The Academy Awards has always had a strange relationship with comic book movies. The likes of Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix have taken home Oscars for their portrayals of the Joker in The Dark Knight and Joker, respectively, but many fans of the fantastic have felt superhero projects are not given fair consideration at these big awards shows.
Things for these larger-than-life projects have taken a turn for the better in recent years. Black Panther and Logan broke the mold in the categories Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay in consecutive years, and the aforementioned Joker scored an insurmountable 11 total nominations in 2020.
As comic book films continue to command conversation, the Academy has become more open to giving them some spotlight at the annual ceremony. This year's Oscars honors blockbuster productions with a fan-voted #OscarsCheerMoment, and in true March Madness form, a David took down two Goliaths.
Zack Snyder's Justice League Receives Oscar Recognition
You gotta break the rule, Barry.
Zack Snyder's Justice League was recognized as the top #OscarsCheerMoment at the 2022 Academy Awards for when Ezra Miller's The Flash enters the Speed Force. This moment, as voted on by fans, topped Marvel Studios productions Spider-Man: No Way Home and Avengers: Endgame, which rounded out the podium.
The full list can be seen below:
1. The Flash Enters the Speed Force, Zack Snyder's Justice League
2. The Three Spider-Men Unite, Spider-Man: No Way Home
3. Avengers Assemble to Fight Thanos, Avengers: Endgame
4. "And I'm Telling You", Dreamgirls
5. Neo Dodges Bullets, The Matrix
The Flash Runs Laps Around Marvel
While this recognition does not come with an official accolade, the power of the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement cannot be understated.
Even a year removed from Zack Snyder's Justice League being released on HBO Max, the four-hour film still holds big real estate on social platforms. Topping Avengers: Endgame is impressive on its own, but defeating the still very fresh Spider-Man: No Way Home only amplifies what this fanbase is capable of.
The DC Extended Universe is moving forward without Zack Snyder, but Ezra Miller's Barry Allen remains a big part of Warner Bros.' vision. Miller gets his long-awaited standalone project in June 2023 with The Flash, a film that is expected to reshape the very fabric of the DCEU. The Flash's marketing campaign is months away from getting started, but reminding a film fanatic Oscars audience of just how popular the scarlet speedster is never hurts.
Zack Snyder's Justice League is streaming now on HBO Max.
MCU Writer, Editor, Podcaster
