Oscar Snubs: 11 Brilliant Performances You Forgot About from the 2010s

The Academy Awards are the most important event in Hollywood history. Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Oscars are meant to celebrate the best in cinema every year, recognizing the greatest movies and the people who come together to create them. The acting categories are among the most anticipated and exciting every year, with major movie stars, underappreciated character actors, and up-and-coming talent recognized every year, depending on their on-screen work.

However, not every worthy performance is recognized. With only five slots per acting category, there is bound to be more than one worthy performance that goes unrecognized by the Academy. Some of these snubs are particularly hurtful, considering the performer might be delivering career-best work in their respective movie. This list will rank the best performances from the 2010s that were snubbed by the Academy. The ranking will consider the performance itself and how surprising the snub was considering the actor's role throughout their respective year's awards season. In case you're wondering why there are no horror performances here, don't worry; they will have a list of their own shortly.

Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin

'The Social Network' (2010)

Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) in 'The Social Network'.

Two-time Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield rose to prominence with his BAFTA-winning performance in the drama Boy A. However, David Fincher's The Social Network turned him into an international star and earned him a legion of fans. In the film, Garfield plays Eduardo Saverin, Mark Zuckerberg's former friend and a co-founder of Facebook, who later sues him following a falling out.

For his work on the film, Garfield received nominations at both the Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards; in a just world, he would've received his first Oscar nomination, too. Garfield is charming, unassuming, and effortlessly engaging in the role, acting as the perfect foe for Jesse Eisenberg's take on Zuckerberg. His now-iconic speech after finding out he has been removed from the company is among the single most quotable and defining moments of 2010s cinema.

Marion Cotillard as Stéphanie

'Rust and Bone' (2012)

Close-up of Marion Cotillard in 'Rust and Bone'.

Marion Cotillard won the 2009 Oscar for Best Actress for her work in La Vie en Rose in what remains one of the best against-type castings of the 2000s. Her career then entered a new stage of critical and commercial success, with Cotillard embracing challenging roles in both English and French. Among her most interesting choices was the 2012 drama Rust and Bone, about a woman who trains killer whales and loses her legs after an accident.

Lauded for her performance, Cotillard earned nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and BAFTAs, making her an apparent shoo-in to earn her second Oscar nomination. Indeed, Cotillard would've been more than deserving. It's a tremendously demanding role, both physically and emotionally, and Cotillard goes all-in, producing a richly layered and affecting performance that never relies on theatrics to convey the depth of her character's emotions.

Taron Egerton as Elton John

'Rocketman' (2019)

Welsh actor Taron Egerton became a household name in the mid-2010s, largely thanks to his leading role in the spy-action franchise Kingsman. However, Egerton showed a willingness to take on more daring roles away from his action and leading man personas. The best example is his portrayal of Elton John in Dexter Fletcher's musical biopic Rocketman.

Unlike other biopics, Rocketman doesn't seek to lionize its central figure. On the contrary, it paints a suitably flamboyant depiction of who Elton John was on stage while showcasing his internal struggles with fame and its meaning. At the center of it all is Egerton in a fully committed performance; through his acting and vocal abilities, Egerton captures John's essence, wisely choosing to evoke the rock star rather than imitate him. Egerton won the Golden Globe for his work and received numerous other nominations, including at SAG and BAFTA. How he ultimately missed the Oscar five remains a puzzling and frustrating mystery.

Idris Elba as The Commandant

'Beasts of No Nation' (2015)

Beasts of No Nation

Villains have a rich history at the Oscars. The Academy has never been afraid to acknowledge dastardly performances, which made it all the more scandalous when Idris Elba's harrowing work in the most disturbing Netflix original movie, Beasts of No Nation, was snubbed. In the film, Elba plays the ruthless Commandant who physically and sexually abuses the children under his command during a civil war.

Elba conveys the horrors of human nature with his unforgettable performance. Utterly despicable, intimidating, and revoltingly magnetic, Elba's Commandant is a work of true terror brought to life by one of the best and most versatile actors working today. The Commandant is a modern cinematic monster, and it's all thanks to Elba's spectacular and uncompromising performance. For his work, Elba won the SAG Award and received nominations at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs; alas, the Oscars snubbed him, a choice that remains haunting.

Awkwafina and Zhao Shu-zhen as Billi Wang and Nai Nai

'The Farewell' (2019)

2019 was truly a bleak year at the Oscars because of the many worthy performances that were snubbed in favor of mediocre schlock like Bohemian Rhapsody and Joker. Case in point, Lulu Wang's tender dramedy The Farewell went completely unrecognized, a cinematic sin if ever there was one. The film follows Billy Wang (Awkwafina), a young woman who learns her grandmother, referred to as Nai Nai (Zhao Shu-zhen), only has a short time to live.

What Awkwafina and Zhao Shu-zhen do in The Farewell is a masterclass in subdued and introspective acting. Through their tender and moving dynamic, The Farewell explores themes of identity, acceptance, grief, and self-discovery. Both Su-zhen and Awkwafina are silently powerful in the film, effortlessly injecting comedy into a story that always calls for it but never overtly displays it. It's a delicate balance the two achieve, making it all the more disappointing that their incredible work was unrecognized by the Academy.

Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (2014)

Ralph Fiennes as the concierge in Grand Budapest Hotel

This year, the iconic Ralph Fiennes received his third Oscar nomination for his work in the papal thriller Conclave. It's only the third nomination of his long and esteemed career, which doesn't really make sense, considering the embarrassment of riches that is his career. Indeed, Fiennes should've absolutely received an Oscar nomination for his work in Wes Anderson's delightfully quirky yet biting comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel.

As the enchanting and extremely polite M. Gustave, the concierge of the titular hotel, Fiennes is an inexhaustible source of charm and humor. Yet, there is a distinct and ever-present layer of melancholy under his superficial glee, which Fiennes effectively conveys every second he's on-screen. Fiennes is the beating heart of The Grand Budapest Hotel, to the point where the movie falls apart without him. It's an excellent performance and a showcase for one of Britain's most accomplished performers. The fact that it failed to receive an Oscar nomination is a stain the Academy won't live down any time soon.

Tilda Swinton as Eva Khatchadourian

'We Need to Talk About Kevin' (2011)

Tilda Swinton won her first and, thus far, only Oscar for her supporting turn in the 2007 legal drama Michael Clayton. Four years later, she delivered another powerful performance, arguably the best of her career, in Lynne Ramsay's psychological drama We Need to Talk About Kevin. The film centers on Eva Khatchadourian (Swinton), who slowly realizes her son, Kevin (Ezra Miller), is a dangerous psychopath.

Swinton is quietly devastating in the role of a mother who lacks the stereotypical maternal instinct expected of her. A tornado of emotions travels her face during the film's most pivotal scenes: horror, fear, shock, disgust, pain, and confusion all traverse her expression as she slowly comes to terms with her son's dangerous nature. It's a tremendous performance that demands an actress of profound internal sensibility and emotional intelligence, and Swinton lives up to the task. Like others on this list, Swinton received nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and BAFTAs, making her eventual Oscar snub heartbreaking and utterly confusing.

Jennifer Lopez as Ramona Vega

'Hustlers' (2019)

2019 strikes again with yet another snubbed performance courtesy of an actress who so many often disregard. A never-better Jennifer Lopez dominates Lorene Scafaria's crime drama Hustlers as Ramona Vega, a veteran and cunning stripper who starts a scheme to drug wealthy men who visit her club and charge their credit cards for all she can get.

Hustlersmight very well be the first movie that showcases Lopez's considerable acting talents since her late '90s work with Steven Soderbergh and Gregory Nava, and the actress knows it. Lopez makes the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime role, fully embodying Ramona's brilliance and tough-as-nails persona without ever overdoing it. The film allows Lopez to be alluring, confident, funny, vulnerable, and even unexpectedly intimidating. It's a fully fleshed-out portrayal that finds Lopez at her most assured, producing arguably the best performance of her career. The Golden Globes and SAG paid attention, but the Oscars didn't, a truly heartbreaking snub that ranks among the all-time worst in the Academy's history.

Alfre Woodard as Bernadine Williams

'Clemency' (2019)

The familiar but criminally underrated Alfre Woodard is among her generation's most accomplished performers. Nowhere are her considerable abilities more obvious than in Chinonye Chukwu's 2019 drama Clemency. The film follows prison warden Bernadine Williams (Woodard), who forms an unlikely and complicated bond with death row inmate Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge).

What Woodard does throughout Clemency can only be described as transcendental. Her work on the final scene alone, as she tearfully watches something she can't possibly stop, should've been enough to grant her the nomination and arguably the win. Woodard is beyond powerful in Clemency, delivering a challenging yet thought-provoking performance that ranks among the finest of the 21st century. God only knows what mainstream awards bodies were thinking by ignoring her throughout the 2019-2020 Oscar season, but their choice has aged terribly.

Amy Adams as Louise Brooks

'Arrival' (2016)

Amy Adams as Louise Banks reading some papers depicting the aliens' circular language in 'Arrival'

Perennial Oscar bridesmaid Amy Adamsdelivers what is possibly the greatest performance of her career in Denis Villeneuve's thought-provoking sci-fi Arrival. The film follows linguistics professor Louise Banks (Adams), who is recruited to help interpret the mysterious and changing language of aliens who have just arrived on Earth. Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner and Oscar winner Forest Whitaker also star.

It's not an overstatement to say Adams delivers an emotional tour-de-force in Arrival. The actress is spectacular in the film, giving a fully-lived, quiet, and poignant depiction of grief and introspective emotion, the likes of which we don't really see in sci-fi often. The actress rightfully received Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award nominations, so it was quite a shocker to see her missing from the Oscar five. In the years since, Adams' egregious snub has aged like milk under the sun, with many believing it was her time to claim the Oscar after a career of deserving yet unrecognized performances.

NEXT: All 96 Best Picture Winners, Ranked

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026.