> At a Glance
> – Ben Affleck told Jimmy Kimmel Live! that being overlooked for 2013 Oscar directing and acting nods felt humiliating
> – His film Argo still won Best Picture, making him a double Oscar winner
> – The actor-director said he never predicted nominations but had to explain the snub to everyone
> – Why it matters: Shows how awards-season hype can backfire-even when the film ultimately triumphs
Ben Affleck‘s 2012 thriller Argo took home Hollywood’s top prize, yet the morning nominations arrived he faced an awkward spotlight: zero personal Oscar nods.
The Snub That Stung
Appearing on the Jan. 5 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Affleck recalled industry buzz assuring him “you’re going to get nominated for director.” When the announcement arrived, the opposite happened.
> “It’s not like any other morning that I had not been nominated for best director, but all of a sudden it’s a massive embarrassment,” he said, imitating sympathetic voices: “You didn’t get nominated.“
Red-Carpet Interrogation
The same day of the Oscar snub, Argo won Critics’ Choice honors for best director and best picture, softening the blow. Still, the celebratory line felt like a gauntlet.
- Over 500 reporters on the red carpet, he estimated
- Every interview opened with the same question: Why the Oscar shut-out?
- Affleck had no prepared answer; he’d never campaigned for votes
A Consolation in Gold
Kimmel argued Affleck was “underselling” the outcome: Argo ultimately claimed three Oscars-Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing-and Affleck’s name sits on the Best Picture statuette.
> “You starred in it and directed it and you were not nominated in either category… It’s as if the movie directed itself,” Kimmel jabbed.
| Oscar Tally for Argo (2013) | Result |
|---|---|
| Best Picture | Won |
| Best Director | Snubbed |
| Best Actor | Snubbed |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Won |
Key Takeaways
- Affleck’s only two Oscar wins: 1998 screenplay for Good Will Hunting and 2013 Best Picture for Argo
- The director says embarrassment, not anger, defined his reaction to the snub
- He compared the experience to Leonardo DiCaprio losing at the recent Critics’ Choice Awards despite his film winning top prize
- Affleck returns behind the camera-and in front of it-for the upcoming crime thriller Animals
Even without personal nominations, Argo‘s Best Picture victory secured Affleck’s place in Oscar history-though the morning he missed the cut still haunts him.
