The best movie that got zero Oscar nominations

The 2024 Oscar nominations are in and some fans will be dismayed that a hopeful contender and one of its leading actors didn’t make the cut – as The Iron Claw was rebuffed from the list.

Every year moviegoers clamor to see if the most successful movies of the year make the list to receive the coveted Hollywood Oscar nominations. Not to mention beloved lead actors in their respective categories. The list this year was somewhat speculated seeing as Barbie, Oppenheimer, and even Maestro were all the internet could talk about.

But one standout gem from A24 was a favorite for its depiction of a heartbreaking wrestling story. The Iron Claw ended 2023 on a high note. It’s described as one of the most emotionally gripping movies of the year. Wresting and non-wrestling fans were left weeping as it told the infamous story of the Von Erich curse.

Its leading cast went above and beyond to portray the roles of one of the industry’s most infamous families, especially Zac Efron. Efron was on everyone’s list of deserving of at least an Oscar nomination. But the 2024 Oscars had let down fans.

The Iron Claw wasn’t included in the Oscar nominations

A24’s hit wrestling biopic, The Iron Claw, received no nominations despite it fitting well into the time frame to be selected, alongside its leading cast. Fans raved on social media that Efron had successfully starred in the top movie of his career. They were sure it would lead to a nomination. The actor went above and beyond to portray Kevin Von Erich, the last surviving Von Erich brother.

To amass his grandiose story, the actor put on pounds of solid muscle. By all accounts, he became a real-life wrestler for the role. His emotional delivery as the eldest Von Erich had even the most unemotional viewers reaching for a tissue. There’s no denying that The Iron Claw was Efron’s perfect display of his capabilities as an actor. He’s no longer the young boy from High School Musical.

The overall cast also deserved praise as Efron was joined by Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson. All three actors took on the gut-wrenching story of brothers who were overshadowed by their desire to appease their father’s wrestling dream over their health. Before the movie, the Von Erich curse was only known in the wrestling world. It has now shined a light that the sport is everything but fake.

The Iron Claw was up to par with even some of the “great” nominations in terms of cinematography, visuals, and sound. There’s nothing like the opening sequence of black and white that gives off a foreboding omen of what’s to come.

One fan on X/Twitter said, “The thing that I’m most mad about getting snubbed is Iron Claw in general but specifically Zac Efron who gave such an incredible performance it deserved to at least be recognized by the academy.”

“The Iron Claw is a prime example of a time when the Oscar voters got it completely wrong by shutting it out. Not surprised that it didn’t get anything, but still immeasurably disappointed. Its legacy will only grow as one of the greatest Oscar what-ifs of all time,” said one fan.

Some are calling out A24 for its lack of promotion. “I’m so baffled that there is no The Iron Claw discussion when the movie is THAT phenomenal with a FANTASTIC script and INCREDIBLE performances. Like how are people just not talking about it how is it not nominated for anything like A24 LET ME TAKE OVER THE CAMPAIGN OR LACK OF ONE,” said one fan.

Even multiple Grammy-winning artist Adele advocated for the movie and called it her best of the year.