Snubs and surprises from the 2025 Oscar nominations

The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced on January 23, and while it represents the pinnacle of cinematic achievement, it’s also a crushing blow for some.

Yes, a wide range of films were recognized with nominations, but some achievements and efforts were overlooked – the dreaded, so-called “snub”. And where there’s a snub, there can also be a surprise — a movie or show that got a nomination that pundits might not have seen coming.

Here’s a look at some of this year’s Oscars and surprises.

Snubs:

Denzel Washington

The two-time Oscar winner is an Oscar favorite with a total of nine acting nominations, but he was shut out this year for “Gladiator II.” In fact, the entire film was shut out and failed to pick up a single nomination.

Nicole Kidman

Like Washington, Kidman is another perennial Oscar darling with five career nominations, but no dice this time for her role in “Baby girl.” She had garnered plenty of critical acclaim and won Best Actress from the National Board of Review, but she couldn’t get a nomination here.

Pamela Andersen

The former “Baywatch” star had created some serious buzz for her appearance as a dancer in a Las Vegas revue in “The Last Showgirl.” She even earned a Golden Globe nomination for the role, but that didn’t translate to Oscar recognition. Her co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also failed to win a nomination.

Angelina Jolie

It may be hard to believe, but Jolie hasn’t been nominated since 2009, and her only other nomination came when she won in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted.” It felt like her streak would be broken thanks to her role as opera singer Maria Callas in “Maria,” but it wasn’t to be.

Daniel Craig

His role as an American in 1950s Mexico who becomes possessed by a younger man in “Queer” had earned him several nominations from various outlets, but failed to score an Oscar nomination. The veteran actor, best known for playing James Bond, has yet to be nominated for an Oscar in his career.

Selena Gomez

“Emilia Pérez” is the most nominated film of the year with 14 nods, but Gomez, who is arguably the film’s biggest star, was not among them.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Jean-Baptiste, who earned an Oscar nod in 1997 for “Secrets & Lies,” took home awards for his work in “Hard Truths” from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. However, it could not influence the voters, who did not reward her with an Oscar nomination.

Surprises

“The Substance”

Demi Moore has been the talk of Hollywood in recent months. Now, she’s earned a best actress nomination for “The Substance,” which followed her Golden Globe win for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy. The film itself also got plenty of other Oscar love, with five nods in total, including best picture and best director ones for Coralie Fargeat.

“The Apprentice”

Star Sebastian Stan is up for best actor for his portrayal of a younger Donald Trump in the controversial film, which earned a pair of nominations. Jeremy Strong earned the film’s second Best Supporting Actor nod.

Karla Sofia Gascón

Gascon broke down a barrier by becoming one first openly transgender actor to earn an Oscar nominationand wins Best Actress honors for “Emilia Pérez.”

Fernanda Torres

Torres is not a household name, but she may soon be. While Kidman and Jolie were left out in the Oscar cold, Torres is nominated for best actress for “I’m Still Here,” building on her Golden Globe win for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, drama — where she beat a field filled with stars like Kidman, Jolie and Kate Winslet.