The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were revealed, highlighting the top achievements in film, makeup, and special effects. Notably absent from the list was Dwayne Johnson, who earned no nods for his role in A24’s drama The Smashing Machine. Johnson’s departure from his typical roles into a raw, stripped-down portrayal garnered early praise, but it did not translate into a Best Actor nomination.
Formidable Competition in Best Actor Category
This year’s Best Actor race features several strong contenders, with Timothée Chalamet securing his second straight nomination for Marty Supreme. Other nominees include Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Michael B. Jordan in Sinners, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. The competitive field made it challenging for new contenders like Johnson to break through.
The Smashing Machine Recognized Only for Makeup and Hairstyling
While neither Johnson nor his co-star Emily Blunt received acting nominations, the film did secure a single nod for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. This category honors the transformation Johnson underwent to portray MMA legend Mark Kerr. The nomination puts the film in contention against Frankenstein, Sinners, and The Ugly Stepsister.
The lack of acting recognition followed poor box office results, with The Smashing Machine grossing around $21 million worldwide against a production budget estimated between $40 and $50 million. Johnson responded to the disappointing numbers on social media, emphasizing the aspects of filmmaking that an actor can control.
“In our storytelling world, you can’t control box office results,”
Dwayne Johnson wrote on Instagram.
“But what I realized you can control is your performance, and your commitment to completely disappear and go elsewhere.”
“I will always run to that opportunity,”
he added.
“It was my honor to transform in this role for my director Benny Safdie.”
Upcoming Live Broadcast and Anticipation
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Despite the mixed response, the makeup nomination for The Smashing Machine allows the film to maintain a presence at this prestigious event, while the Best Actor category continues to highlight some of the year’s most acclaimed performances.
