Al Pacino Skips Announcing Nominees While Presenting Best Picture

Al Pacino skipped over quite a few steps before announcing Oppenheimer as the best picture winner at the Oscars 2024.

The actor took the stage at the awards ceremony to present the top prize of the night. As is tradition, announcers will usually name all of the nominees before announcing who will be taking home the award.

Instead of announcing the nominees — which also included American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, Poor Things and The Zone of Interest — he opened the envelope and said, “My eyes see Oppenheimer.”

Not including the recount of all the films up for best picture takes away some of the suspense of the award, as well as the projects’ final chance to get the recognition they deserve for being nominated for the highest honor in Hollywood.

Users on social media took issue with the names of the other nominees being left out. One wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Wish Al would have read all of the nominees first. I was looking forward to seeing the sizzle reels, and a bit of tension,” while another noted, “What a weird anti climactic way to reveal the winner. Everyone was like WTF!”

Oppenheimer’s best picture win marked the end of a successful awards show for Christopher Nolan’s film, which came into the night with 13 nominations, the most of any film this year. The biopic took home seven Oscars, including director, actor, supporting actor, original score, cinematography and film editing.

Pacino’s flub is similar to that of Elizabeth Taylor’s, who was tasked with announcing the best motion picture — drama category at the 2001 Golden Globes, which went to Gladiator. While the teleprompter was instructing her to read the names of the nominees — including Traffic, Erin Brockovich, Billy Elliott, Wonder Boys and Sunshine — she opened the envelope instead.

When someone in the audience pointed out to her that she was doing it wrong, she responded “I’m new at this,” adding, “I usually like to get [the awards].” After Dick Clark came out with an assist, the beloved actress proceeded by announcing the other nominees before presenting the winner.

See the star-studded Oscars red carpet 2024 arrivals.