From Margot Robbie to Leonardo DiCaprio, these are biggest Oscar snubs of 2024

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY
Updated ·5 min read
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For many in Hollywood, it’s the most delightful (or dreaded) day of the year.

Scores of A-listers have been stumping for their respective films and performances, in a breakneck awards season truncated by the nearly four-month Screen Actors Guild strike. On Tuesday, big names such as Willem Dafoe ("Poor Things") and Julianne Moore ("May December") awoke to the unhappy news that they were snubbed for Oscar nominations, while the team behind "Saltburn" kept their champagne corked after being blanked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Although there’s still much to celebrate, here are the most shocking omissions from the much-anticipated announcement:

Margot Robbie

In summer hit "Barbie," America Ferrera, left, Ariana Greenblatt and Margot Robbie are in for a shock when they return to Barbie Land.
In summer hit "Barbie," America Ferrera, left, Ariana Greenblatt and Margot Robbie are in for a shock when they return to Barbie Land.

No one campaigned harder than Robbie this awards season, attending every Q&A and roundtable imaginable to bang the drum for her billion-dollar blockbuster “Barbie.” Robbie gave the iconic doll a beating heart, beautifully conveying her journey from an unattainable ideal to a complex human woman. Her omission in best actress is even more appalling given that her co-stars Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera were each acknowledged in supporting categories.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the conniving Ernest Burkhart in "Killers of the Flower Moon," a historical drama about the 1920s murders of the Osage Nation.
Leonardo DiCaprio plays the conniving Ernest Burkhart in "Killers of the Flower Moon," a historical drama about the 1920s murders of the Osage Nation.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” had a robust showing across the board, with 10 nods including best supporting actor (Robert De Niro) and best actress (Lily Gladstone, the first Native American nominated in the category). But after glaring snubs from the Screen Actors Guild Awards and British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), DiCaprio was shunned in best actor for the Martin Scorsese epic. While many awards pundits have been predicting his snub for weeks, it’s still a mild surprise given DiCaprio’s Oscar pedigree (six acting nominations and one win for “The Revenant”).

Greta Gerwig

Writer/director Greta Gerwig, left, and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto on the set of "Barbie."
Writer/director Greta Gerwig, left, and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto on the set of "Barbie."

Apparently, creating a pop-culture juggernaut isn’t enough to land a slot in the mostly male directing field. (Although we're elated Justine Triet made the cut for "Anatomy of a Fall"!) With “Barbie,” Gerwig brought her unique sensibilities to a polarizing toy, making a film that was equal parts eye-popping and profoundly emotional. Sure, her clever script with Noah Baumbach was recognized in the best adapted screenplay. But her absence in best director is jarring, to say the least, and could swing the pendulum in favor of “Barbie” when it comes to best picture. (Remember Ben Affleck and “Argo?”) There was resounding online furor when Gerwig missed best director for “Little Women” in 2020, and the outcry will only be louder this year.

'Barbie' to 'Holdovers': Here's how to stream Oscar-nominated movies right now

Charles Melton

Julianne Moore, left, and Charles Melton in "May December," which is loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau case.
Julianne Moore, left, and Charles Melton in "May December," which is loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau case.

It was an awards season Cinderella story: a young actor plucked from a teen soap (CW’s “Riverdale”), winning rave reviews and major critics’ prizes for his first dramatic turn in “May December,” in which he holds his own against Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. But the tide began to shift against Melton in recent weeks, after missing out at SAG and BAFTA. We’d been holding onto the faint hope that Melton might sneak into best supporting actor, but sadly, the movie's dark humor and melodrama might've been alienating to Academy members. The film only managed one nomination for best original screenplay.

Bradley Cooper

Carey Mulligan, left, and director/star Bradley Cooper on the set of "Maestro."
Carey Mulligan, left, and director/star Bradley Cooper on the set of "Maestro."

Yes, we know Cooper got a best actor nod for “Maestro,” portraying a makeup-caked version of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. But the movie star-turned-filmmaker has been gunning hard for his first best director nomination, after being passed over in the category for 2018’s “A Star Is Born.” Cooper’s awards campaign has focused almost squarely on his work behind the camera, but it appears that the famously stuffy directors branch isn’t quite ready to welcome him into the club.

Dominic Sessa

In Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers," Dominic Sessa plays a rebellious teen who's forced to stay at boarding school over Christmas.
In Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers," Dominic Sessa plays a rebellious teen who's forced to stay at boarding school over Christmas.

If you’re fans of “The Holdovers” like us, then you know just what a fantastic discovery this first-time actor is. With co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph leading the best supporting actress race, and Paul Giamatti picking up steam in best actor, we had hoped Sessa could ride their coattails to a well-deserved nod for best supporting actor. Although he didn’t cross the finish line this year, we have no doubt that 21-year-old Sessa will be back in the running very soon.

Greta Lee

Teo Yoo, left, Greta Lee and John Magaro are caught in a love triangle in "Past Lives."
Teo Yoo, left, Greta Lee and John Magaro are caught in a love triangle in "Past Lives."

Team "Past Lives" has run a stellar campaign this awards season, keeping the gentle romantic drama top of voters’ minds a full year after its acclaimed Sundance Film Festival debut. Celine Song’s first feature managed nominations for best picture and best original screenplay, but its heart-wrenching performances ? from the luminous Lee and tender John Magaro ? were sadly overlooked.

'Origin'

Jon Bernthal, left, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in "Origin."
Jon Bernthal, left, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in "Origin."

Celebrities ranging from Ben Affleck to Angelina Jolie hit the pavement to support “Origin” in recent weeks, touting the stunning achievements of director Ava DuVernay and actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as they tackled the far-reaching implications of the caste system. But unfortunately, the Hail Mary campaign wasn’t enough to push this challenging epic into the Oscar fold.

'The Color Purple'

"The Color Purple"
"The Color Purple"

It’ll be fascinating to look back and analyze what exactly went wrong with this star-studded movie musical, which garnered glowing reviews but quickly petered out at the box office. The film’s awards haul was a mixed bag throughout the season, and its excellent performances were often overshadowed by a headline-making promotional tour. While Steven Spielberg’s 1985 original picked up 11 Oscar nods, this new “Color Purple” walked away with just one for best supporting actress (Danielle Brooks).

'All of Us Strangers'

Paul Mescal, left, and Andrew Scott in the haunting gay drama "All of Us Strangers."
Paul Mescal, left, and Andrew Scott in the haunting gay drama "All of Us Strangers."

Like “Color Purple,” this is another case of “what exactly went wrong?” Andrew Haigh’s gorgeous tearjerker should’ve been a shoo-in for multiple nominations, including best adapted screenplay and best actor (Andrew Scott), as well as nods for its phenomenal supporting cast of Paul Mescal, Claire Foy and Jamie Bell. Although the film has been on the festival circuit for months, its drawn-out theatrical release hasn’t helped in generating word of mouth. The marketing also pushed a steamy romance over the delicate family drama it really is, which may have confused viewers going in.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz delivers another captivating turn as a grieving mother and savvy businesswoman in "Ferrari."
Penélope Cruz delivers another captivating turn as a grieving mother and savvy businesswoman in "Ferrari."

Cruz will always elevate whatever film she’s in, no matter how lousy (“Nine”) or overwrought (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”). The same goes for Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” which only finds a pulse whenever the volcanic A-lister is on screen. After scooping up a surprise SAG nomination for best supporting actress, we had hoped Cruz would earn her fifth Oscar nod. But her shattering work was ultimately ignored.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biggest Oscar snubs: These names are missing from the nominations list

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