Almost every MCU hero got their moment in Avengers: Endgame, but with the possible exception of Captain America, the main player in the ensemble epic was undoubtedly Iron Man. And now that Robert Downey Jr. looks to have hung up the suit once and for all, many fans are arguing that it’s time for the star to get some Academy recognition for bringing Tony Stark to the big screen.
In his decades-spanning career, Downey has received two Oscar nominations – once for the 1992 film Chaplin, then again for his supporting turn in 2008’s Tropic Thunder. Funnily enough, in the latter case, Downey was beaten out by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, in one of the rare instances of a comic book movie being nominated in an acting category. Even Black Panther – which received seven nominations, including Best Picture – saw none of its actors recognized at this year’s Academy Awards.
With that in mind, an Oscar nod for Downey feels like a long shot, but that hasn’t stopped fans from taking to Twitter to plead their case:
He deserves an #Oscar just because he's Robert Downey Jr.
It's about time! https://t.co/RqeClTu6FR— Fiorenza M. J. Panke ?? (@FiorePanke) May 3, 2019
@RobertDowneyJr p.s lol I really don’t think there’s a more Oscar worthy performance as an actor as you hitting the best snap ? in the existence of film and my soul among 330 million others being ripped out in the last 20 minutes of #endgame
— jasontwitten (@BigBenXXX1987) May 3, 2019
Yesss! @TheAcademy award aka #Oscar must for the most deserving @RobertDowneyJr! ? #AvengersEndgame @Avengers @MarvelStudios
— Anju Chandel (@AnjuChandel) May 3, 2019
Absolutely. I’m not big on superhero movies getting Oscars, but this is the career/comeback Oscar Robert Downey Jr fully deserves https://t.co/IqEDoRysSm
— Jeff (@jkjak13) May 3, 2019
If @RobertDowneyJr doesnt get nominated…AND WIN an #Oscar for his performance in #AvengersEndgame they seriously need to revamp the whole system.
— ⎊ Kevin Barnett ⎊ (@Marvelcomicman) May 3, 2019
robert downey jr. embodied iron man. he is iron man. he DESERVES an oscar. https://t.co/BKM6WZagq2
— • (@unhelpfuly0da) May 3, 2019
#AvengersEndgame
Oscar for .@RobertDowneyJr #Endgame .@MarvelStudios .@Avengers .@Russo_Brothers https://t.co/lTI8yfT2JE— Amal kishor (@iiamalkishorii) May 3, 2019
@RomyBoy2184 Hey, RomyBoy. I watched your review for Avengers: Endgame.
No. 1. It was absolutely awesome and I agree 100%.
No. 2. There needs to be some way the Oscars need to push Robert Downey, Jr for Best Actor.— TurbulentCinema (@CinemaTurbulent) May 3, 2019
Hey @TheAcademy, Robert Downey Jr. has been the linchpin of the @MarvelStudios Cinematic Universe since it began in 2008, playing @Iron_Man / Tony Stark in 10 different films. It’s time for him to win an Oscar. #VanityFair https://t.co/vIcTxeOFQF
— Randall Scott (@randall_scott) May 2, 2019
i’m not saying that robert downey jr deserves an oscar for carrying an entire movie franchise for 11 years and being one of the best actors of our time but that’s exactly what i’m saying
— ‎sam loves cevans (@suupasam) May 3, 2019
@RobertDowneyJr you deserve an oscar on you performance in #AvengersEndgame .
— khalledz #GOATMessi ? . (@afckhalledz) May 3, 2019
I have now seen Avengers Endgame twice and I demand an Oscar nomination for Robert Downey Jr.
— Julia (@juliakakish) May 3, 2019
On a related note, Fandango managing editor Erik Davis recently reported that Endgame had a big screening for Academy members this week, suggesting that Marvel Studios just might be preparing for a big Oscar push. Honestly, given how fan-oriented the movie is, we wouldn’t bet on Endgame finding as much success as Black Panther, but hey, there’s no harm in trying.
Either way, an argument can be made that no other 2019 release is in less need of further exposure than Avengers: Endgame. With a global gross of $1.764 billion, the film currently sits as the fifth highest grossing movie of all time. In other words, we wouldn’t shed too many tears if Marvel Studios goes home from the next Academy Awards empty-handed.
