{"id":2080616,"date":"2025-10-09T23:42:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T23:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2080616"},"modified":"2025-10-09T23:42:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T23:42:29","slug":"celebrity-turned-oscar-nominees-adam-sandler-jennifer-lopez-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/celebrity-turned-oscar-nominees-adam-sandler-jennifer-lopez-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrity Turned Oscar Nominees? Adam Sandler, Jennifer Lopez and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

\n\tThis awards season has a familiar theme: redemption.<\/p>\n

\n\tOnce dismissed as mere entertainers or mocked as tabloid fodder, popcorn draws or \u201cjust celebrities,\u201d several of this season\u2019s acting contenders are authoring dramatic second acts that could redefine their legacies.<\/p>\n

\n\tDwayne Johnson<\/a> broke down in tears after the world premiere of \u201cThe Smashing Machine\u201d in Venice. For two decades, Johnson has been \u201cThe Rock,\u201d a muscle-bound box office juggernaut known for his catchphrases, not his craft. Now, with his starring turn in Benny Safdie\u2019s dramatic biopic, he stands at the threshold of something he\u2019s never achieved: his first Academy Award nomination.<\/p>\n

\n\tAdam Sandler, long derided as the face of juvenile humor, is another viable contender. He stars alongside Oscar winner George Clooney in Noah Baumbach\u2019s Hollywood meta-dramedy \u201cJay Kelly.\u201d He\u2019s had earlier brushes with respectability \u2014 \u201cPunch-Drunk Love\u201d (2002), which earned him a Golden Globe nod, and Netflix\u2019s sports drama \u201cHustle\u201d (2022), which brought a SAG nomination. But the Oscars<\/a> remain stubbornly out of reach, raising uncomfortable questions about what the Academy sees when it looks at Sandler.<\/p>\n

\n\tJennifer Lopez<\/a> has been flirting with Oscar glory for nearly three decades, coming close enough to taste it but never quite invited inside. The music biopic \u201cSelena\u201d (1997) introduced her as a serious actress. An acclaimed turn in \u201cOut of Sight\u201d (1998) was met with silence from voters. Then came 2019 and \u201cHustlers,\u201d where her performance as stripper Ramona Vega felt undeniable. The Golden Globes, SAG and Critics Choice all agreed, but the Academy did not. Her omission became one of that season\u2019s most discussed oversights.<\/p>\n

\n\tNow, with Bill Condon\u2019s muscular musical adaptation of \u201cKiss of the Spider Woman,\u201d in which she embodies three distinct roles originated by the legendary Chita Rivera, Lopez is testing whether the Academy\u2019s doors will finally open to her.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s all about a filmmaker betting on them and trusting they can do it,\u201d says a veteran entertainment publicist who has orchestrated such transformations. \u201cWhen someone thinks of them one way, there\u2019s an unexpectedness to that which catches viewers by surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe machinery of reinvention requires precision. \u201cIt\u2019s about underscoring the reviews and getting people to watch the movies and find out for themselves,\u201d the publicist explains. Strategic media placements matter. \u201cThey\u2019re on the cover of New York Magazine, The New York Times and Variety. And it\u2019s a different kind of media that can shift perception.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Academy has been seduced by transformation stories before. Robin Williams spent years as a manic comedian and family-film staple before earning four Oscar nominations and winning for \u201cGood Will Hunting\u201d (1997). Mel Gibson leveraged action-hero credibility from the \u201cMad Max\u201d and \u201cLethal Weapon\u201d franchises into directorial acclaim, winning best picture for \u201cBraveheart\u201d (1995) and returning to the race two decades later with \u201cHacksaw Ridge\u201d (2016).<\/p>\n

