If we remembered the 81st Academy Awards in 2009, we’d recall the push to see The Dark Knight take home some major awards. While the film was nominated for various awards, it was left out of the conversation for Best Picture come Oscar night.
One of the Oscar’s most beloved filmmakers, Steven Spielberg, is saying that was a mistake, and he believes the film deserved a Best Picture nomination.
Speaking to Deadline, Spielberg looks joyfully at his fellow Best Picture nomination, Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water. Though, he feels like a major Hollywood blockbuster deserved recognition long ago: Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
“I’m really encouraged by [Avatar: The Way of Water and Top Gun: Maverick being nominated for Best Picture]. It came late for the film that should have been nominated a number of years ago, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight,” says Spielberg.
He adds, “That movie would have definitely garnered a Best Picture Nomination today, so having these two blockbusters solidly presented on the top 10 list is something we should all be celebrating.”
The Dark Knight received eight nominations and an acting win, with the late Heath Ledger taking home Best Supporting Actor. It missed out on Best Picture, but the fact that only five films were eligible for selection played a factor.
This year, we’ve seen blockbusters all over the awards season. Films like The Batman, Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever all made a splash, with all of them receiving Oscar nominations, though only two made it to Best Picture. Spielberg’s latest, the semi-autobiographical 2022 film The Fabelmans, is also a Best Picture contender.
The 95th Academy Awards will be presented on March 12th, 2023.
