expected to win Best Picture. The film won Best Director for Ang Lee, but in a shocking twist, Crash took home the top prize. Many critics and fans still view this as one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history, with Crash seen as a more conventional, less impactful choice.
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Amy Adams – (Six Nominations, No Wins)
Amy Adams is one of the most talented actresses of her generation, yet she has never won an Oscar despite being nominated six times. From her roles in American Hustle to Arrival, Adams consistently delivers outstanding performances. However, she remains one of Hollywood’s most snubbed actresses, with no Oscar to her name despite her impressive body of work.
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Saving Private Ryan – Best Picture (1999)
Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan is widely regarded as one of the greatest war films ever made. It was a critical and commercial success and even earned Spielberg a Best Director Oscar. However, it shockingly lost the Best Picture award to Shakespeare in Love. This upset is still hotly debated, with many believing Saving Private Ryan was the more deserving film.
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La La Land – Best Picture (2017)
The 2017 Oscars gave us one of the most memorable moments in the history of the ceremony when La La Land was mistakenly announced as Best Picture, only for the award to actually go to Moonlight. While Moonlight’s win was celebrated, the mistaken announcement led to confusion and drama that overshadowed both films. Many felt that La La Land, a love letter to Hollywood, deserved the honor, but Moonlight ultimately took home the prize.
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Denzel Washington – Malcolm X (1993)
Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X is considered one of his best performances. However, he lost the Best Actor award in 1993 to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman. While Pacino’s win was seen as a recognition of his long career, many believed Washington’s powerful performance deserved the Oscar, making this one of the most talked-about snubs of the 90s.
The Oscars are known for celebrating excellence in film, but they’ve also been the source of numerous controversies and snubs over the years. These 10 Oscar snubs highlight moments when the Academy’s decisions left audiences and critics scratching their heads. While the Oscars may not always get it right, these snubs serve as a reminder that great performances and films often transcend awards, leaving lasting impacts long after the ceremony ends.
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