Denzel Washington not getting an Oscar nomination for Gladiator II would repeat history, as he also didn’t receive a nomination for Ridley Scott’s 2007 film American Gangster. Washington is one of the most celebrated actors of all time. Denzel Washington’s best movies include Malcolm X, Training Day, Fences, and The Tragedy of Macbeth, all of which earned him nominations for an Academy Award. Washington’s most recent performance was in Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel to Scott’s 2000 movie. Washington joining the cast of Gladiator II made perfect sense, as he and Scott had worked together on American Gangster.

In Gladiator II, Washington plays Macrinus, an arms dealer and gladiator owner who is an extremely influential figure in Rome. Throughout the movie, Macrinus manipulates Emperors Geta and Caracalla, and eventually takes control of Rome himself. By the end of Gladiator II, Washington’s Macrinus emerges as the true villain of the film. Washington has received a lot of praise for his role in Gladiator II, and has received Oscar buzz. However, if he doesn’t get nominated for an Academy Award, this would be the second time Washington failed to receive an Oscar nomination for a Ridley Scott movie.

Denzel Washington Was Not Nominated For An Oscar For Ridley Scott’s American Gangster

Washington’s Oscar Snub For American Gangster Was Surprising

17 years before starring in Gladiator II, Washington led the cast of American Gangster, which was also directed by Scott. In American Gangster, Washington plays Frank Lucas, a powerful drug dealer who rules the streets of 1970s New York. Reviews for American Gangster were quite positive, and the film currently has an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes). Almost all reviews for American Gangster express how great Washington is in the movie.

Washington’s commanding performance in American Gangster earned him nominations for Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards and the Satellite Awards. However, he was not nominated for an Academy Award for American Gangster. Therefore, if Washington does not receive an Academy Award nomination for Gladiator II, it would be the second time he has received a Golden Globe nomination for a Ridley Scott film but not an Oscar nomination.

Denzel Washington’s American Gangster Oscar Snub Is An Outlier – But Gladiator 2 Could Start A Trend

It Now Seems Less Likely That Washington Will Be Nominated For Gladiator 2

Heading into awards season, it seemed likely that Washington would be nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. Washington was nominated for the Supporting Actor Golden Globe, but surprisingly failed to receive a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be held on February 23, 2025. Following the announcement of the SAG Awards nominees, Washington’s chances of getting nominated for an Oscar have gone down.

Currently, the 2008 awards season is the only time Washington has been nominated for a Golden Globe but not an Oscar. However, it seems like Gladiator II could start a trend. Washington’s American Gangster Oscar snub is currently an outlier, but if he doesn’t get nominated for an Academy Award for Gladiator II, then it is clear that his collaborations with Scott simply do not lead to Oscar success.