It often feels like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gets the Oscar nominations wrong. Ask anyone on social media, read the press or stop a passerby on the street and you’ll likely hear disagreement with at least one choice. The spotlight this year has focused as much on behind-the-scenes decisions — a canceled host and then a last-minute reversal about presenting major categories during commercial breaks — as on the nominations themselves.
Criticism is inevitable, but it is also an opportunity to highlight outstanding artists who were overlooked. Below is a refined list of the five most notable snubs from the Oscars 2019 nominations, presented clearly and concisely.
1. Lynne Ramsay – Directing
You Were Never Really Here star Joaquin Phoenix with director Lynne Ramsay. Image: /Film
In 2019 there have still been only a handful of women nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. While Greta Gerwig’s nomination for Lady Bird was a breakthrough, the absence of Scottish auteur Lynne Ramsay from the 2019 Best Director shortlist is especially conspicuous.
Ramsay’s film You Were Never Really Here garnered acclaim at major festivals and showcased singular directorial vision, yet it failed to secure a single nomination. The film’s early release window and modest awards campaigning may have limited its exposure, but omission of Ramsay from the five directing slots suggests that influence and studio backing still play an oversized role in awards recognition.
Ramsay’s work on that film remains among the most striking and original of 2018. Her exclusion from the directing category is a notable oversight and highlights ongoing issues with how the Academy identifies and rewards auteur cinema.
2. Justin Hurwitz – Original Score
Hurwitz won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score for First Man.
Justin Hurwitz’s score for Damien Chazelle’s First Man was widely praised for its emotional sweep and atmospheric range. Blending a classic sci‑fi tone with more intimate, balletic textures, the soundtrack became integral to the film’s storytelling and pacing.
Despite recognition at the Golden Globes, Hurwitz did not make the Academy’s Original Score shortlist. The 2019 nominees were strong — from superhero and animated films to intimate dramas — but Hurwitz’s omission stands out because his score was central to the film’s identity and had received early awards-season momentum.
Whether the gap reflects fierce competition or other industry dynamics, leaving Hurwitz off the Oscars list felt like a disservice to one of the year’s most memorable film scores.
3. The Favourite – Hair & Make‑Up
Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite received many nominations across the awards season, but its absence from the Hair & Make‑Up category surprised many critics and industry observers. The film’s period styling and transformative prosthetics play a defining role in character, tone and humor — elements that are frequently decisive in awards recognition for period pieces.
This category had only three nominees in 2019, which makes the omission of a film so dependent on hair and make‑up especially noticeable. Scenes in The Favourite deliberately call attention to character make‑up and visual contrast, underscoring how essential the department’s work is to the film’s effect. Adding the film to this shortlist would have better reflected the craft that shaped its distinct look.
4. Ethan Hawke – Actor in a Leading Role
Ethan Hawke’s performance in Paul Schrader’s First Reformed was a raw, morally intense portrayal that anchored the film. He transformed a difficult, existential character into a deeply human figure, delivering one of his strongest performances in recent years.
Controversy around comments made by the film’s director and limited awards campaigning muted the film’s presence during nominations season, and Hawke was ultimately left off the Best Actor list. The final nominees included familiar and well‑publicized performances, but Hawke’s omission suggests the Academy missed a chance to honor a profoundly disciplined and affecting lead performance.
5. Toni Collette – Actress in a Leading Role
Toni Collette’s turn in Ari Aster’s Hereditary was widely lauded as one of the year’s most visceral and daring performances. Collette anchored the film with a ferocious, emotionally unflinching portrayal, turning potentially outlandish horror setup into believable human stakes.
Despite the increasing mainstream attention paid to genre films, horror still faces barriers when it comes to awards recognition. Collette’s absence from the Best Actress shortlist — amid a strong field that included both veteran and breakout performers — underscores the lingering bias toward certain genres and the Academy’s narrower view of what constitutes awards‑worthy acting.
These omissions raise broader questions about how the Oscars evaluate artistry, campaign influence, genre bias and industry visibility. While awards will always provoke debate, spotlighting worthy overlooked work helps broaden the conversation about excellence in contemporary cinema.
Which nominations do you think were the biggest snubs of Oscars 2019? Share your thoughts and the films or performances you believe should have been recognized.