Scarlett Johansson has taken aim at the Academy Awards’ limited recognition of Avengers: Endgame, arguing that the 2019 blockbuster deserved to be in the conversation for major Oscar categories.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson said she still doesn’t understand how the film missed out on a top nomination, pointing to the scale of the achievement and the fact that the movie “really works” as a film.
Johansson’s remarks land against a clear awards record: at the 92nd Academy Awards, Endgame received one nomination—Best Visual Effects—and did not compete in Best Picture or other major categories.
Why Endgame still stands out in the awards debate
Part of Johansson’s case is the sheer scope of what the movie pulled off. Endgame capped more than a decade of Marvel storytelling, drew massive global audiences, and remains among the highest-grossing films ever released. Box Office Mojo currently lists it as the No. 2 top lifetime worldwide grosser, behind Avatar.
Johansson also framed the movie as a difficult creative balancing act—an “impossible” project that, in her view, succeeded both technically and emotionally—precisely the kind of achievement she believes awards bodies should take seriously.
The comment came in a broader Oscars conversation
In the same stretch of coverage, Johansson also commented on the Oscars telecast itself, questioning the show’s long runtime and taking a swipe at a James Bond tribute segment she felt played like “an ad placement.”
Where Johansson stands on Marvel now
While she spoke fondly about her Marvel years—and said she misses her former co-stars—Johansson reiterated she doesn’t plan to return as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, saying the character’s story is complete and she wouldn’t want to undermine that.
