Let’s face it: the Oscars are just as legendary for the snubs as for the speeches. For each tear-streamed “thank you” moment, there’s an angry crowd of fans seething that their beloved star left without any hardware. For decades, some of Hollywood’s most talented performers have amassed nominations, rave reviews, and blockbuster hits only to be left out when it counts most. So grab some popcorn and a little indignation, here are the 10 most egregious Oscar snubs in Hollywood history, counted down for maximum drama.
10. Michelle Williams
Few performers do heartbreak as well as Michelle Williams. With five nominations to her name (Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea, The Fabelmans), she has perfected the art of emotional truth on screen. But Oscar glory continues to elude her. Even choosing to go out on a limb and campaign in the lead actress category for The Fabelmans, knowing it would sacrifice an easier victory in supporting, is evidence of her integrity. Williams is long overdue, plain and simple.
9. Toni Collette
Toni Collette can do everything, comedy, drama, horror, name it. She received a nomination for The Sixth Sense, but horror has always been the Academy’s blind spot. Proof: no nod for her terrifyingly brilliant performance in Hereditary. Even in 2024, with a lead role in Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2, a small release derailed her Oscar buzz. Toni’s range is unbelievable, but she’s still waiting for that golden moment.
8. Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder is more than an actress, as she’s a cultural reference point. From cult favorites such as Beetlejuice to Oscar bait such as Little Women and The Age of Innocence, she’s demonstrated range. Two nominations, no wins. Even today, with her current comeback in Stranger Things, fans are reminded just how much she’s contributed to Hollywood. How she’s never won an Oscar is a wonder.
7. Isabelle Huppert
International heavy-hitter Isabelle Huppert has glided effortlessly from French, American, Korean, and Polish cinema, and her Elle nomination was a welcome achievement for a foreign-language actress. But her fondness for daring, offbeat performances beyond Hollywood’s commercial mainstream has prevented her from winning an Oscar. Nevertheless, her craft is louder than any award.
6. Thelma Ritter
With six supporting actress nominations, Thelma Ritter holds the record that no actor actually desires: most nominations, zero wins. Famous for her biting sarcasm and no-nonsense dames in movies such as All About Eve and Pillow Talk, she was the scene-stealer of mid-century Hollywood. The stage eventually awarded her a Tony, but the Academy? Nada.
5. Deborah Kerr
From 1950 through 1961, Deborah Kerr was one of the top actresses of her time, nominated six times for classics such as From Here to Eternity and The King and I. She racked up plenty of awards elsewhere, but the Oscars never did. Later, she transitioned to theater and television, leaving behind a career marked as much by what she did as by what slipped through her fingers.
4. Gena Rowlands
Few couples have been as artistically fruitful as Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes. They revolutionized indie filmmaking with films such as A Woman Under the Influence. Rowlands received two nominations but no wins, most probably because her best performances were outside Hollywood. An Honorary Oscar in 2016 was deserved, but quite a few still maintain that it was too late.
3. Glenn Close
Eight nominations, zero victories. Glenn Close’s body of work is loaded—Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, The Big Chill, and so on, but Oscar evening always appears to conclude in despair. She’s already won at the Golden Globes, Emmys, and Tonys and is therefore one of the most honored actors living. Yet her Oscar drought has essentially become an awards-season joke.
2. Amy Adams
Six nods, zero wins. Amy Adams has blown us away with everything from Junebug to Vice, showcasing herself as one of Hollywood’s most skilled talents. With over 300 nominations and 75 wins worldwide, she’s a critical darling and fan favorite. But Oscar evening? Still out of bounds. Fans keep holding out hope, knowing it’s just a matter of time, hopefully.
1. Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper is possibly the Oscar heartbreak king. With 12 nominations spanning acting, writing, directing, and producing (Silver Linings Playbook, A Star Is Born, Maestro, etc.), he’s achieved everything except for taking home the prize. He has all this creative range and box office power, yet he’s never had his name called. His snubs at this point are almost startling. How does one person with this kind of resume continually fall short?
Naturally, Oscar history isn’t so much about who loses or wins, it’s about what the decisions mean. For all these decades, women and marginalized voices have been left behind; only three female directors have ever taken home Best Director. These snubs underscore not just isolated injustices but a system that’s still playing catch-up with the times. So next time you watch the Oscars, keep in mind: often the most enduring stars aren’t the ones holding the award, they’re the ones we’re still discussing years from now.