Ben Affleck is looking back on the Oscar nomination many expected him to receive. The 2012 political thriller wasn’t just a film he starred in – he also produced and directed it.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ben Affleck first congratulated Kimmel on his recent Critics Choice Award. He then reminisced about his own experience at the same awards show back in 2013. Affleck remembered that his Critics Choice win for Argo came after a particularly memorable Oscars season, where he was led to believe he would be nominated for Best Director.
Everyone kept telling me that year I was going to be nominated for director. So, I woke up expecting it, but it turned out to be quite embarrassing. I found out I hadn’t been nominated, which was a shock after all the talk.
Kimmel went on to describe the situation as possibly the most awkward moment in awards show history. He pointed out that Argo won Best Picture, despite Ben Affleck not receiving nominations for either directing or acting in the film – joking that it was as if the movie had directed itself.
“It really felt that way,” Affleck says. “The day I found out I hadn’t been nominated, which suddenly became a big, negative thing, I had to attend the Critics Choice Awards. I remember arriving and there was a red carpet with about 500 people eager to speak with me, and they all immediately asked about the snub. What could I say? ‘It’s disappointing!’ Luckily, I actually ended up winning an award that night.”
Affleck finished by saying the entire experience was “just embarrassing,” pointing out that he never expected a nomination in the first place. He explained, “I never acted like I was going to be nominated!” and added that it was awkward having to explain why he wasn’t nominated when he hadn’t even campaigned for one.
Ben Affleck’s 2012 film, Argo, surprisingly won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, triumphing over critically acclaimed movies like Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty. Despite not receiving a directing or acting nomination at the Oscars, Affleck was recognized for his direction by the Critics Choice Awards, where Argo also earned the top prize.
The movie Argo tells the true story of a daring CIA operation to free six American hostages during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 and holds a special place in Academy Awards history. Starring John Goodman, Alan Arkin, and Bryan Cranston, it was the first film since Driving Miss Daisy in 1989 to win Best Picture without also receiving a nomination for Best Director.
Since directing Argo, Ben Affleck hasn’t received any Oscar nominations or wins. However, he’s found success at the Golden Globes with his later films. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for The Tender Bar (2022), and Air (2024) was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Ben Affleck is directing and starring in a new thriller called Animals, with Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, and Steven Yeun also appearing in the film. While it’s too soon to predict if it will be an awards contender, the project seems to draw inspiration from his experience making Argo.
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- Vampire’s Fall 2 redeem codes and how to use them (June 2025)
- Mobile Legends January 2026 Leaks: Upcoming new skins, heroes, events and more
- Clash Royale Furnace Evolution best decks guide
- M7 Pass Event Guide: All you need to know
- Clash of Clans January 2026: List of Weekly Events, Challenges, and Rewards
- Best Arena 9 Decks in Clast Royale
- World Eternal Online promo codes and how to use them (September 2025)
- Clash Royale Season 79 “Fire and Ice” January 2026 Update and Balance Changes
- Clash Royale Witch Evolution best decks guide
2026-01-06 23:01