Marvel Studios has sat comfortably at the forefront of Hollywood popularity for over a decade now. With only a few exceptions, most of the MCU's 27 theatrical entries have achieved great financial and critical success, but there's one area they've always struggled with: critical awards. The one area the franchise has always annually received recognition for is its visual effects but it has yet to actually win in the category.
Black Panther proved to be the exception to Marvel Studios' annual awards snub as the influential blockbuster picked up nominations for its costumes, music, sound, and production design. But most notably, the Ryan Coogler film earned the MCU its first Best Picture nomination at the 2019 Oscars.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the subject of repeated calls to be recognized in the 2022 Oscars for categories such as Best Picture, Actor, and more. After being snubbed of a nomination for everything but Best Visual Effects, The Academy has introduced a new category: the Oscars Fan Favorite award.
Spider-Man Loses Out On Special Oscars Recognition
During the 2022 Oscars ceremony, Spider-Man: No Way Home placed fourth for the first-ever Fan Favorite Film award following a viral vote from the general public.
Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead proved to be the surprise winner of the award, despite the assumptions of many that No Way Home would prevail.
The top five placing movies were:
- Army of the Dead
- Cinderella
- Minamata
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- tick, tick...BOOM!
With the Oscars typically being awarded based on a private vote by The Academy, the Fan Favorite award is the first to be based on a public decision. This does not constitute an actual Oscar win but simply earned the victors an acknowledgment during the ceremony.
The MCU Misses Out at the Oscars... Again
Marvel Studios' streak of Oscar snubs - with the notable exception of Black Panther - continues for another year with no signs of slowing down.
The resultant ranking will come as a surprise to most, as neither Army of the Dead, Cinderella, or Minamata attracted the level of love and enthusiasm that Spider-Man: No Way Home did during the 2021 season.
Zack Snyder's Justice League was ineligible for the award due to being a director's cut of a past film, but it did still win a prize of its own. As Army of the Dead was similarly directed by Snyder, many have begun to speculate the successful mass vote stemmed from followers of the controversial filmmaker and the DC-centered SnyderVerse.
Fans will be disappointed to see Spider-Man: No Way Home didn't to beat out the competition for the Oscars Fan Favorite award, especially after many were convinced the category was created as a way to recognize the viral blockbuster.
Sadly, this wasn't the only category Marvel Studios lost out on tonight. No Way Home and Avengers: Endgame were beaten by Zack Snyder's Justice League for the best Cheer Moment. While Dune took home the Best Visual Effects prize over Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spidey's latest adventure.
So when will the MCU will finally take home another prestigious Oscar? Looking ahead to the future, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever holds the best chances, at least for the 2023 ceremony, as Marvel Studios aims to replicate the success of the original.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is available now on digital platforms.
