2024 was a great year for horror movies. It comes as no surprise that The Substance and Nosferatu have garnered multiple Oscar nominations. Now, I’m going to explore horror getting nominated – and ignored – by The Academy.
Alfred Hitchcock and the Oscars
Rebecca – 1940 -Alfred Hitchcock had exactly one film win Best Picture, and it was Rebecca. The film is a true adaptation of the gothic novel by Daphne Du Maurier. It starred Lawrence Olivier who wanted his then wife, Vivien Leigh, to play the lead role but it ended up going to Joan Fontaine who was Olivia DeHavilland’s sister. The two sisters were rumored to be competitive, so competitive that Joan Fontaine chose to not carry the DeHavilland name. Both Fontaine and Olivier were nominated for their acting in the film.
Foreign Correspondent – 1941 – was nominated for Best Picture, art direction, cinematography, special effects, original screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Albert Bassermann. During this era, black and white films had separate categories from color films.
Suspicion – 1942 – was nominated for Best Picture, original score, and it won Joan Fontaine an Oscar for Best Actress.
Lifeboat – 1944 – was nominated for Best Director, screenplay (original story at the time), and cinematography.
Spellbound – 1946 – was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, cinematography, best effects, and Best Supporting Actor for Michael Chekhov. It won for Best Original Score.
Rear Window – 1954 – was nominated for Best Director, screenplay, Cinematography, and sound.
Psycho – 1960 – was nominated for Best Director, Art Direction, Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actress for Janet Leigh.
Hitchcock’s influence within the industry was phenomenal. He mixed suspense with aspects of horror like no other and pushed the boundaries of cinema with Psycho, shocking audiences with the most famous shower scene in horror. Though he never had that kind of success again, his follow ups The Birds and Marnie gave us stellar performances by Tippy Hedren that went ignored by The Academy.
Beyond Hitchcock
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane – 1963 – It was nominated for costume design (which it won), Sound Mixing, Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress for Bette Davis in what should have been a win.
Rosemary’s Baby – 1968 – This horror film was nominated for three total Oscars. It won Ruth Gordon a Best Supporting Actress trophy and it was nominated for Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress for Mia Farrow.
The Exorcist – 1974 – Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist had long lines at theaters as word of mouth about how shocking it was spread. It was nominated for 10 Oscars including Best Actress for Ellen Burstyn, Best Supporting Actor for Jason Miller, Best Supporting Actress for Linda Blair, Best Director, art direction, Cinematography, film editing, sound mixing, and Best Picture. The film went on to become one of the most influential films in horror, paving the way for the possession films and television shows we have today. The Exorcist television series that aired for two seasons on Fox is something you should see if you haven’t already.
Jaws – 1976 – This film was nominated for Best Picture and lost to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It won for sound, film editing, and original score. Shockingly, Steven Spielberg was not nominated for Best Director, one of the biggest directing snubs in history.
The Omen – 1976 – The film gave us memorable performances by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, but it was Original Score and Original Song that earned the film two Oscar nominations.
Carrie – 1977 – One of the best Stephen King adaptations gave us memorable performances from both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie who were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
Alien – 1980 – This film is one of my all time faves, and how Ridley Scott did not get a directing nomination form this is beyond me. But, the film was nominated for art direction and won for visual effects.
Poltergeist – 1982 – Many argue over who directed the film. Tobe Hooper is listed as director, but many believe Steven Spielberg actually directed it. Regardless, it earned nomnations for original score, sound effects editing, and visual effects.
An American Werewolf in London – 1982 – This unsurprisingly won an Oscar for best makeup in what remains one of the best portrayals of a human turning into a werewolf ever.
The Fly – 1987 – This film won its only Oscar nomination for best makeup. Two of the biggest snubs in acting are from this film for Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum.
Misery – 1991 – The Stephen King adaptation won Kathy Bates an Oscar for Best Actress for her turn as Annie Wilkes.