\n\tJonah Hill shed his \u201cSuperbad\u201d persona to earn nominations for \u201cMoneyball\u201d (2011) and \u201cThe Wolf of Wall Street\u201d (2013). And Kristen Stewart, once synonymous with \u201cTwilight\u201d tabloid melodrama, earned a best actress nod for playing Princess Diana in \u201cSpencer\u201d (2021).<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t\t\t\tETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, Jim Carrey, 2004, (c) Focus Features\/courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9Focus Films\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tNot every story ends with redemption. Jim Carrey delivered career-defining performances in \u201cThe Truman Show\u201d (1998), \u201cMan on the Moon\u201d (1999) and \u201cEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind\u201d (2004). Critics embraced his work, and key precursor awards recognized him. However, the Academy did not. Perhaps voters couldn\u2019t unsee \u201cAce Ventura\u201d or \u201cDumb and Dumber,\u201d never reconciling the man talking through his butt with the artist revealing his soul.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThere\u2019s a relatability to that,\u201d a publicist observes about comeback narratives. \u201cEveryone is discovering this together, and that\u2019s a communal experience people can celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tBut the path doesn\u2019t always have a happy ending. Eddie Murphy came within reach of Oscar gold for \u201cDreamgirls\u201d (2006) before losing at the finish line. Pop star Ariana Grande, returning this year with the musical sequel \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d as the lovable Glinda, is undoubtedly hoping for a different outcome in the supporting actress race.<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd let\u2019s not forget: big stars mean big ratings. The more people recognize the nominees, the more likely they are to tune in to see if they\u2019ll win \u2014 especially if the performances are indelible.<\/p>\n

\n\t***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> = PREDICTED WINNER<\/strong><\/strong>
(All predicted nominees below are in alphabetical order)<\/i><\/p>\n

\n\tBest Picture
<\/strong>\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features)
\u201cA House of Dynamite\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cIt Was Just an Accident\u201d (Neon)
\u201cJay Kelly\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24)
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d (Neon)
\u201cSentimental Value\u201d (Neon)
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures)<\/p>\n

\n\tDirector<\/strong>
Paul Thomas Anderson, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
Ryan Coogler, \u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)
Jafar Panahi, \u201cIt Was Just an Accident\u201d (Neon)
Josh Safdie, \u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24)
Chlo\u00e9 Zhao, \u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features)<\/p>\n

\n\tActor<\/strong>
Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet, \u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
Leonardo DiCaprio, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)
Ethan Hawke, \u201cBlue Moon\u201d (Sony Pictures Classics)
Dwayne Johnson, \u201cThe Smashing Machine\u201d (A24)
Wagner Moura, \u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d (Neon) <\/p>\n

\n\tActress<\/strong>
Jessie Buckley, \u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
Cynthia Erivo, \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures)
Kate Hudson, \u201cSong Sung Blue\u201d (Focus Features)
Chase Infiniti, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)
Renate Reinsve, \u201cSentimental Value\u201d (Neon)<\/p>\n

\n\tSupporting Actor
<\/strong>Benicio del Toro, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)
Paul Mescal, \u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features)
Sean Penn, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
Andrew Scott, \u201cBlue Moon\u201d (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd, \u201cSentimental Value\u201d (Neon) <\/p>\n

\n\tSupporting Actress
<\/strong>Elle Fanning, \u201cSentimental Value\u201d (Neon)
Ariana Grande, \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
Regina Hall, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)
Gwyneth Paltrow, \u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24)
Teyana Taylor, \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)<\/p>\n

\n\tCasting<\/strong>
\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features) \u2014 Nina Gold
\u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24) \u2014 Jennifer Venditti
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) \u2014 Cassandra Kulukundis
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.) \u2014 Francine Maisler ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) \u2014 Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey<\/p>\n

\n\tOriginal Screenplay
<\/strong>\u201cJay Kelly\u201d (Netflix) \u2014 Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer
\u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24) \u2014 Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
\u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d (Neon) \u2014 Kleber Mendon\u00e7a Filho
\u201cSentimental Value\u201d (Neon) \u2014 Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.) \u2014 Ryan Coogler <\/p>\n

\n\tAdapted Screenplay
<\/strong>\u201cBugonia\u201d (Focus Features) \u2014 Will Tracy
\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features) \u2014 Chlo\u00e9 Zhao ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) \u2014 Paul Thomas Anderson
\u201cSong Sung Blue\u201d (Focus Features) \u2014 Craig Brewer
\u201cTrain Dreams\u201d (Netflix) \u2014 Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar<\/p>\n

\n\tAnimated Feature
<\/strong>\u201cArco\u201d (Neon)
\u201cIn Your Dreams\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d (Netflix) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cLittle Am\u00e9lie or the Character of Rain\u201d (GKids)
\u201cZootopia 2\u201d (Walt Disney Pictures) <\/p>\n

