Oscar 2026 Shockers: The Most Surprising Snubs Ranked

The 2026 Oscar nominations have landed, and plenty of punters are scratching their heads over who and what got left out. From big-name stars to box office hits, the Academy’s choices have sparked a fair bit of chatter among film fans. Here’s a rundown of the most talked-about omissions from this year’s major categories, ranked from the expected to the downright baffling.

Animated Feature: Chainsaw Man Misses Out

When the shortlist for Best Animated Feature was revealed, many were quick to notice the absence of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc. Despite raking in $159 million worldwide and boasting a loyal following, the anime adaptation didn’t make the cut. The nominees instead included Arco, Elio, KPop Demon Hunters, Little Amelie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2. It’s not the first time anime has been overlooked by Hollywood, but fans were still disappointed to see it snubbed yet again.

Ariana Grande’s Oscar Hopes Dashed

Social media was buzzing after Ariana Grande missed out on a nod for her turn as Glinda in Wicked: For Good. While she was a regular at the Golden Globes, the Academy went in a different direction, favouring Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, and Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another. Grande’s omission stung for fans, but with such a crowded field, it wasn’t the biggest shock of the night.

Paul Mescal Overlooked for Supporting Actor

Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet featured Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, grappling with grief and creativity. Despite strong reviews, Mescal was left out of the Best Supporting Actor race. The Academy instead recognised Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), and Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value). With so many heavy hitters in the mix, Mescal’s omission was tough but perhaps not entirely unexpected.

Jennifer Lawrence Misses Out in a Crowded Field

Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as Grace in Die My Love was widely praised, even if the film itself divided critics. Still, she was edged out by Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia). Lawrence did score a Golden Globe nomination, but the Oscars proved a tougher crowd, possibly put off by the film’s darker, more experimental style.

Dwayne Johnson’s Best Actor Bid Falls Short

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine was tipped by some as a career-best. The film did get a nod for Best Makeup and Hair Styling, but Johnson himself was left out of the Best Actor race. The Academy instead went with Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent). Some reckon the film’s lukewarm box office and mixed reviews didn’t help his chances.

Guillermo del Toro Overlooked for Directing

Frankenstein picked up nine nominations, including a Supporting Actor nod for Jacob Elordi, but director Guillermo del Toro was left out of the Best Director category. Instead, the Academy recognised Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), and Ryan Coogler (Sinners). Del Toro’s omission was one of the night’s bigger surprises, given the film’s critical acclaim and inventive direction.

Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice Shut Out Completely

Perhaps the most jaw-dropping snub of the year was Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, which failed to score a single nomination despite a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and widespread critical praise. The Academy’s picks for Best Picture included Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams. The omission of No Other Choice has been called one of the most inexplicable in recent memory, especially with the film’s strong international buzz and critical support.