Superman
1978’s Superman was the first major superhero movie to be nominated for an Oscar – winning only one: a special achievement award for visual effects (with no competition). This epic, which starred Christopher Reeves as the iconic Kryptonian, seemed to have marked the beginning of a trend, one where superhero movies could only be recognized for their visual dazzle. Of the eighteen Oscar-nominated superhero movies, fourteen of them were up for visual effects.
Though it’s a little corny and has had some difficulty aging, Superman was a critical and box office success, earning almost $300 million worldwide. Despite its popularity though, it didn’t receive any of the “Big Five” nominations – not that Reeves deserved one.
This is a prime example of not only the bad rap superhero films get at award shows, but also how the Academy ignores the movies that people like.