Denis Villeneuve Snubbed for Best Director at 2025 Oscars for Dune: Part Two
The nominees for the 2025 Oscars have been announced, and among the notable omissions is Denis Villeneuve’s name from the Best Director category for Dune: Part Two. This snub is especially surprising considering the film’s critical and commercial success. Despite being nominated in five Academy Award categories, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound, Villeneuve failed to receive recognition for his directorial work.
Dune: Part Two has received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. It is currently the highest-rated film of the year on Letterboxd and Rotten Tomatoes, with a 4.4 out of 5 stars and a 92% rating, respectively. The sci-fi epic has also been a financial success, grossing nearly $715 million at the global box office.
Several industry members, including co-star Josh Brolin and filmmakers James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, have expressed support for Villeneuve. Brolin threatened to quit acting if Villeneuve was snubbed, calling the film “masterful” and Villeneuve one of their “master filmmakers.”
The Academy’s decision is baffling, given the importance of Villeneuve’s directorial vision to the film’s success. With only one chance remaining for Dune: Messiah in 2026, it appears that Villeneuve will be left out of the running for Best Director yet again.
It remains unclear why Villeneuve was overlooked for Best Director, but the reaction from the industry and fans suggests that it was an error that will not soon be forgotten.
