2026 Oscar Nominations Spark Controversy After Several Major Films Are Snubbed

LOS ANGELES — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, honoring a slate of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films from 2025.

Many expected titles secured key nominations, fulfilling predictions from industry experts. The list serves as significant recognition for the films that resonated most with audiences and critics over the past year.

However, the announcement immediately sparked intense debate. Many critics and fans expressed disappointment after several standout films, directors, and actors were completely omitted from the list.

Industry observers described these absences as the biggest surprises of this awards season. Discussions regarding these notable snubs continue to trend across news outlets and social media platforms.

Analysis from the Saigon Sentinel indicates that the annual friction surrounding Oscar nominations has evolved into a structural fixture of the industry, reflecting deep-seated tensions in how artistic value is codified. Rather than signaling a failure of the process, the exclusion of certain high-profile works underscores the increasingly fragmented and complex nature of the modern cinematic landscape.

First, the institutional preferences of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences frequently diverge from both critical consensus and commercial performance. While the Academy has undergone significant demographic shifts to broaden its voting base, the electorate continues to favor specific aesthetic and socio-political narratives. This institutional bias often prioritizes high-concept prestige films over the populist appeal of traditional blockbusters, maintaining a clear distinction between artistic recognition and market success.

Second, the competitive landscape has been radically disrupted by the entry of major streaming platforms. The aggressive expansion of Netflix and Apple TV+ has saturated the awards circuit, transforming the nomination process into a high-stakes capital contest. In this environment, a film’s trajectory is increasingly dictated by the scale of "For Your Consideration" lobbying budgets and sophisticated marketing strategies, which can occasionally overshadow pure artistic merit.

Ultimately, these perennial debates serve a vital function for the industry. By challenging the criteria of excellence, they force a public re-evaluation of what constitutes a "great" work and sustain a necessary dialogue regarding the evolution of the medium. Even when specific outcomes spark widespread dissent, the resulting discourse reinforces the Academy Awards’ position as a central pillar of cultural capital and a primary driver of global industry relevance.

For the Vietnamese-American community, the Oscars serve as a major cultural touchstone. Discussions about the nominations and the year's best films are a constant fixture in family gatherings and social media circles alike. Whether debated over phở or shared among workers in the nail salon industry, there is an intense focus on the visibility of Asian actors and filmmakers. This interest reflects a deeper longing for true representation in American pop culture—a sentiment that resonates across the diaspora, from the established residents of Little Saigon to new arrivals on H-1B or EB-5 visas. Seeing a reflection of our stories on the global stage is about more than just entertainment; it’s about belonging.