10 biggest snubs, surprises, and talking points from the Oscar nominations 2022

Lady Gaga at the Oscars
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Oscars 2022 nominations are here – and there were more than a handful of snubs and surprises. Jane Campion's exquisite The Power of the Dog came up trumps, leading the pack with 12 nominations, and Dune followed close behind with 10. While Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic may have won multiple nominations, the filmmaker himself missed out on the Best Director category. That's just one of the major snubs this awards season.

Below, we go through the biggest highs, lows, and general talking points from the Oscar nominations. And if you want our actual predictions, then make sure to read our piece on the Oscars 2022 predictions.

Drive My Car domination

Drive My Car

(Image credit: Bitters End)

Drive My Car, a Japanese drama about a grieving director who struggles with his latest theatrical production, picked up a Best Picture nomination – a nice surprise for a foreign-language film that has been slowly breaking through this awards season. Not only that, but Ryusuke Hamaguchi also picked up a nomination for Best Director, taking the place of...

Denis Villeneuve, robbed!

Hamaguchi's Best Director nomination came at the expense of Denis Villeneuve. Long thought a shoe-in for the award, the Dune director failed to impress his fellow filmmakers with his expansive sci-fi flick. Steven Spielberg was believed to be a maybe, yet managed to pick up a nomination – turns out, being one of Hollywood's most iconic directors and remaking a crowd-pleasing classic is a guaranteed way to get an Oscar nomination. Dune still managed 10 nominations in total, including Best Picture. Without Villeneuve in the directing category, though, the chances of Dune winning the night's big award seems slim. That honour will likely go to...

The Power of the Dog may finally get Netflix that Best Picture win

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of the Dog

(Image credit: Netflix)

The Power of the Dog has been nominated 12 times, making it the frontrunner and very probable winner of Best Picture. There are no other nominees that are as universally adored as Jane Campion's movie – and her Best Director nomination makes her the first woman in history to be nominated for Best Director twice. In the acting categories Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Jesse Plemons were all named. That's some heavyweight action. And if The Power of the Dog does go on to win, then that would be Netflix's first Best Picture win, having previously lost out when it came to Roma, Mank, and The Irishman

The best actress category

Kristen Stewart in Spencer

(Image credit: Neon)

Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter), Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), and Kristen Stewart (Spencer) are this year's nominees for Best Actress – and none of them are in movies nominated for Best Picture. That's a very strange coincidence. However, the two surprises here are Stewart and Cruz, who both failed to pick up SAG nominations, which have historically been accurate Oscar predictors. That also means that there were two snubs, one being Respect's Jennifer Hudson, and the other...

Lady Gaga's House of Gucci

Lady Gaga in House of Gucci

(Image credit: United Artists Releasing/Universal Pictures)

Ridley Scott's tale of revenge, murder, and fashion was largely overlooked in the nominations, netting just one nod for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The biggest shock is undoubtedly Lady Gaga being passed over for a Best Actress nomination for her role of Patrizia Reggiani. Gaga had noms from BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice, and Golden Globes, but no Oscar nomination to add to that list.

Slightly less shocking is Jared Leto's miss. His performance was larger than life, the actor practically disappeared inside the makeup required for the role – but it wasn't enough to nab a nod, even though Leto has already secured nominations for Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild awards. Still, neither Gaga or Leto should be too sad – they've both previously won Oscars, Gaga for her A Star Is Born song "Shallow" and Leto for Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club. 

Ruth Negga and Passing

Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson in Passing

(Image credit: AUM Group)

Ruth Negga seemed set for a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in Rebecca Hall's Passing, but the nominations came and went without a nod for her, despite nominations for BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild awards. In fact, the critically acclaimed Passing didn't manage to net a single nomination in any category. 

The film is Hall's directorial debut, and is an adaptation of Nella Larsen's 1929 novel of the same name. Negga plays Clare, a Black woman who "passes" as white. Tessa Thompson co-stars as Clare's friend Irene Redfield. Though Negga has never won an Oscar, she was nominated in 2015 for Best Actress for Loving. 

Spider-Man: No Show Up

Spider-Man and MJ in No Way Home

(Image credit: Marvel/Sony)

Spider-Man: No Way Home was always going to be a long shot for Best Picture. However, that didn't stop Disney and Marvel pushing the movie on voters following its huge box-office takings. The blockbusters ended up with a singular nomination, for Best Visual Effects, which will no doubt be disappointing to those involved. Still, Tom Holland and crew won't be too disappointed – they've made well over $1.7 billion worldwide.

