Many of your favorites probably didn’t make the cut. Thursday, Jan. 22 marked the end of aggressive campaigning by studios for Oscar nominations, as nominees across all 24 categories were announced. Now, the real work begins: convincing the Academy that your pick should win this long and famous race for cinematic glory. Fans and studios have a similar job during the awards season in Hollywood — rooting for favorites and groaning when the opposition wins. With the nominees released, it’s necessary to take time to prepare for the future competition and also reflect on those left in the dust.
The Oscars have always left people disappointed. Whether it be the ones who lost or winners wishing for more than they have received, there are those kept out of the hallowed spotlight a little golden trophy brings. However, some filmmakers and performers never make it to the ceremony at all. This year, some of the biggest names of 2025 will not have the opportunity to walk the red carpet.
Ariana Grande was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2025 after an extremely successful theater run for Wicked, which grossed over $700 million worldwide. Though she ultimately lost the award to Zoe Saldaña, many looked to Wicked: For Good as Grande’s second chance at the honor. The sequel that returns audiences to a darker Oz is largely meant to be Glinda’s movie, with the color scheme shifting from primarily green to pink hues. Despite a more emotional performance by Grande, the nomination for Best Supporting Actress eluded her in 2026 — to the anger of many fans.
Grande was not the only snubbed member of Wicked: For Good. Though its predecessor earned a whopping 10 Oscar nominations and brought home two, Wicked: For Good failed to be nominated for anything, even the widely expected nomination for Costume Design, which Paul Tazewell secured the previous year. It seems that though the sequel was much beloved, earning around $500 million at the box office, the critics in the Academy just couldn’t cheer for that contender.
Many other notable individual performances of the year were left off of the 2026 nomination list. After Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson delivered what was considered a moving portrayal of wrestler Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, generating a 70% critic score and a 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, his name was thrown into the ring as an Oscar consideration. Jennifer Lawrence, too, was described as having given an interpretation of a mother in crisis that “demands instant Oscar attention,” according to Vanity Fair. Yet, both of these powerhouses were dismissed by the Academy, leading to another aspect of the 2026 Oscar nominations: the surprises.
The trailer for Song Sung Blue looked, admittedly, underwhelming. A movie about a Neil Diamond tribute band that was clearly attempting to cash in on the recent boom of music biopics, Song Sung Blue flopped in theaters, bringing in only $49 million dollars. Despite this, Kate Hudson somehow secured a Best Actress nomination for playing singer Claire Sardina, creating one of the most shocking upsets in the 2026 Oscar nomination pool.
Another nominee that managed to squeeze its way into the field was F1. This fast-paced sports drama about a grizzled racecar driver teaming up with a fresh and popular youngster was actually enjoyable in theaters. With impressive sound, terrific music and an electrifying story, F1 was the perfect summer film, and audiences clearly loved it, as it brought in over $630 million dollars. However, F1 never seemed to be serious competition for an Oscar nomination — until it snatched up one of the 10 coveted Best Picture spots. Though the Academy used to only offer five spots for the Best Picture category, the field was widened to 10 in 2009, leading to more space for underdogs to press their way through. Unfortunately, it is unlikely for F1 to win the Best Picture trophy against films such as Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners and Frankenstein, but the honor of a nomination might be reward enough.
The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15, and for these next two months, debate will rage on over who should prevail. Each of us has an opinion and a beloved actor, actress or film, but it is ultimately the Academy that decides — on the nominations and the winners. This fact causes many movies that are well-loved and even acclaimed by general audiences, such as Wicked: For Good or the new adaptation of Superman, to be cast aside for films and performances more to the Academy’s taste. Though this divide may always remain, this awards season still holds a special place in movie-lovers’ hearts, as we cause an uproar over snubs and cheer on the little guys we didn’t expect to make it this far.
Jane Locke is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences. She can be reached at jal562@cornell.edu.
