The biggest snubs at the 2021 Oscar nominations


The 2021 Oscar nominations have been unveiled, and while they might not have been quite as unexpected as the Golden Globes' picks, that's not to say there weren't a few major snubs.
Here are the biggest surprise omissions from this year's nominations.
1. One Night in Miami and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom snubbed for Best Picture
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It seemed likely both films would secure Best Picture nominations, but surprisingly, neither did. Meanwhile, The Father and Sound of Metal, two films whose Best Picture prospects seemed less certain, did earn nods.
2. Regina King and Aaron Sorkin snubbed for Best Director
One Night in Miami's Regina King was left out of the Best Director race, and surprisingly so was The Trial of the Chicago 7's Aaron Sorkin.
3. Delroy Lindo snubbed for Best Actor
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Lindo was once again shockingly snubbed for his performance in Da 5 Bloods, a film that was in general almost completely shut out, though it did get a Best Original Score nod.
4. Jodie Foster snubbed for Best Supporting Actress
Foster unexpectedly won the best supporting actress Golden Globe a few weeks ago, but that didn't prevent her from getting snubbed for The Mauritanian. The same goes for Rosamund Pike, who didn't get nominated despite a Golden Globe win.
5. Chadwick Boseman snubbed for Best Supporting Actor
Boseman was posthumously nominated for Best Actor for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, but surprisingly not Best Supporting Actor for Da 5 Bloods, which would have given him a historic two posthumous acting nods.
6. Mank snubbed for Best Original Screenplay
Mankmay have led the Oscar nominations, but don't get too certain about its Best Picture prospects considering it was also snubbed both for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing, the latter award being one that's typically crucial for a Best Picture victory. It seems Nomadland's position as Best Picture frontrunner may be safe — for now, at least.
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literature
Speed Read László Krasznahorkai is the author of acclaimed novels like ‘The Melancholy of Resistance’ and ‘Satantango’
-
Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91
Speed Read She rose to fame following her groundbreaking field research with chimpanzees
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year