It always felt like wishful thinking, but many fans were still disappointed to learn that Spider-Man: No Way Home had been snubbed for a "Best Picture" nomination at the Oscars earlier this week. The movie received widespread critical acclaim (it was even named as the best-reviewed movie of the year by Rotten Tomatoes) and has so far earned over $1.77 billion at the global box office.
That wasn't good enough for the Academy, though, and Spider-Man: No Way Home ended up with just a single nomination for "Best Visual Effects."
Filmmaker and podcaster Kevin Smith has become the latest person to vent his frustrations over the snub, expressing his disappointment during a recent edition of his Fat Man Beyond Podcast. "What the f**k? They got ten slots, they can't give one to the biggest f**king movie of like the last three years?" he started. "Man, and they're like 'Why won't anyone watch this show?'"
"Like, f**king make a populist choice. F**k, man. [You've] got how many slots? Throw in Spider-Man for God's sake. Let him swing in there. F**king poor kid's always getting crapped on and sh*t...show Peter Parker some f**king love. I'm not even being facetious, with as many movies as they have nominated for 'Best Picture.'"
There have been vocal demands for the Oscars to start recognising more than just niche movies since The Dark Knight was overlooked way back in 2009. Unfortunately, it's never happened, and plans for a "Best Popular Film" category were met with such a negative response, the idea was quickly dropped.
Black Panther and Joker have managed to push their way into that "Best Picture" category, but superhero movies, for the most part, continue to be overlooked and ignored by the Academy. As Smith rightly notes, ratings for the awards show are at an all-time low, and shutting out Spider-Man: No Way Home will do nothing to help matters when the awards are handed out on Sunday, March 27.