Some very deserving actors, actresses and filmmakers got snubbed during this year’s Oscar nominations, making it one of the most shocking award run-ups yet. With the 90th AnnualAcademy Awardsceremony taking place on March 4, there was much speculation about which movies and performances would gain Oscar nods. There are those films that were certain to be recognized. Then there were those that stood an outside chance. As usual, we have come to realize, that as far as the Academy Awards are concerned, nothing is going to happen the way we think it will when it comes to theOscar nominationsin any given year.
Which leads us to the Oscar snub. A quick look at Dictionary.com describes a snub as a way to “rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully.” Now, I am not sure that any of the parties or films on this list would use those words for why they weren’t nominated. At the same time, I am sure that they would describe themselves as feeling dissed. And if you want dissed, this list describes what the Academy did in spades.
Every year there are performances and movies that don’t get a fair shake at the Oscars. This is the nature of the movie business and if you’re dependent on accolades to get rich then you better start investing a living space under a freeway. One has to wonder however, why did some films get picked over others that seemed to be a lock for the golden statue?
The nature of all these awards shows is, by design, highly subjective. It certainly doesn’t seem like some of the performances and movies were purposely left out. However, the films on this list were such glaring omissions on the day the Oscar nominees were announced, that it doesn’t seem to make sense that they weren’t honored by Hollywood’s most elite machine.
What this list attempts to do is make a case for why said performer, director or movie should’ve been treated better. In some cases, conjecture will be offered to try and explain the mindset of the snub in question. So thicken up your skin and get ready for the 9 biggest Oscar snubs of 2018.
9Jessica Chastain for Best Actress in Molly’s Game
The main character’s name is in the title for crying out loud! Yet, the Academy of Arts and Sciences took it upon themselves to completely ignore the Molly inMolly’s Game. Jessica Chastain just keeps making good movie after good movie. She’s a go to actress for the roles that others just aren’t able to perform. So how in the world did the Academy miss such a performance? MaybeMolly’s Gamejust wasn’t as popular as it should’ve been? The actresses that were elected were in films that had momentum. Sadly, whenMolly’s Gameseemed to come to the table, though it performed similarly at the box office, award givers didn’t appear that interested in taking her hand and leading it towards an Oscar.
8The Disaster Artist for Best Picture
Didn’t the Academy see the brilliance in bestowing a Best Picture Oscar nomination onThe Disaster Artist? The film was about the making ofThe Room, a movie that many consider to be the worst film ever made. Okay, to be fair,The Disaster Artistis your garden variety biopic with really big actors involved. As somebody who loves (and makes) movies, I loved everything aboutThe Disaster Artist, but that’s because I’m in that low budget world. Many people aren’t so this film probably doesn’t resonate as much. So why is this a snub? Well, the Academy prides itself on celebrating the spirit of artistry. What film had more artistic spirit in 2017 thanThe Disaster Artist? None. So why was this movie snubbed again?
7Wonder Woman for Best Picture
Wonder Womanhas probably made more money than the collective grosses of all the films that were nominated for an Oscar. So, of course, it would have to besnubbed, right? In a year that has seen the #metoo and #timesup movements essentially reshape the film industry, what film could better usher all of this change in than Gal Gadot andWonder Woman? This snub seems simple actually. The Academy has long had a tradition of favoring lower budgeted (ie. artistic) movies.Wonder Womanwith it’s $149 million dollar budget and nearly half a billion dollar in grosses, just wasn’t seen as the film to say, “Hey film industry, there’s a new sheriff in town!” Perhaps it looked too much like the old one to get any Academy Awards love? What say you, Oscars?
6Armie Hammer for Best Supporting Actor in Call Me By Your Name
In films such asThe Social NetworkandJ. Edgar, Armie Hammer has shown a depth of range and intensity. However, it is Hammer’s deeply soulful performance as Oliver inCall Me By Your Namethat really has people talking. This tale of teenager Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and the relationship he forms with Hammer’s character is nothing short of poetic. That Chalamet caught the eye of the Academy, and is staring down Oscar gold, and somehow Hammer did not, really makes one wonder. Has Hammer been hurt by such big budget films asThe Man From Uncle? Can he not be seen as a serious actor. This is one snub that really feels… like a full on snub.
5The Florida Project for Best Picture
The fact that Willem Dafoe got nominated for Best Supporting actor Oscar is enough forThe Florida Project, right? Maverick director Sean Baker (Tangerine) should be thankful that his style and sensibility was even recognized at all it would seem. However, as quirky asThe Florida Projectis, it honestly seems to have deserved a Best Picture nomination. Times are changing. We are seeing seismic shifts in the film industry and the world. LikeWonder Woman, what better way to show everyone that the revolution will be televised?The Florida Projectdeserves to be up there with the other 9 Oscar nominees.
4James Franco for Best Actor in The Disaster Artist
The Disaster Artistmay not be some amazing cinematic achievement. However,James Franco playing Tommy Wiseauis amazing and one wonders whyThe Disaster Artistdidn’t at least garner a nomination. Okay, playing Tommy Wiseau isn’t like Robert DeNiro playing Jake LaMotta inRaging Bull. At the same time, Franco is excellent as this man who lives by his own rules. He totally inhabits this character and in the process,The Disaster Artistwill bring even more light to the cult phenomenon (can we still it that?) known asThe Room. Still, this snub has to hurt. Most speculate that Franco and his movie didn’t make the cut because of the sexual misconduct accusations that came out after the actor won his Golden Globe for Best Actor. It certainly didn’t help him at all when it came time to call out the Oscars.
3Tom Hanks for Best Actor in The Post
How can Tom Hanks be in a movie this good and not at least garner an Oscar nomination? Who knows? However, anybody who has watchedThe Postknows that at as great as Meryl Streep is inThe Post(and she was nominated for Best Actress), every Ali needs their Frazier. Hanks and Streep go back and forth here and the scenes between them sizzle like the screwball comedy films of Frank Capra. Also, when one considers how the news media is being assailed every day by our current Administration, how could this important performance in this important film be snubbed when it comes to the Oscars?
2My Life as a Zucchini for Best Animated Film
Alright, this snub is probably not a snub if we’re going by the legitimate definition of the term.My Life as a Zucchiniwas released on July 05, 2025 in the United States. However, it came out in France on May 15 of 2016. So, that probably disqualified it for any sort of Academy consideration. But this is still a snub. Why? The Academy seems to have a history of bending or altering rules… for certain people. How else to explain why Mel Gibson’sThe Passion of the Christwas nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004? That film was many things but it was no more a Foreign Film thanGood Burger. Considering the message ofMy Life as a Zucchini, the artistry, and it’s sheer genre bending nature, I don’t know why the Academy couldn’t have made an exception. Due to that I am considering this a major Oscar snub!
1Steven Spielberg as Best Director for The Post
ForThe Postdirector Steven Spielberg it must’ve felt like 1976 all over again. That year he was snubbed forJaws. It sorta made sense.Jawswas a popcorn picture not a contender for the Oscars. The beginning of McMovies taking over cinema.The Postis an impeccable film about a timely subject. In fact,The Postmight be more of a political film thanMunich. Whatever the case, this tale of the release of the Pentagon papers which was ultimately a precursor to the Watergate scandal that got Richard Nixon ousted from office, shows a director at the top of his craft. Why was Spielberg not recognized? Could it be that he normally is and the Academy felt that it was time for new blood? Whatever the reason this is a glaring omission.
