How Netflix Missed Angelina Jolie’s Best Oscar Nomination Opportunity in 17 Years

The 2025 Academy Awards nominations have recently been revealed, igniting discussions about Angelina Jolie’s absence from this year’s list of contenders. Notably, her performance in Maria, directed by Pablo Larraín, was anticipated to be her ticket back to Oscar glory. This biopic, which tells the poignant story of acclaimed opera singer Maria Callas in the twilight of her life, seemed perfectly positioned for accolades. However, Jolie’s omission has left many fans and experts contemplating the underlying factors behind this snub.

Angelina Jolie has been a significant figure in Hollywood since the 1990s, renowned for both her acting prowess and her high-profile relationship with Brad Pitt, which recently concluded in a finalized divorce. Despite her storied career, Jolie has experienced a noticeable drop in visibility, having only appeared in a handful of films over the past five years, none of which received considerable acclaim. Many saw Maria as her opportunity to reclaim her place in the public eye, making the Academy’s decision all the more disheartening.

Anticipated Oscar Contender: Angelina Jolie in Maria

The Story and Origins of Maria

The disappointment surrounding Jolie’s snub is heightened by the high expectations set prior to Maria‘s release. Given Larraín’s previous successes with biopics focusing on iconic women, such as Jackie (2016) and Spencer (2021), which both earned their leads Oscar nominations, it seemed logical that Jolie would follow suit. Her performance as Callas, a figure often regarded as one of the greatest opera singers, was expected to captivate audiences and critics alike.

Pablo Larraín’s 20th Century Women Biopics	Key Figures in the Films
Jackie (2016)	Jackie Kennedy
Spencer (2021)	Diana Spencer
Maria (2024)	Maria Callas

Maria boasts a compelling narrative that highlights Callas’s tumultuous life, making it ripe for Academy recognition. However, Jolie’s performance was unfortunately eclipsed by other high-profile films this awards season, including Anora, The Substance, and Wicked.

Maria: Jolie’s First Oscar-Worthy Performance Since 2008

Assessing the Challenges in Jolie’s Career

This snub is particularly disappointing, as Maria represented Jolie’s first meaningful bid for an Academy Award since her nomination for Changeling in 2008. Throughout her illustrious career, she has only been nominated twice: once for Best Supporting Actress in Girl, Interrupted, which she won, and for Best Actress in Changeling. The absence of serious roles in her recent filmography has rendered her less visible in the award conversations.

What’s troubling is the apparent divergence in Jolie’s career trajectory. Since Changeling, she has largely gravitated towards roles in fantasy or action genres, including Kung-Fu Panda, Maleficent, and Eternals. While these films have been commercially successful, they diverged from the serious, dramatic performances that resonate with Academy voters.

Challenges in Angelina Jolie’s Oscar Campaign

Rebuilding Her Oscar Prospects

Ultimately, Jolie’s Oscar campaign fell short, primarily because Maria did not compete effectively against other strong contenders. Rated lower than Larraín’s previous works with a score of 74%, the film lacked the promotional support typical of major awards contenders, possibly due to its release model on Netflix rather than in theaters. While Jolie delivered an exceptional performance, it seems that the overall impact did not meet the expectations set by prior films.

However, Jolie’s journey is far from over. She remains poised for future opportunities that could lead to significant recognitions. With the conclusion of her marriage and the successful execution of a compelling role, she is now gearing up to appear in an upcoming film titled Stitches, where she portrays an American filmmaker. This new venture could be the catalyst for her much-anticipated return to the Oscars, renewing hope among her fervent supporters.

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