\n\tProduction Design
<\/strong>\u201cAvatar: Fire and Ash\u201d (20th Century Studios)
\u201cFrankenstein\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24)
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tCinematography<\/strong>
\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features)
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cTrain Dreams\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) <\/p>\n

\n\tCostume Design
<\/strong>\u201cFrankenstein\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features)
\u201cHedda\u201d (Amazon MGM Studios)
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tFilm Editing
<\/strong>\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features)
\u201cA House of Dynamite\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (A24)
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)<\/p>\n

\n\tMakeup and Hairstyling
<\/strong>\u201cBugonia\u201d (Focus Features)
\u201cFrankenstein\u201d (Netflix) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cThe Smashing Machine\u201d (A24)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures)<\/p>\n

\n\tSound<\/strong>
\u201cAvatar: Fire and Ash\u201d (20th Century Studios)
\u201cF1\u201d (Apple Original Films\/Warner Bros.)
\u201cA House of Dynamite\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tVisual Effects
<\/strong>\u201cAvatar: Fire and Ash\u201d (20th Century Studios) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cFrankenstein\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cMission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning\u201d (Paramount Pictures)
\u201cSuperman\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures)<\/p>\n

\n\tOriginal Score
<\/strong>\u201cHamnet\u201d (Focus Features) \u2014 Max Richter
\u201cA House of Dynamite\u201d (Netflix) \u2014 Volker Bertelmann
\u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (Warner Bros.) \u2014 Jonny Greenwood
\u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.) \u2014 Ludwig G\u00f6ransson ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures) \u2014 Stephen Schwartz<\/p>\n

\n\tOriginal Song
<\/strong>\u201cGolden\u201d from \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d (Netflix) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cI Lied to You\u201d from \u201cSinners\u201d (Warner Bros.)
\u201cTrain Dreams\u201d from \u201cTrain Dreams\u201d (Netflix)
\u201cThe Girl in the Bubble\u201d from \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (Universal Pictures)
\u201cZoo\u201d from \u201cZootopia 2\u201d (Walt Disney Pictures)<\/p>\n

\n\tDocumentary Feature
<\/strong>\u201cThe Alabama Solution\u201d (HBO Documentary Films)
\u201cThe Eyes of Ghana\u201d (U.S. Acquisition TBD)
\u201cThe Perfect Neighbor\u201d (Netflix) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cThe Tale of Silyan\u201d (National Geographic)
\u201c2000 Meters to Andriivka\u201d (PBS)<\/p>\n

\n\tInternational Feature
<\/strong>\u201cIt Was Just an Accident\u201d from France (Neon) ***<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>
\u201cNo Other Choice\u201d from South Korea (Neon)
\u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d from Brazil (Neon)
\u201cSentimental Value\u201d from Norway (Neon)
\u201cThe Voice of Hind Rajab\u201d from Tunisia (U.S. Distributor TBD)<\/p>\n

\n\tTop 5 projected Oscar nomination leaders (films): \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d (14); \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d (12); \u201cSinners\u201d (11); \u201cHamnet\u201d (10); and \u201cSinners\u201d (11); \u201cMarty Supreme\u201d (8)<\/p>\n

\n\tTop 5 projected Oscar nomination leaders (studios): Warner Bros. (27); Netflix (17); Neon (15); Focus Features (14); Universal Pictures (12)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source variety.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This awards season has a familiar theme: redemption. Once dismissed as mere entertainers or mocked as tabloid fodder, popcorn draws or \u201cjust celebrities,\u201d several of this season\u2019s acting contenders are authoring dramatic second acts that could redefine their legacies. Dwayne Johnson broke down in tears after the world premiere of \u201cThe Smashing Machine\u201d in Venice. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2080617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25173],"tags":[391084,305874,22265,344473],"class_list":["post-2080616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists","tag-awards-circuit-column","tag-dwayne-johnson","tag-jennifer-lopez","tag-oscars"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Celebrity-Turned-Oscar-Nominees-Adam-Sandler-Jennifer-Lopez-and-More.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2080616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2080618,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2080616\/revisions\/2080618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2080617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2080616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2080616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2080616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}