The Silence of the Lambs – 1992 – This film seamlessly combined a crime story with horror elements so effortlessly that it all but swept the awards it was nominated for that year. It won for Best Picture, Best Actress for Jodie Foster, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for sound and film editing. The film as a couple sequels though neither reached this level of acclaim. In my honest opinion, Ridley Scott’s Hannibal is so very underrated.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula – 1992 – This Francis Ford Coppola directed adaptation of the vampire novel that started all vampire novels was nominated for art direction, costume design, makeup, and sound effects editing. Fortunately and rightfully so, they neglected to nominate Keanu Reeves in one of the most egregious mis-castings ever.
Death Becomes Her – 1992 – Unsurprisingly, this film was nominated for best visual effects.
The Sixth Sense – 2000 – M. Night Shyamalan’s first major film release is regarded as his best. This drama film with horror elements about a little boy who sees dead people also had a surprise twist at the end. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Haley Joel Osment, Best Supporting Actress for Toni Collette, original screenplay, and film editing. It also showed us Bruce Willis was more than just an action star.
Black Swan – 2011- This psychological descent into ballet madness was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, cinematography, and film editing. Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her role as Nina. One of the biggest snubs EVER was Winona Rider not getting nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Some would argue Mila Kunis deserved a nomination as well.
Get Out– 2018 – This film by Jordan Peele is one of the best psychological horror films in recent memory. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Daniel Kaluuya. Jordan Peele took home the trophy for original screenplay.
The Shape of Water – 2018 – This film surprisingly won Best Picture, earned Guillermo Del Toro Best Director, and won original score. It was also nominated for Best Actress for Sally Hawkins, Best Supporting Actor for Richard Jenkins, Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer, original screenplay, cinematography, costume design, sound editing, sound mixing, film editing, and production design. One of my all-time favorite best picture wins.
Nosferatu – 2025 – A vampire films for the ages. While I do believe that Robert Eggers deserved a director nod for this, I am eternally happy that it was nominated for makeup and hair, costume design, cinematography, and production design. Lily Rose Depp deserved to be in the best actress conversation too.
The Substance – 2025 – I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t rooting for this film all the way. I hope it wins everything it’s nominated for including Best Picture, Best Director, Original Screenplay, Best Actress for goddess Demi Moore, and makeup and hair. Respect the balance, Academy, and give Demi Moore an Oscar.
The Snubs – When Horror Gets Ignored
I could write an 80,000 word novel about how the Academy ignores horror even if everything you just read says otherwise. More often than not, strong performances in horror movies get overlooked
Here are a few of the many, many snubs in acting categories: Toni Collette for Hereditary. Lupita Nyong’o in both Us and A Quiet Place: Day One. Elisabeth Moss in The Invisible Man. Ethan Hawke and Madeliene McGraw in The Black Phone. Essie Davis in The Babadook. Maika Monroe in Watcher. Florence Pugh in Midsommar. Ingrid Bergman in Notorious. Rebecca Hall in both The Gift and The Night House. Nicolas Cage in Mandy. Margaret Qualley in The Substance. Mia Goth in X and Pearl. The list goes on. And on. And on.
Would you be surprised if I told you that The Shining received exactly zero Oscar nominations? Because that is exactly what happened. Both Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson deserved acting nominations and while Stephen King did not like where Stanley Kubrick took his story, the director deserved a nomination for giving us one of the most enduring and terrifying horror movies ever.
In another universe, I remember The Others getting multiple nominations for director, best picture, screenplay, and best actress for Nicole Kidman. But, in our universe, this unfair snub feels surreal.
2018’s Suspiria remake was completely shut out as well. No Best Director for Luca Guadagnino. No Best Picture. No Best Supporting Actress for Tilda Swinton. No visual effects or cinematography.
And ARI ASTER. Both Hereditary and Midsommar under his belt and zero Best Director trophies.
While this year had two horror films get several nominations and Alien Romulus received one nomination for visual effects, one of my favorite films was completely ignored. Longlegs deserved nominations for Best Director for Osgood Perkins, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Nicolas Cage, and Best Supporting Actress for Alicia Witt. Alas, it was completely shut out. Quell surprise.
