If you were to look at the track record of Bradley Cooper at Oscars ceremonies over the last decade, you’d probably think the man was a magnet for heartbreak. It’s almost a meme at this point. Twelve nominations. Zero wins.
Think about that for a second.
Most actors would give their right arm for just one invitation to the Dolby Theatre. Cooper has been invited twelve times as a nominee across acting, producing, and writing. He has sat through countless hours of "And the winner is..." only to see someone else's name pulled from that little gold envelope. Honestly, it’s getting a bit ridiculous.
The Maestro "Snub" That Wasn't Really a Snub
Last year, the internet was convinced Maestro was going to be the one. You probably remember the discourse. The prosthetic nose, the six years spent learning how to conduct a six-minute scene, the raw intensity of the performance.
But when the 96th Academy Awards rolled around in 2024, Cooper walked away empty-handed again. Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer took the Best Actor trophy. Christopher Nolan took Best Director. Maestro was technically a "triple threat" for Cooper—he was up for Actor, Screenplay, and Picture—but the Academy simply wasn't feeling it.
Critics were split. Some called it a masterclass in transformative acting. Others felt it was "Oscar bait" that tried a little too hard. That’s the tricky thing about Bradley Cooper’s relationship with the Academy. He’s so technically proficient and so obviously dedicated that sometimes it feels like he’s trying to force a win through sheer willpower.
A History of Almost-Wins
Let’s go back. It’s not just Maestro.
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012): This was the arrival. He was the twitchy, vulnerable Pat Solatano. He was great. But Daniel Day-Lewis was also there as Lincoln. You don’t beat Lincoln.
- American Hustle (2013): Supporting Actor. He had the permed hair and the unhinged energy. Lost to Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club.
- American Sniper (2014): He gained 40 pounds of muscle and became Chris Kyle. Another Best Actor loss, this time to Eddie Redmayne.
- A Star Is Born (2018): This was the big one. Everyone—and I mean everyone—was singing "Shallow." He directed it. He sang in it. He co-wrote it. He was nominated for three Oscars and won zero.
The most painful part of the A Star Is Born run wasn't even the loss; it was the fact that he wasn't even nominated for Best Director. He told Oprah Winfrey later that he felt "embarrassed" by the omission. He felt like he hadn't done his job. It’s that kind of perfectionism that makes his Oscar journey so fascinating to watch.
What's Next? Is This Thing On?
We’re now in 2026, and the conversation is shifting. Cooper’s latest directorial effort, Is This Thing On?, dropped in late 2025. It’s a complete pivot. No prosthetics, no heavy biopics. It’s a comedy-drama starring Will Arnett as a man dealing with a divorce through stand-up comedy.
Cooper plays a supporting role (a character named "Balls," believe it or not). The early buzz for the 2026 awards season suggests this might be his best chance to finally break the "serious artiste" mold. Sometimes the Academy likes to see an actor stop trying so hard.
Why He Hasn't Won (Yet)
There are a few theories about why Bradley Cooper at Oscars remains a story of "always the bridesmaid."
First, there’s the "Cool Guy" factor. Hollywood can be weirdly hesitant to award people who are "too" successful, "too" handsome, or "too" ambitious. He’s perceived as someone who wants it too much, which can occasionally turn off voters who prefer "effortless" genius.
Second, he often goes up against "the narrative." In 2019, the narrative was Rami Malek becoming Freddie Mercury. In 2024, it was Cillian Murphy’s long-overdue moment. Cooper is a victim of bad timing.
Finally, his work is increasingly "high-brow." Maestro was a complex, non-linear character study. It wasn't designed to be a crowd-pleaser in the way Green Book or CODA were.
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Lessons from the Cooper Conundrum
If you’re a fan or just a casual observer of film history, there’s a lot to learn from Cooper's career.
- Consistency is the real win. Twelve nominations mean he is consistently in the top 1% of his craft. A trophy doesn't change the quality of A Star Is Born.
- Pivot when things get stale. Moving from intense biopics to a Will Arnett comedy shows he's aware of the "Oscar bait" labels and is willing to play a different game.
- The "Losing Streak" creates its own legend. Just ask Leonardo DiCaprio. The longer it takes, the bigger the payoff will be when it finally happens.
If you want to track his progress this year, keep an eye on the critics' circle awards for Is This Thing On?. If he lands a Best Screenplay or Best Supporting Actor nod, the 2026 Oscars might finally be the year he stops being the guy who just claps for everyone else.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the 2026 Golden Globe and SAG results—they are usually the most accurate predictors for whether the Academy is ready to finally give Bradley his moment.