The 2024 Oscars have unforgivingly extended a disheartening streak for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), marking the 15th year without a win. The victim this time was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, losing the Best Visual Effects category to Godzilla Minus One.
This defeat adds another chapter to an astonishing 14-movie saga that Marvel Studios would rather erase from memory.
The Visual Effects nominations showcased stiff competition, including the sci-fi spectacle The Creator, Ridley Scott’s grand Napoleon, and the anticipated favorite Godzilla Minus One.
With a colossal budget of approximately $250 million, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 flaunted its visual prowess, especially in standout sequences like the corridor fight set to Beastie Boys’ No Sleep Till Brooklyn. However, even this memorable scene couldn’t break the MCU’s VFX curse.
The history of the MCU at the Oscars is marked by 14 nominations in the Visual Effects category, and not a single victory. The journey began in 2009 with Iron Man, setting the stage for what seemed like an inevitable parade of wins. However, reality took a different turn, with each nomination met by another movie walking away with the coveted golden statuette.
The MCU’s visual effects achievements are undeniable, featuring fully rendered CG characters like Thanos and Vision, groundbreaking action sequences, and magical effects as seen in Doctor Strange. Despite these feats, the Oscars have proven elusive, with wins slipping through Marvel’s grasp every time.
The extensive list of losses includes notable titles such as The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Endgame, and now, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The staggering investment in the MCU, coupled with its pivotal role in advancing visual effects, makes the absence of an Oscar win an improbable anomaly.
While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was nominated for Best Visual Effects, the real snub lies in the overlooked category of Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film’s groundbreaking use of over 23,000 prosthetics on more than 1,000 actors during the Counter-Earth sequence, a record-breaking achievement, went unrecognized.
In the face of this prolonged Oscar drought, questions arise about the bar set for the MCU. With worlds populated by gods, aliens, and monsters seamlessly coexisting, perhaps the expectations are unreasonably high. As a Disney supervillain once said, “When everyone is special, nobody is.”
The disappointment lingers not only for Marvel but also for movie enthusiasts who recognize the unparalleled contributions of the MCU to cinematic visuals.
The Oscars, it seems, have yet to fully appreciate the magic Marvel consistently brings to the big screen, leaving an indelible mark on film history without the golden validation.
