Legendary directors still waiting for an Oscar: Park Chan-wook, Greta Gerwig and others the Academy overlooked

For nearly a century, the Academy Awards have celebrated filmmaking excellence. Yet the Oscars have also built a reputation for overlooking some of cinema's most influential directors.

Even icons like Stanley Kubrick - widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers ever - never won Oscars for directing or screenwriting. His only Academy Award came in 1969 for Visual Effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Other legends such as Alfred Hitchcock, Agnès Varda, and David Lynch eventually received Honorary Oscars, acknowledging their impact long after their careers reshaped cinema. But several equally influential directors still remain without competitive wins.

Here are some legendary filmmakers whose Oscar drought continues to surprise movie fans.

Few directors helped define the New Hollywood era like Brian De Palma, who emerged alongside filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.

De Palma created unforgettable films including Scarface and Carlito's Way, while also launching the blockbuster franchise Mission: Impossible. Despite his influence, the director has never received an Oscar nomination.

With his upcoming project Sweet Vengeance rumoured to be his final film, fans hope the Academy may finally recognize his decades-long legacy.

South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is widely regarded as one of the most visionary directors working today. From the Vengeance Trilogy to acclaimed films like The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave, his work has shaped modern international cinema.

Many expected No Other Choice, considered one of the most powerful films of 2025, to earn Oscar attention. Instead, it was surprisingly absent from the Best International Feature Film nominations.

The snub continues a frustrating pattern of the Academy overlooking genre-bending international filmmakers.

Ridley Scott has created some of cinema's most iconic films, yet the Best Director Oscar has repeatedly eluded him.

He came closest with Gladiator, which won Best Picture in 2001, though Steven Soderbergh won Best Director for Traffic. Scott has also faced fierce competition in other years, losing to directors like Jonathan Demme and Ron Howard.

Wes Anderson technically has an Oscar after winning Best Live Action Short Film in 2024 for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

However, the director's signature work in major categories - particularly Best Director and Screenplay - has largely gone unrewarded. Known for his distinctive visual style, deadpan humor, and eccentric characters, Anderson remains one of modern cinema’s most recognizable auteurs.

Despite multiple nominations, his biggest projects have yet to receive major Oscar wins.

Unlike others on this list, Greta Gerwig may simply be waiting her turn. Her directorial debut Lady Bird quickly became one of the most celebrated films of the 2010s, followed by critically acclaimed projects like Little Women and the global hit Barbie. As of March 14, Gerwig has already earned four Oscar nominations.

Her upcoming Netflix adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia could further strengthen her chances of finally winning an Academy Award.

Few directors command the same reputation for precision as David Fincher, yet he still hasn't won an Oscar. Fincher has earned three Best Director nominations for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, and Mank.

Surprisingly, several of his most influential films - including Se7en, Zodiac, and Gone Girl - were largely overlooked by the Academy.

Fans are hopeful his upcoming Netflix project The Adventures of Cliff Booth might finally secure him the recognition he deserves.

Despite revolutionizing the western genre, Sergio Leone never received an Oscar nomination. His Dollars Trilogy helped redefine the genre and made Clint Eastwood an international star. However, at the time, spaghetti westerns were often dismissed by critics and awards bodies as lowbrow entertainment.

His epic Once Upon a Time in America might have changed that - but heavy studio cuts during its U.S. release damaged the film's reception and awards chances.

The films of Andrei Tarkovsky are widely considered among the most poetic works in cinema history, yet the Russian director never received Oscar recognition.

Tarkovsky directed only seven films, but each left a profound artistic legacy. Factors such as the Academy's historic bias toward English-language films and Cold War-era distribution barriers contributed to his absence from the Oscars.

Despite that, his influence on global filmmaking continues to grow decades after his death.

Among modern filmmakers, Paul Thomas Anderson stands as one of the most critically respected directors. From Boogie Nights to There Will Be Blood and Licorice Pizza, Anderson has built a remarkable filmography. With One Battle After Another, his total Oscar nominations now stand at 14.

As the 98th Academy Awards approach, many believe Anderson may finally end his Oscar drought - a long-awaited moment for one of cinema's most acclaimed directors.