Shouldn’t "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" be at least part of the Oscar Best Picture conversation?
The Academy members I have canvassed remain as skeptical about the film's chances now as they did when it first came out. And in an another ominous sign, the final installment in the wildly successful franchise has gotten little traction with critics and guild award voters.
Also read: Can Harry Potter Power His Way to a Best Picture Nomination?
The “Harry Potter” franchise, launched in 2001, shares many similarities with “The Lord of the Rings” franchise: Both turned enormously popular works of fantasy literature into big commercial and critical hits. But it doesn’t appear that the final “Harry Potter” will get anywhere near the same Oscar reception as the last “Lord of the Rings” did in 2004.
In a way that's understandable, since "Potter" always grappled with the stigma of being a kids' movie. It never quite felt as formidable a cinematic achievement as Peter Jackson's "Rings" trilogy, which received 11 nominations and won all 11 for its final installment, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," tying that film for the most ever with "Ben-Hur" and "Titanic."
Also read: 'Harry Potter' by the Numbers: Audience Grew Older, Series Got Richer
But despite widespread speculation that Academy voters would salute the accomplishment of the entire series by rewarding the final installment, "Deathly Hallows" film failed to be nominated by the Directors Guild, Writers Guild, Producers Guild or Screen Actors Guild.
It was also shut out by the Golden Globes, while the Critics Choice Movie Awards gave it nominations in the categories of Art Direction, Makeup, Sound and Visual Effects.
No Best Picture nods to salute eight films and $7 billion in box-office grosses. No acting recognition to Alan Rickman for his tortured Professor Snape, or for any of the kids who grew up in front of our eyes without any of the usual and unfortunate child-star episodes.
In short, no "Return of the King"-style reception.
The Academy could still change that when it announces its nominations on Jan. 24. But from the start, the "Potter" series has never been the awards juggernaut that the "Rings" movies were.
Even before "The Return of the King" went 11-for-11, the first two "LOTR" films had won multiple Oscars, and both had been nominated for Best picture.
"The Fellowship of the Ring" received 13 nominations, the most in the series, and won four. "The Two Towers" got six more nods, and two more wins. Both were nominated for Best Picture.
By contrast, no "Harry Potter" movie has ever been nominated for Best Picture. None has received more than the three Oscar nominations that went to the first installment, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." And no "Potter" film has ever won an Oscar; the series' scorecard now stands at 0-for-9.
