Russell Crowe’s next movie could give him his first realistic Oscar contender in 13 years. During the early 2000s,Crowe received Oscar nominationsfor Best Actor three consecutive years forThe Insider,Gladiator, andA Beautiful Mind– winning gold for his performance as Maximus. All three movies were also nominated for Best Picture, with the latter two winning the award.
However, Crowe hasn’t starred in a serious Oscar contender sinceLes Misérablesin 2012, though that could change withhis next movie,Nuremberg. The upcoming film follows the true story of the trials conducted by the Allied powers to prosecute the defeated Nazi leadership in Germanyafter World War II. Its cast also includes Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, and more.
Why Hasn’t Russell Crowe Been In The Oscars Mix For So Long?
His Career Has Changed A Lot
Russell Crowe hasn’t been in the Oscars mixsinceLes Misérablesin 2012, orNoahin 2014, which had hopes of being a contender based on the combination of Crowe and director Darren Aronofsky, but it never materialized into one. In terms of acting nominations, Crowe hasn’t had one since 2002.
While Crowe was one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors during the early 2000s,his career now looks very different. During the 2010s, Crowe started opting for more supporting roles in questionable franchise films, such asMan of Steel,The Mummy, and other movies. More recently, Crowe seems to have been relegated to a B-list actor.
Over the past few years,Crowe has starred in lesser-known titlessuch asPrizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher,The Greatest Beer Run Ever,Poker Face(2022 film),The Pope’s Exorcist,Sleeping Dogs, andThe Exorcism– all of which were panned by critics and failed to make a significant impact at the box office.
Nuremberg Could Finally Give Russell Crowe Another Oscar-Nominated Movie
It’s A Weighty Historical Drama
After more than a decade of fading from the spotlight,Nurembergcould finally give Crowe another Oscar-nominated movie. It’s still too early to be confident either way withNuremberg, especially since its director, James Vanderbilt, doesn’t have much of an Oscar pedigree, but the film feels like the kind of weighty historical drama that Academy voters favor.
For instance,Nurembergis 19th onVariety’s list of their 2026 Best Picture Oscar predictions, which isa better chance than Crowe has had in a long time. Its cast also includes anotherOscar winner in Rami Malekand two previous nominees in Michael Shannon and Richard E. Grant, forming a prestigious ensemble that is sure to catch the Academy’s attention.
With a strategic release date, strong cast, and a weighty historical premise,Nurembergcould finally mark Russell Crowe’s comeback that we’ve all been waiting for.
With a release date set for November,Nurembergis positioned perfectly as a potential awards season contender. With a strategic release date, strong cast, and a weighty historical premise,Nurembergcould finally markRussell Crowe’s comeback that we’ve all been waiting for.
