Nope was critically acclaimed, even after its initial release, where there was noted confusion about its plot and themes, the film was quickly reclaimed as a visionary work and a proclamation of Peele pushing the boundaries of his social horror endeavors.

It was a financial success, being the highest-grossing blockbuster that was a wholly original intellectual property not tied in with any existing franchise. Peele has been recognized by the Academy already, winning Best Original Screenplay for Get Out in 2017, making the exclusion of Nope all the more confusing.

Even if the film was considered a long shot for Best Picture or Best Director, its lack of any technical award nominations is even more troubling. Nope was one of the most visually stunning films of the year. The sound design was terrifying and inventive, with a monster design that allowed Peele to experiment and pull off things that have never before been seen in a horror film. Peele invoked the epicness of Spielberg with such a powerful and creepy twist of pure horror.

Nope cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who built a custom IMAX camera specifically for the film, made it one of the best shot movies of the year, perfectly capturing the multi-layered themes and storytelling Peele is known for, allowing the director to reach another level.

in what universe does this not get nominated for best sound. pic.twitter.com/JtvAITFaDl

— za:3 (@200gecs) January 24, 2023

Horror movies are generally ignored by the Oscars, which could have also worked against Nope. What made Get Out such a unique case was it left the institution no choice and was a box office phenomenon, yet critically praised in a way that forged a direct path to the nomination. It is rare for horror films to break through, but if any film would, you would bet money that it would be a Jordan Peele-directed film. It’s a horror movie with very real, powerful social commentary about race with a diverse cast, something Peele has proven can be very successful. Year after year, some of the best performances in the movie world are featured in horror movies, but they are never recognized by the big awards bodies. Keke Palmer is now another example of this.

Opinion