A Deep Dive Into The Snub

Every year, awards season comes around and there’s a lot of talk about which movies were unjustly snubbed by the Academy Awards. This year, the likes of No Other Choice and Sorry, Baby were the films ignored, while Paul Mescal, Chase Infiniti, and Miles Caton are among the actors who were overlooked.

In a lot of years, it was the horror genre that often got snubbed, though that has been different lately, especially in 2026, with Sinners setting a record for most nominations. However, 2023 still saw a fantastic sci-fi horror film get completely shut out at the Oscars.

Nope Is One Of The Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies Ever

Even if it didn’t get nominated for anything at the Oscars, there’s no denying that Nope is one of the greatest films ever released in its genre. The movie centers on a pair of horse-wrangling siblings who try to capture evidence of an unidentified flying object at their ranch in California.

The film pays obvious homage to the classics of the genre, whether it’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind or Signs. Nope also benefited from a stellar cast, with Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yuen leading the way, while Keith David, Barbie Ferreira, and Brandon Perea are part of a strong supporting cast.

The third movie made by Jordan Peele, Nope was another feather in the filmmaker’s cap, who wrote and directed the project. It was met with widespread acclaim, holding an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and being named on several year-end top 10 lists. Despite that, it was shut out at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and other major award shows.

Nope Should’ve Been Nominated For A Few Awards

It’s always easy to say that a film with positive reviews should’ve been nominated for an Academy Award, yet it’s more difficult to pinpoint what it should’ve actually been up for. Nope isn’t just a film that could’ve landed a nomination in one category, as it had a legitimate case for a handful.

Best Picture was a possibility, as it could’ve easily replaced Elvis, which was one of the nominees. That said, there are three categories where Nope would’ve been able to really make an impact. First, it should’ve been a shoo-in for Best Visual Effects. Despite having a budget under $75 million, the aliens and such look remarkable.

Next, Nope could’ve been a contender for Best Original Screenplay. The characters are well-written, the themes are expertly handled, and the screenplay is impressively layered. More than anything though, many believed Keke Palmer should’ve been in the Best Supporting Actress conversation.

The competition that year was stiff, with Jamie Lee Curtis winning against Stephanie Hsu, Kerry Condon, Hong Chau, and the always incredible Angela Bassett. However, Palmer’s performance is just as good as those, often carrying the film despite not being the lead actor.

Jordan Peele Has Had Success At The Oscars Before

As noted, the horror genre can be ignored at the Oscars, but Jordan Peele has found success there. His debut feature, 2017’s Get Out, was a critical darling that landed four Academy Award nominations. Peele himself was up for Best Director, while Daniel Kaluuya got a nod for Best Actor.

The biggest category that Get Out was nominated for was Best Picture, yet it pulled off something of an upset when it took home the statue for Best Original Screenplay. Similar to Nope, Get Out was rife with intriguing themes and showcased Peele’s writing talents.

Given the screenwriter and the quality of both films, Nope could’ve easily followed in the footsteps of Get Out and landed a nomination in the category. It likely wouldn’t have won as Everything Everywhere All At Once was a powerhouse, but Nope deserved to be among the nominees.