Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s Oscar snub for Barbie has been the talk of the town, with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences being condemned for it. But such snubs are not new. Jn the history of the Oscars, several best-director snubs were surprising, and they still sting many devout fans.
Gerwig’s omission from the best director Oscar nod is certainly surprising, considering the hype of the movie and the previous award ceremonies where the director never failed to appear in the nods. But history repeats, and here are 7 directors who were snubbed at the Oscars.
Also read: Every Movie Where Leonardo DiCaprio Was Snubbed at the Oscars Before Killers of the Flower Moon
7. Christopher Nolan – The Dark Knight
Similar to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Christopher Nolan directed DC movie The Dark Knight had eight nominations winning two, including Heath Ledger’s posthumous best supporting actor win. Nolan was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Awards but missed the nods in several ceremonies, including Golden Globes. For many fans and critics, The Dark Knight has been one of the best comic-book movies and Nolan’s early best works.
6. Steven Spielberg – Jaws
Jaws is one of the masterful horrors from the mind of Steven Spielberg. The movie has been a cult classic and has an astounding fanbase to date. But surprisingly, director Spielberg was snubbed from the nods, and fans were outraged. Still, many fans consider it one of the biggest Oscar omissions. Jaws had all the nominations except the Best Director nod to Spielberg. The movie won three, including Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound.
5. Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino has to be proud of Django Unchained as the movie received several astounding accolades and is a fan favorite while acquiring a place in the top ten list of many critics including USA Today’s Claudia Puig. American Film Institute named Django Unchained as one of the top ten Movies of the Year. The movie went on to have five Golden Globes and another five Academy Award nominations, but Tarantino never made it to the list of best director category. Surely, the director won the Best Original Screenplay in both events, but the Best Director snub is unforgettable.
4. Denis Villeneuve – Dune
When Denis Villeneuve brought back the world of Dune in 2021 with the epic adventure in the yellow barren land, fans immediately applauded the director’s visionary approach while making the movie. It was stunning. Dune emerged victorious in six categories— cinematography, editing, score, visual effects, production design, and sound— yet, the director was snubbed from the nomination. Dune: Part Two is all set to hit the theaters on 15 March 2024. The director may secure a nod this time.
3. Ben Affleck – Argo
Ben Affleck’s Argo won the Best Picture Academy Award, which is a great feat for the actor/director, but the Best Director snub in the nomination remained surprising for most fans. The movie won three Oscars at the 85th Academy Awards out of a total of seven nods. The historical drama thriller film still has an astounding list of accolades to cherish.
2. David Fincher – Se7en
Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Spacey starrer David Fincher’s movie Se7en is arguably one of the best mystery thrillers in Hollywood. While Fincher has three Academy nods for his directorial masterclasses in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, and Mank, it is still surprising that the director was snubbed from the Oscar nods for his astounding craft while making Se7en. The movie received one nomination at the 68th Academy Awards for Best Film Editing.
1. Ridley Scott – Alien
The original Ridley Scott’s Alien is a science fiction horror classic with astounding accolades. The movie has steadily forged a cult classic status for the masterful visionary of the legendary director reflected on the screen. However, the Academy was not so favorable to the space horror as expected. Scott was omitted from the nomination. The movie only received two nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects, securing one for the later category.
