Criticism and box office struggles led to a lack of Oscar nods for 2020’s Challengers film.

Challengers was Snubbed by the 2025 Oscars: Why This Was the Case

Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim and a massive box office gross, the movie Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, was completely shut out of the 2025 Oscar nominations. The movie follows a trio of tennis professionals caught in a torrid love triangle and features a talented team of behind-the-scenes creatives, including Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who composed the score.

There are a few reasons why Challengers might have been overlooked by the Academy. One is that none of the three lead actors were likely to be front-runners in the performance categories. Additionally, while the movie’s music might have been deserving of a nod, it might not have stood out in the crowded field of original scores. The movie did receive a score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, but might not have resonated with enough voters to make a dent.

Challengers did receive numerous nominations from other major awards, including the Gotham Awards, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Grammy Awards, and Writers Guild of America Awards. However, Luca Guadagnino’s experience with the Academy might have given him hope that Challengers would receive a nomination or two.

Guadagnino’s past movies have all received more attention from the Academy, including four nominations for his 2017 film Call Me By Your Name, which won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. However, Guadagnino’s more recent output has had a habit of being snubbed, beginning with his 2018 remake of Suspiria.

One possible reason why Challengers might have been snubbed is that it came out too early in the awards season. Most movies that are serious contenders receive a later release date, from October to December, in an effort to remain fresh in voters’ minds during the voting process. Challengers, which debuted on April 26, was released much too early to gain the kind of traction it would have needed to be a major contender. This might have ultimately led to it being overlooked in favor of other movies that premiered later in the year.