While Sinners made history Thursday morning by breaking the record for the most Oscar nominations for one film, several other movies and performances were notably left out of the 2026 competition.
One of the biggest surprises was the complete shutout of Wicked: For Good, the fan-favorite sequel starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Despite massive box office success after its November 2025 release, the film failed to secure a single nomination.
Grande had been recognized throughout the awards season, earning nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Still, neither she nor the film were nominated today.
Other notable snubs included Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, who were left out for their roles in The Smashing Machine. Both actors earned Golden Globe nominations for their critically acclaimed performances but were not recognized by the Academy.
Chase Infiniti, the 25-year-old star of One Battle After Another, was also excluded from the best actress race after getting Golden Globe, Critics Choice, BAFTA and Actor Awards nods.
Oscar voters completely ignored Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest. While the film has not received any major awards nominations this season, the title track made the Oscars Shortlist in the best original song category in December. In a recent interview with Urban Hollywood 411, the song’s writer and singer, Aiyana-Lee, said it was “an honor” to make the shortlist after Lee discovered her on social media.
There were also several surprise nominations. Sinners star Delroy Lindo received his first Oscar nod, landing a spot in the best supporting actor category. His nomination came as a surprise after being overlooked by the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and Actor Awards.
Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners led all films with 16 nominations, the most ever received by a single movie. Coogler earned nominations for directing and original screenplay, while Michael B. Jordan was nominated for Best Actor for his dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 in Los Angeles. The ceremony airs live on ABC.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