I digress. Enjoy the Oscars this year, my friends. Remember, you are one.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
2024 was a great year for horror movies. It comes as no surprise that The Substance and Nosferatu have garnered multiple Oscar nominations. Now, I’m going to explore horror getting nominated – and ignored – by The Academy.
Alfred Hitchcock and the Oscars
Rebecca – 1940 -Alfred Hitchcock had exactly one film win Best Picture, and it was Rebecca. The film is a true adaptation of the gothic novel by Daphne Du Maurier. It starred Lawrence Olivier who wanted his then wife, Vivien Leigh, to play the lead role but it ended up going to Joan Fontaine who was Olivia DeHavilland’s sister. The two sisters were rumored to be competitive, so competitive that Joan Fontaine chose to not carry the DeHavilland name. Both Fontaine and Olivier were nominated for their acting in the film.
Foreign Correspondent – 1941 – was nominated for Best Picture, art direction, cinematography, special effects, original screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Albert Bassermann. During this era, black and white films had separate categories from color films.
Suspicion – 1942 – was nominated for Best Picture, original score, and it won Joan Fontaine an Oscar for Best Actress.
Lifeboat – 1944 – was nominated for Best Director, screenplay (original story at the time), and cinematography.
Spellbound – 1946 – was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, cinematography, best effects, and Best Supporting Actor for Michael Chekhov. It won for Best Original Score.
Rear Window – 1954 – was nominated for Best Director, screenplay, Cinematography, and sound.
Psycho – 1960 – was nominated for Best Director, Art Direction, Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actress for Janet Leigh.
Hitchcock’s influence within the industry was phenomenal. He mixed suspense with aspects of horror like no other and pushed the boundaries of cinema with Psycho, shocking audiences with the most famous shower scene in horror. Though he never had that kind of success again, his follow ups The Birds and Marnie gave us stellar performances by Tippy Hedren that went ignored by The Academy.
Beyond Hitchcock
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane – 1963 – It was nominated for costume design (which it won), Sound Mixing, Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress for Bette Davis in what should have been a win.
Rosemary’s Baby – 1968 – This horror film was nominated for three total Oscars. It won Ruth Gordon a Best Supporting Actress trophy and it was nominated for Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress for Mia Farrow.
The Exorcist – 1974 – Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist had long lines at theaters as word of mouth about how shocking it was spread. It was nominated for 10 Oscars including Best Actress for Ellen Burstyn, Best Supporting Actor for Jason Miller, Best Supporting Actress for Linda Blair, Best Director, art direction, Cinematography, film editing, sound mixing, and Best Picture. The film went on to become one of the most influential films in horror, paving the way for the possession films and television shows we have today. The Exorcist television series that aired for two seasons on Fox is something you should see if you haven’t already.
Jaws – 1976 – This film was nominated for Best Picture and lost to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. It won for sound, film editing, and original score. Shockingly, Steven Spielberg was not nominated for Best Director, one of the biggest directing snubs in history.
The Omen – 1976 – The film gave us memorable performances by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, but it was Original Score and Original Song that earned the film two Oscar nominations.
Carrie – 1977 – One of the best Stephen King adaptations gave us memorable performances from both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie who were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
Alien – 1980 – This film is one of my all time faves, and how Ridley Scott did not get a directing nomination form this is beyond me. But, the film was nominated for art direction and won for visual effects.
Poltergeist – 1982 – Many argue over who directed the film. Tobe Hooper is listed as director, but many believe Steven Spielberg actually directed it. Regardless, it earned nomnations for original score, sound effects editing, and visual effects.
An American Werewolf in London – 1982 – This unsurprisingly won an Oscar for best makeup in what remains one of the best portrayals of a human turning into a werewolf ever.
The Fly – 1987 – This film won its only Oscar nomination for best makeup. Two of the biggest snubs in acting are from this film for Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum.
Misery – 1991 – The Stephen King adaptation won Kathy Bates an Oscar for Best Actress for her turn as Annie Wilkes.