CODA's feel good victory

Marlee Matlin in CODA

(Image credit: Apple)

CODA both tells a feel-good story and is, itself, a feel-good story. Apple's film about a young hearing girl who's family is Deaf has been an outsider this awards season. Yet, the charming Troy Kotsur has been picking up various Supporting Actor nominations, and now has the ultimate nod – an Oscar nomination. CODA has, as a result, been constantly whispered about by Hollywood's leading lights, and now has a Best Picture nomination. It's a Sundance surprise, staying in people's minds since first screening on January 28, 2021.

Nightmare Alley pulls it back

Nightmare Alley

(Image credit: Searchlight)

Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley has been under the radar this awards season. Despite the director previously winning Best Picture with The Shape of Water, he has not been a big figure on the awards circuit this time around. However, Del Toro has still managed to pull things back, with Nightmare Alley managing to get Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Production Design, and Costume Design. 

Being the Ricardos is an actors favorite... 

Being the Ricardos

(Image credit: Amazon Prime)

Being the Ricardos had a mixed reception. Indeed, at the Oscars, the film failed to pick up any nominations – including Best Picture – outside the acting categories. Inside the acting categories, of course, it's a completely different story. Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and a surprise J.K. Simmons all managed to pick up nominations. So, Being the Ricardos has been somehow both snubbed and picked up surprise nominations. It's fair to say, from here, it's going to be a wild Oscars race.


For more, check out the most exciting upcoming movies heading your way over the next few years.

Jack Shepherd
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

With contributions from
Read more
Oscars
Oscars 2025 nominations list in full – Netflix's divisive drama Emilia Pérez leads the way with 13 nods
Challengers
Denis Villeneuve, Angelina Jolie, and Challengers walked away with zero Oscar nominations – and fans are sounding off
Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Perez
Oscars 2025 predictions: who will win Best Picture, Best Director, and the major acting awards?
Adrien Brody as László Tóth in The Brutalist
Oscars 2025 live coverage: All the winners, red carpet, and the 97th Academy Awards' biggest moments – as it happens
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Dune Part 2.
One Oscars voter slams the Academy for "f**king up so bad" with Denis Villeneuve and Dune 2's snub
BAFTAS
Denis Villeneuve lands BAFTA nomination as Dune 2 and horror movie The Substance get snubbed for best film
Latest in Drama Movies
Matt Damon in The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan is "like an indie filmmaker" with a huge budget says The Odyssey star: "He's not doing it by committee"
Zoe Saldana in Emilia Perez
Netflix CEO breaks silence on the streamer's continuing Best Picture dry streak: "We have to make a movie that people love"
Robert De Niro and Debra Messing in The Alto Knights
Robert De Niro talks embodying his "mythological" gangsters in The Alto Knights, whose real conflict inspired The Godfather
Robert De Niro in The Alto Knights
Robert De Niro talks playing dual roles in his new gangster movie from the co-writer of Goodfellas and Casino – and his surprising personal connection to the film
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later
28 Years Later release date, trailer, cast, and everything else we know so far about Danny Boyle's zombie horror sequel
Ben Affleck in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
The 32 greatest Ben Affleck movies
Latest in Features
Naoe kills a target with a black and white filter over the camera highlighting the red of blood spray in Assassin's Creed Shadows, with an On The Radar orange frame
Assassin's Creed Shadows "has a little bit of Tarantino flavor", but its real secret ingredient is intrigue: "It's almost like you're watching an episode of Shogun"
Helldivers 2 Borderline Justice Warbond helldiver using hoverpack to shoot down with hunting rifle
Talking points from the Game Developers Conference 2025 and how they could impact the future of gaming
Flexispot E7 Plus with plant, monitor, soundbar, and controller on top next to white wall lighting.
Gaming desks vs regular desks: which surface should you buy?
Google Pixel 9a smartphones on a beige background
One Google Pixel 9a feature could make it a better gaming phone than most budget mainstream models
Yasuke and Naoe ready to fight on the Assassin's Creed Shadows On The Radar thumbnail
On The Radar: Assassin's Creed Shadows coverage hub
Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Reacher season 3
Reacher season 3 ending explained: Who dies, does Reacher get his revenge, and how does it set up season 4?