Russell Crowe‘s next movie could give him his first realistic Oscar contender in 13 years. During the early 2000s, Crowe received Oscar nominations for Best Actor three consecutive years for The Insider, Gladiator, and A Beautiful Mind – winning gold for his performance as Maximus. All three movies were also nominated for Best Picture, with the latter two winning the award.

However, Crowe hasn’t starred in a serious Oscar contender since Les Misérables in 2012, though that could change with his next movie, Nuremberg. The upcoming film follows the true story of the trials conducted by the Allied powers to prosecute the defeated Nazi leadership in Germany after World War II. Its cast also includes Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, and more.

Why Hasn’t Russell Crowe Been In The Oscars Mix For So Long?

His Career Has Changed A Lot

Russell Crowe hasn’t been in the Oscars mix since Les Misérables in 2012, or Noah in 2014, which had hopes of being a contender based on the combination of Crowe and director Darren Aronofsky, but it never materialized into one. In terms of acting nominations, Crowe hasn’t had one since 2002.

While Crowe was one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors during the early 2000s, his career now looks very different. During the 2010s, Crowe started opting for more supporting roles in questionable franchise films, such as Man of Steel, The Mummy, and other movies. More recently, Crowe seems to have been relegated to a B-list actor.

Over the past few years, Crowe has starred in lesser-known тιтles such as Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Poker Face (2022 film), The Pope’s Exorcist, Sleeping Dogs, and The Exorcism – all of which were panned by critics and failed to make a significant impact at the box office.

Nuremberg Could Finally Give Russell Crowe Another Oscar-Nominated Movie

It’s A Weighty Historical Drama

After more than a decade of fading from the spotlight, Nuremberg could finally give Crowe another Oscar-nominated movie. It’s still too early to be confident either way with Nuremberg, especially since its director, James Vanderbilt, doesn’t have much of an Oscar pedigree, but the film feels like the kind of weighty historical drama that Academy voters favor.

For instance, Nuremberg is 19th on Variety‘s list of their 2026 Best Picture Oscar predictions, which is a better chance than Crowe has had in a long time. Its cast also includes another Oscar winner in Rami Malek and two previous nominees in Michael Shannon and Richard E. Grant, forming a prestigious ensemble that is sure to catch the Academy’s attention.

With a release date set for November, Nuremberg is positioned perfectly as a potential awards season contender. With a strategic release date, strong cast, and a weighty historical premise, Nuremberg could finally mark Russell Crowe‘s comeback that we’ve all been waiting for.