Wake Up Dead Man Oscar Snub: Disappointing But Understandable

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As a total film fanatic, I’m already completely hooked on the buzz around the 2026 Oscars! It’s so fascinating to see everyone digging into what the Academy might do, the stories that are starting to emerge as potential winners, and all the clever ways studios are trying to get their films noticed. Honestly, awards season always kicks things off with a huge dose of excitement for people like me – it’s the best time of year!

Like every year, the 2026 Oscar nominations have sparked debate and disagreement among film fans. There are always surprises and disappointments, leading to strong reactions – both positive and negative – about the nominated films. Whether you love or hate the Oscars, the buzz around awards season always draws movie lovers in.

As a huge movie fan, I have to admit my Oscar predictions for 2026 are already looking pretty shaky after the nominations were announced! Every year, people focus on who didn’t get nominated, but this year it’s tougher to argue with the choices. Honestly, the competition was just incredible – 2025 was a phenomenal year for film, with so many strong contenders in every category.

Rian Johnson Was Not Nominated For The Best Screenplay Oscar

Mystery fans were excited to see Daniel Craig reprise his role as Benoit Blanc in the third Knives Out movie in 2025. Titled Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the film features Josh O’Connor as Father Jud, a priest who assists Blanc in solving a seemingly unsolvable murder.

Similar to other books in the series, Wake Up Dead Man is a skillfully crafted mystery thriller. It balances developing the emotional lives of its characters – each of whom could be the killer – with gradually revealing the details of the central murder. The story unfolds at a perfect pace, keeping you hooked and eager to figure out the mystery alongside Blanc.

Despite being shut out of the 2026 Golden Globes, Wake Up Dead Man remained a strong possibility for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. The film’s thoughtful look at how faith can both unite and separate people resonated with many, and seemed like the kind of story the Academy often recognizes.

Critics Love Wake Up Dead Man

Although Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery didn’t perform well in theaters – likely because Netflix only gave it a limited release to meet Oscar eligibility requirements before streaming it – the film’s disappointing box office numbers are less noticeable given the overwhelmingly positive reviews it has received from critics.

The new film, Wake Up Dead Man, shows that the Knives Out series is consistently strong because it understands its characters and sticks to a successful formula, continually refining it. With a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it highlights Rian Johnson’s skill as a storyteller, and maintains the franchise’s impressive track record of consistently receiving high praise.

Both Previous Knives Out Movies Have Been Nominated

The fact that Wake Up Dead Man was released on streaming shortly after a brief time in theaters likely hurt its chances at awards. Although the awards committee now requires jurors to watch all official nominees, this rule doesn’t apply to films still being considered for a nomination.

Despite not winning any other major awards, Wake Up Dead Man still had a good chance at an Oscar, largely because of past history. The Academy has consistently recognized Rian Johnson’s talent for mystery films – both Knives Out and Glass Onion received Best Screenplay nominations. Many believed Wake Up Dead Man would follow suit, completing a trio of nominations for Johnson’s work.

Wake Up Dead Man’s Script Is Perfect, But Not Revolutionary

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

While Glass Onion being nominated after Knives Out sets a small example, it doesn’t fully explain why these kinds of stories – like Wake Up Dead Man and Glass Onion – are gaining recognition. Glass Onion isn’t a standard mystery; it focuses more on why the crime happened and its impact on people, rather than simply how it was solved. It’s more about understanding the characters and their reasons than solving a puzzle.

Although Wake Up Dead Man effectively examines themes of conservatism and the divisive nature of faith, it doesn’t break new ground in the mystery genre. It’s a flawlessly crafted example of the classic ‘whodunnit’ formula, clearly inspired by Agatha Christie. There are other, more innovative films that are more deserving of Oscar consideration.

The 2025 Best Screenplay Category Is Very Competitive

It’s proving more difficult than usual for even the strongest films of 2025 to earn an Oscar nomination – harder than it’s been in over a decade. One Battle After Another is being hailed as one of the best films of the 21st century, and fellow Best Adapted Screenplay contenders, Bugonia and Hamnet, are also exceptional.

The other two films nominated were both Netflix releases, and while Frankenstein highlights Hollywood’s tendency to remake movies, it’s clear that both it and Train Dreams were just as deserving of a nomination as Wake Up Dead Man. The truth is, 2025 was an exceptional year for film, and this Oscar oversight doesn’t diminish the quality of Rian Johnson’s excellent screenplay.

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2026-01-29 21:39