Yahoo Lifestyle These Most Egregious 2025 Oscar Snubs Are Straight-Up Offensive
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has spoken. The 2025 Oscar nominations were finally announced on Thursday (after two L.A. fire-related delays), and if we are to take the voting body's word for it, Emilia Pérez was the most award-worthy movie of the year. But, *ahem*, here at Cosmo, we beg to differ. (Sorry, Emilia, but you lost my Best Picture vote at "from penis to vaginaaaa.")
The controversial musical may have come out on top with 13 noms—with The Brutalist and Wicked both picking up 10—but that doesn't mean it was the most deserving, or that the Academy got it right. And I've got the list of most egregious 2025 Oscar snubs to prove it—ranked from most to least surprising.
Nicole Kidman — Babygirl
Um, excuse me, Academy voters, I think you might have forgotten to watch Babygirl. There is no way you could have watched this tantalizing drama and not have nominated Nicole Kidman. Yes, she's won an Oscar before, and, yes, she's been nominated many times, but that doesn't make her performance in Babygirl any less deserving.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — Challengers
If you've been paying attention this awards season, you probably figured that noms for Challengers in Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, and any acting categories were long-shots. But the movie seemed like a lock for Best Score. In fact, after their Golden Globes win, many thought Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross would walk away with the win. Instead, the the film was completely shut out.
In the words of Cosmopolitan Entertainment Editor Tamara Fuentes, "Nothing for Challengers is homophobic."
Denzel Washington — Gladiator II
Say what you will about Gladiator II (and, between you and me, I have), but Denzel Washington gave one of the most entertaining, delightful performances of the year. It's the highlight of the film and it absolutely should have been rewarded.
A Real Pain
I knew it would be a long-shot for Jesse Eisenberg to get a Best Director nomination for A Real Pain, though I maintain that it is an exquisitely directed film that deserves more praise for its steady pacing, concise story telling, and—most memorably—the sensitive, empathetic, non-exploitative concentration camp sequence that truly took my breath away.
Putting that predictable snub aside, I'm shocked this movie didn't get a Best Picture nod. IMO, it was one of the best films of the year and it should have at least earned a spot.
Clarence Maclin — Sing Sing
Sing Sing was an early Oscar front-runner, but it clearly lost steam during the voting period for the Academy. Not only did it lose out on a Best Picture nod, but it was also snubbed for Best Supporting Actor. Clarence Maclin, the breakout star who also co-wrote and executive produced the film, was an early favorite in this category but missed out on a nomination entirely. Given the fact that he was snubbed at the Golden Globes, it's not that surprising, but still upsetting! Thankfully, he did get a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste — Hard Truths
Marianne Jean-Baptiste's performance in Hard Truths has been praised by critics as one of the best of the year, so why was it left out of the 2025 Oscar nominees? It could be because Hard Truths has barely been released in the U.S., making it difficult to build momentum stateside, but The New York Times'Award Season Columnist Kyle Buchanan has another theory: it's all in the character.
The reporter noted in his column that there were many "male voters I spoke to who simply didn't like the character," adding, "When a woman suffers nobly, it's Oscar bait. But when she makes others suffer, not so much." Given the Academy's dreadful track record of recognizing female stories, I'm not surprised, just disappointed.
Denis Villeneuve — Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture—but unfortunately, a Best Director nomination for Denis Villeneuve was not among them. I'll let Senior Entertainment Editor Emma Baty explain:
"To nominate two separate films in a series, Dune and Dune: Part Two, for Best Picture—literally the highest honor they can give a film—and not nominate that film’s director in either instance is actually bonkers to me," she says. "Who do they think made the movies?! Was the director’s chair just…vacant? Apparently, they think so!"
Pamela Anderson — The Last Showgirl
If Cosmo Social Media Editor Corinne Bickel had her way, Pamela Anderson would have finally gotten her due this year with a Best Actress nod for The Last Showgirl. "It has felt like the last couple of years there has been such a major buildup to Pamela's return to acting (dare I say the Pamela Anderson Renaissance?!), and with The Last Showgirl she returned with a real bang," Corinne says.
She adds, "It was so evident watching the film that Pam put so much into this and literally fought tooth and nail to get this role. It would have been so cool to see her finally get her flowers for a film that seemed so personal to her."
Margaret Qualley — The Substance
The Substance was a dark horse in this Oscar race, earning five nominations, including big ones for Best Picture, Best Director, and a Best Actress nod for Demi Moore—who has a pretty good chance of winning come March. Unfortunately, Margaret Qualley didn't make the cut in the Best Supporting Actress category this time around, but I do believe this is just the beginning. She'll be back for her shot soon enough.
Honorable Mentions:
Harris Dickinson — Babygirl
Harris Dickinson has been overlooked this entire awards season, so while it's not so surprising he didn't get a nomination, I still think it's a miscarriage of justice. This man did not give us the best (non-musical) dance sequence of 2024 to be treated like this!
Halina Reijn — Babygirl
Best Director is a tough category to break into. But, in a year that includes Emilia Pérez's Jacques Audiard (sorry, not sorry!), there really is no excuse not to have nominated Halina Reijn, who made one of the most daring films of the year. I would have loved to see her recognized for her complex work. Academy voters, go stand in a corner in silence and think about what you've done.
Jon M. Chu — Wicked
Full disclosure: I'm not super upset that Jon M. Chu didn't get a nod for Wicked, but his absence from the Best Director category is notable given how many other nominations the movie got. But, hey, there's always Wicked: For Good!
Amy Adams — Arrival
What's that? It's 2025 and not 2017 so this isn't technically a snub? Wrong! Every year Amy Adams is not recognized for her career-best work in Arrival is actually an affront to the nature of acting itself. A snub that will live in infamy!
The 97th Oscars will air live on Sunday, March 3 on ABC and Hulu.
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