Summary

• Surprise nominations and snubs were the highlight of the 2024 Oscar nominations, with some expected front-runners missing out.
• Charles Melton's acclaimed performance in "May December" was overlooked, despite early buzz and critical acclaim.
• The Academy's decision to classify "Barbie" as an adapted screenplay caused "Killers of the Flower Moon" to miss out in the category.

The nominations for 2024's the 2024 Oscar nominations were released.

Critical darlings like May December and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse did not get the love many anticipated they would. Meanwhile, films like Nyad surprised with nominations. There were also snubs for favorites like Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon, as some branches of the Academy did not embrace elements of the movies that felt like surefire nominations.

15 Charles Melton Snubbed From Best ing Actor

The Critics' Favorite Didn't Get Industry Love

Earlier this awards season, Charles Melton picked up massive buzz for his performance as a man who grew up in a predatory relationship in Todd Haynes' May December. The Riverdale star swept the critic awards, and there was a sense that Melton could get a Best ing Actor nomination at the Oscars — and maybe even win. However, after both SAG and the BAFTA chose to ignore Melton, so did the Academy. It is a shame because Melton is a standout in May December and delivers an incredibly memorable performance. This will not be his last time in the awards conversation.

14 Killers Of The Flower Moon Snubbed From Best Adapted Screenplay

Barbie's Move To The Adapted Category Kicked Out The Scorsese Epic

At almost every other award body, Barbie's screenplay was considered original. However, the Academy determined that it was an adapted screenplay because it was based on the toys made by Mattel. That, along with the somewhat surprising nomination of The Zone of Interest, squeezed Killers of the Flower Moon out of the category. Written by Scorsese and screenwriting legend Eric Roth, this nomination felt like a no-brainer. With 10 nominations, it's hard to say the Academy ignored Scorsese's latest, but it did miss out in some key categories.

13 America Ferrera Got A Surprise Best ing Actress Nomination For Barbie

Despite A Lack Of Precursors, Ferrera Nabbed The Nomination

Because of America Ferrera's show-stopping Barbie monologue, there was always a feeling that she could be surprised on nomination day. After getting a few critic nominations, Ferrera missed the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA, and Critics' Choice, yet she still managed to wiggle her way into the Academy's top five. This is shocking considering she made it in over Penélope Cruz for Ferrari and Sandra Hüller for The Zone of Interest, two performances that felt more Oscar-friendly. Ferrera's nomination just shows the overwhelming for Barbie.

12 A Surprise Directing Nomination For Justine Triet

Anatomy Of A Fall Mostly Overperformed

The winner of the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or is often an awards player, like Triangle of Sadness was last year. For this reason, this year's Palme winner, Anatomy of a Fall, was guaranteed some nominations — but it still overperformed. French filmmaker Justine Triet managed to sneak in and get the best director nomination, the only woman in the category this year. This is a well-deserved nomination, but it comes as a surprise as Triet missed most major precursors and doesn't have a huge legacy of films behind her.

11 Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Snubbed From Best Original Score

Never Bet Against John Williams

Across the Spider-Verse disappointed with only one nomination in the animated feature category, and its biggest snub was Daniel Pemberton's pulse-pounding score. Pemberton had snagged a fair number of nominations before the Oscars, but the surprise inclusion of both American Fiction and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny left no room for Spider-Verse. It appears John Williams is an Academy favorite and manages to get nominations regardless of the film, as he also received a nod for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, an equally maligned movie.

10 Alexander Payne Snubbed From Best Director

Despite The Holdovers Being A Favorite

Alexander Payne has been nominated for best director three times, so with The Holdovers being such a big player this year, it only seemed logical that he would go along for the ride. The Holdovers is perhaps Payne's best film on a technical level, and he picked up major nominations, including the BAFTA, so it was a surprise that Triet and Jonathan Glazer managed to get in over him. Director was a crowded field this year, with so many worthy nominees. Still, it is a shock that an Academy favorite with a beloved film didn't make it in.

9 Nyad Surprised With Two Acting Awards

Both Jodie Foster And Annette Bening Made It In

When Nyad first performed at the fall festivals, it was met with tepid reviews and a reaction that wasn't necessarily negative, even if it didn't scream Oscars. However, the sports biopic kept chugging along, and both Annette Bening and Jodie Foster managed to get Oscar nominations. The film picked up no recognition outside the two actors, but this is still quite the achievement, especially for Bening, who was in the crowded Best Actress lineup alongside some of the most-praised performances of the year.

8 TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Snubbed From Best Animated Feature

Indie Picks Made It In Over The Fan-Favorite

Indie darling Robot Dreams got a surprise nomination for Best Animated Feature, unfortunately leaving no room for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The comic adaption was always in the shadow of Across the Spider-Verse, but it was more than worthy of the nomination, as was Nine Inch Nail's incredible score for the film. With a new Pixar, Miyazaki, and Spider-Verse, this was an incredibly tough year for Best Animated Feature. Even so, it would have been nice to see this hilarious movie get some love.

7 Godzilla Minus One Surprised With A Best Visual Effects Nomination

It Is Now Competing For The Win

Godzilla: Minus One was a surprise in almost every way. What started as a one-week limited engagement in the U.S. has blossomed into Godzilla movie with a record-breaking box office run, becoming one of the most beloved blockbusters in years. The love for Godzilla: Minus One just keeps coming, as it got nominated for a Best Visual Effects Oscar. With Oppenheimer ineligible for the category, it's unclear who will take home the trophy. Godzilla: Minus One is a more than worthy contender, as it created an incredible-looking monster and showcased great effects with a limited budget.

6 El Conde Surprised With A Best Cinematography Nomination

Giving Edward Lachman His Third Nomination

Pablo Larraín's gothic satire went ignored for most of the awards season, but it did get a surprise Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. The gorgeous black-and-white film is shot by Edward Lachman, who is getting his third nomination after his two collaborations with Todd Haynes, Carol and Far From Heaven. The cinematography branch often goes for an overlooked film like El Conde; they did a similar thing for Bardo last year.