Samuel L. Jackson says Oscars snubbed him many times

Last Updated on July 24, 2023

Samuel L. Jackson has had it with not getting motherf*ckin’ recognition from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and motherf*ckin’ Sciences, saying the organization has denied him Oscar nominations — and even wins — on multiple occasions.

Notably, Samuel L. Jackson did receive an Honorary Oscar last year, as his “dynamic performances resonate across genres and generations of audiences worldwide”, which he considers a genuine victory and not a consolation prize. Still, he knows the Academy made a few errors. “Didn’t feel honorary, just felt like I was getting an Oscar. I earned it. I worked for it. I can possibly name four other instances where I could have won or should have won or should have been nominated, but I’m fine with it. It’s mine. I got it. My name’s on it.”

As for which movies Samuel L. Jackson feels he should have been Oscar-nominated for, he only named Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 crime flick Jackie Brown, for which he did receive a Golden Globe nod and a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. As it turns out, it was under QT that Jackson received his sole Oscar nomination, for 1994’s Pulp Fiction. While he lost to Martin Landau for Ed Wood for Best Supporting Actor, even if he was in the Best Actor running — as many justly believe this to be a case of category fraud — he still would have lost to Tom Hanks for Forrest Gump.

On competitive Oscars, the prolific Samuel L. Jackson previously said he’d rather play Nick Fury and Mace Windu than chase gold. “I was never going to let the Oscars be a measure of my success or failure as an actor. My yardstick of success is my happiness: Am I satisfied with what I’m doing? I’m not doing statue-chasing movies.”

Other than Pulp Fiction, I would personally say Samuel L. Jackson deserved to be on the Oscar ballot for at least Jackie Brown, Fresh (that’s right, two nods in ‘94) and Jungle Fever, a role so good that the Cannes Film Festival resurrected the Best Supporting Actor award for one year only specifically to honor him.

Which performance do you think Samuel L. Jackson should have won an Oscar for? Give us your pick in the comments section below!