The Silence of the Lambs – 1992 – This film seamlessly combined a crime story with horror elements so effortlessly that it all but swept the awards it was nominated for that year. It won for Best Picture, Best Actress for Jodie Foster, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for sound and film editing. The film as a couple sequels though neither reached this level of acclaim. In my honest opinion, Ridley Scott’s Hannibal is so very underrated.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula – 1992 – This Francis Ford Coppola directed adaptation of the vampire novel that started all vampire novels was nominated for art direction, costume design, makeup, and sound effects editing. Fortunately and rightfully so, they neglected to nominate Keanu Reeves in one of the most egregious mis-castings ever.
Death Becomes Her – 1992 – Unsurprisingly, this film was nominated for best visual effects.
The Sixth Sense – 2000 – M. Night Shyamalan’s first major film release is regarded as his best. This drama film with horror elements about a little boy who sees dead people also had a surprise twist at the end. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Haley Joel Osment, Best Supporting Actress for Toni Collette, original screenplay, and film editing. It also showed us Bruce Willis was more than just an action star.
Black Swan – 2011- This psychological descent into ballet madness was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, cinematography, and film editing. Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her role as Nina. One of the biggest snubs EVER was Winona Rider not getting nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Some would argue Mila Kunis deserved a nomination as well.
Get Out– 2018 – This film by Jordan Peele is one of the best psychological horror films in recent memory. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Daniel Kaluuya. Jordan Peele took home the trophy for original screenplay.
The Shape of Water – 2018 – This film surprisingly won Best Picture, earned Guillermo Del Toro Best Director, and won original score. It was also nominated for Best Actress for Sally Hawkins, Best Supporting Actor for Richard Jenkins, Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer, original screenplay, cinematography, costume design, sound editing, sound mixing, film editing, and production design. One of my all-time favorite best picture wins.
Nosferatu – 2025 – A vampire films for the ages. While I do believe that Robert Eggers deserved a director nod for this, I am eternally happy that it was nominated for makeup and hair, costume design, cinematography, and production design. Lily Rose Depp deserved to be in the best actress conversation too.
The Substance – 2025 – I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t rooting for this film all the way. I hope it wins everything it’s nominated for including Best Picture, Best Director, Original Screenplay, Best Actress for goddess Demi Moore, and makeup and hair. Respect the balance, Academy, and give Demi Moore an Oscar.
The Snubs – When Horror Gets Ignored
I could write an 80,000 word novel about how the Academy ignores horror even if everything you just read says otherwise. More often than not, strong performances in horror movies get overlooked
Here are a few of the many, many snubs in acting categories: Toni Collette for Hereditary. Lupita Nyong’o in both Us and A Quiet Place: Day One. Elisabeth Moss in The Invisible Man. Ethan Hawke and Madeliene McGraw in The Black Phone. Essie Davis in The Babadook. Maika Monroe in Watcher. Florence Pugh in Midsommar. Ingrid Bergman in Notorious. Rebecca Hall in both The Gift and The Night House. Nicolas Cage in Mandy. Margaret Qualley in The Substance. Mia Goth in X and Pearl. The list goes on. And on. And on.
Would you be surprised if I told you that The Shining received exactly zero Oscar nominations? Because that is exactly what happened. Both Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson deserved acting nominations and while Stephen King did not like where Stanley Kubrick took his story, the director deserved a nomination for giving us one of the most enduring and terrifying horror movies ever.
In another universe, I remember The Others getting multiple nominations for director, best picture, screenplay, and best actress for Nicole Kidman. But, in our universe, this unfair snub feels surreal.
2018’s Suspiria remake was completely shut out as well. No Best Director for Luca Guadagnino. No Best Picture. No Best Supporting Actress for Tilda Swinton. No visual effects or cinematography.
And ARI ASTER. Both Hereditary and Midsommar under his belt and zero Best Director trophies.
While this year had two horror films get several nominations and Alien Romulus received one nomination for visual effects, one of my favorite films was completely ignored. Longlegs deserved nominations for Best Director for Osgood Perkins, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Nicolas Cage, and Best Supporting Actress for Alicia Witt. Alas, it was completely shut out. Quell surprise.
I digress. Enjoy the Oscars this year, my friends. Remember, you are one.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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