The Academy Awards proceeded largely according to plan and with Oppenheimer dominating the nominations, everyone anticipated that it would win some awards that evening and did rule the show.
However, there were a number of surprises or snubs at the 2024 Oscars.
Some fans of I’m Just Ken clung to the remote possibility that Barbie’s humorous hit would take home the Best Original Song award, or when Tim Robbins mispronounced his line and introduced Robert De Niro as “Oscar-winning” rather than “Oscar-worthy,” and Lupito Nyong’o made Da’Vine Joy Randolph cry with her moving introduction.
In addition, the 96th Annual Academy Awards featured several amazing moments as well as a few surprises. These were the high points and low points of Sunday’s ABC broadcast.
Surprise
It was unexpected to see a very nude John Cena present the Costume Design Award. At first, it was a flashback to when a streaker appeared on stage at the 46th Academy Awards. The next thing we know, Cena emerges from behind the stage to declare that he does not wish to perform the streaker routine.
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Snub
Despite ten nominations, Killers of the Flower Moon was not accepted. Alright, that occurs during award shows. However, this was director Martin Scorsese’s third movie, after 2019’s The Irishman and 2002’s Gangs of New York, to receive a score of 0-10 on Oscar night. Everyone agrees that one of the best directors of our time is Scorsese. It’s difficult to explain why it would happen three times to the same director—a legend, no less.
Snub
Bradley Cooper’s second feature film as a director, Maestro, opened to a 0–7 total. Cooper’s first feature film as director, A Star Is Born, also had a dismal night at the Oscars. Only the best original song won out of a total of 1–8. Cooper has a poor record of 0–12 nominations at the Oscars in his own right.
Surprise
After what was thought to be a close race with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Japanese movie The Boy and the Heron, took home the best-animated feature film award. Although most analysts gave Spider-Verse a slight advantage, The Boy and the Heron also won at the BAFTAs, so its victory here wasn’t shocking. 21 years prior, for Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki won in the same category with his film. The first non-American-born winner in this category is Miyazaki, who was born in Japan.
Snub
Barbie won just one award from its eight nominations—a somewhat disappointing showing for the year’s top box-office hit. But box-office success and Oscar glory don’t always go hand-in-hand. This is the fifth year in a row that the year’s top box-office hit won just one or even no Oscars.
Snub
Greta Gerwig’s lack of a nomination for Best Director was a delayed development. At the beginning of the show, host Jimmy Kimmel didn’t address the elephant in the room for a full four minutes. Kimmel joked, “I know you are clapping, but you are the ones who didn’t vote for her, by the way,” as the applause started.
Surprise
It was surprising but obvious that the Twin’s reunion of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito got a standing ovation.
Surprise
It was surprising that Wes Anderson was a no-show for his first-ever Oscar win.
Surprise
Hope its safe to say it’s surprising Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell now have two Oscars. Gerwig has none.
