Believe it or not, David Ayer’s Suicide Squad has more Oscars than the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe combined—at least until Black Panther finally broke that streak years later. It sounds like a fever dream. You probably remember the 2016 release for its polarizing neon aesthetic, the "Damaged" tattoo on Jared Leto’s forehead, and a plot that felt like it was edited in a blender by a trailer house. Yet, when the 89th Academy Awards Suicide Squad moment happened, the film walked away with a statuette for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
It won.
Seriously.
While critics were tearing the script to shreds, the industry’s top craftspeople were looking at the transformation of Killer Croc. They were looking at the meticulous, grimy detail of Harley Quinn’s smeared greasepaint and the layers of prosthetic work that turned Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje into a literal swamp monster. It’s one of those bits of trivia that still makes film Twitter go into a total meltdown every time the Oscars roll around. People love to cite it as a sign of the apocalypse, but if you actually look at the technical labor involved, the win makes a lot more sense than the internet wants to admit.
The Night Suicide Squad Became an Oscar Winner
The 2017 Oscars were mostly famous for the La La Land and Moonlight mix-up. That was the "envelopegate" heard 'round the world. But earlier that night, Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini, and Christopher Nelson took the stage to accept the trophy for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. They beat out A Man Called Ove and Star Trek Beyond.
It was a massive deal for DC.
At that point, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was struggling for an identity. Man of Steel was divisive. Batman v Superman was a critical thumping. Then came Suicide Squad. It was marketed as this punk-rock, anarchic counter-point to the "civilized" Avengers. When the movie actually dropped, the consensus was... rough. But the Academy Awards Suicide Squad victory provided a weird kind of validation. It proved that even if a movie’s narrative is a chaotic mess, the craft behind the scenes can still be world-class.
Think about Killer Croc for a second. In an era where every big monster is just a guy in a grey pajamas suit with ping-pong balls (CGI), Ayer insisted on practical effects. That meant Akinnuoye-Agbaje sat in a makeup chair for up to six hours every single day. They applied head-to-toe prosthetics that had to look realistic in water, under harsh lights, and during fight scenes. That’s the kind of old-school Hollywood labor that Academy voters—especially those in the craft branches—absolutely adore.
Why the Makeup Win Was Actually Deserved
Let’s be honest.
You can hate the movie. You can find the "Joker and Harley" Hot Topic aesthetic cringe-inducing. But the technical execution of that aesthetic was flawless from a technical standpoint. Alessandro Bertolazzi, the lead designer, basically had to invent a new "look" for the most famous female villain in comic book history. He didn't just put Margot Robbie in pigtails; he created a "smudged, lived-in" look that felt like she’d been sweating in a club for three days straight.
- Killer Croc’s Skin: This wasn't just a mask. It was a multi-piece prosthetic set that allowed for facial expressions. The texture was modeled after actual crocodile scales and skin diseases to give it a visceral, "gross" reality.
- The Joker’s Tattoos: Regardless of whether you liked the "Damaged" forehead ink, the application had to be perfectly consistent across months of filming. They used a specific transfer process to ensure that every tiny line remained in the exact same spot, shot after shot.
- The Enchantress Transformation: Cara Delevingne’s look shifted from a grimy, swamp-witch aesthetic to a regal, golden goddess. The transition involved intricate body painting and hair-work that looked stunning in high-definition.
The Academy doesn't vote on "Best Movie." They vote on the specific category. In the Makeup and Hairstyling category, they’re looking for difficulty, innovation, and how much the makeup contributes to the character’s identity. When you look at it through that lens, Suicide Squad was a powerhouse.
It’s easy to dunk on the film because the "Rotten Tomatoes" score was in the gutter. But the makeup artists weren't responsible for the script's pacing or the weird CGI eyeball monsters in the finale. They were responsible for making the characters look iconic. And they succeeded. Look at any Halloween party between 2016 and 2020. Harley Quinn was everywhere. That’s the definition of an impactful design.
The "Oscar Winner" Label and the David Ayer Cut
Ever since that win, the "Oscar-winning Suicide Squad" meme has lived a long, healthy life. It’s often used as a cudgel to beat Marvel fans over the head, or as a way to point out how "random" the Academy can be. But for director David Ayer, it’s a bittersweet legacy.
Ayer has been vocal for years about the fact that the movie released in theaters wasn't his movie. He’s claimed the studio "ripped the heart out" of his dark, soulful drama and turned it into a "comedy" via heavy-handed editing. For him, the Academy Awards Suicide Squad win is proof that his original vision had merit. The crafts were there. The acting was there. The look was there.
Honestly, the win changed the conversation around comic book movies. It showed that the "prestige" of an Oscar wasn't reserved for the "Serious Actor" movies like The Dark Knight. It could go to a movie about a bunch of villains being forced to save the world by a lady with a bomb in their necks.
Comparing 2016 to James Gunn’s 2021 Version
It is pretty wild to think that the 2016 movie has an Oscar, but James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021)—which was almost universally loved by critics—doesn't. Gunn’s version had incredible creature work with King Shark and Starro, but it didn't capture that same lightning in a bottle with the Makeup branch.
Why?
Probably because the 2016 film felt more transformative in a traditional sense. Bertolazzi’s work was gritty. It was sweaty. It felt like "street" makeup turned up to eleven. Gunn’s movie, while brilliant, leaned more into the bright, colorful comic book aesthetic that sometimes feels "easier" to voters, even if it isn't.
There is also the "first mover" advantage. In 2016, we hadn't really seen a "dirty" superhero movie like that before. Deadpool came out the same year, but it didn't have the same level of prosthetic complexity. Suicide Squad felt like a heavy-metal album cover come to life.
The Lasting Impact on the DC Brand
People still talk about this win because it represents the chaotic energy of the early DCEU. It was a time when things were messy, bold, and weirdly successful despite the hate. Suicide Squad made over $746 million at the global box office. People showed up. They liked the characters. They liked the look.
The Oscar win basically cemented Harley Quinn as a permanent A-list cinematic icon. Without that specific makeup and hair design—the pink and blue dipped pigtails—would she have become a cultural phenomenon? Maybe. But the Academy’s stamp of approval gave that specific iteration of the character a permanent place in film history.
When you see "Oscar-winning" in front of Suicide Squad, it’s a reminder that filmmaking is a collaborative process. A movie can fail in its storytelling but still be a masterpiece of technical craft. We often forget that hundreds of people work on these films, and their work deserves to be judged independently of the "Tomatometer."
What We Can Learn From the Win
If you're a filmmaker or a fan, there’s a real lesson here. Focus on the details. Even if the overall project is getting hammered by the press, the excellence of a single department can still be recognized.
The Academy Awards Suicide Squad legacy isn't just a meme. It's a testament to the artists like Christopher Nelson who spent hours applying silicone and paint to actors' faces at 4:00 AM. It’s a reminder that the Oscars are more than just the "Best Picture" category. They are a celebration of the machine that makes movies possible.
Practical Takeaways for Film Buffs and Trivia Heads:
- Check the Credits: Next time you watch a "bad" movie, try to spot the one department that’s actually killing it. Is the cinematography great? Is the costume design incredible?
- The Power of Practical Effects: The Academy almost always favors practical makeup (prosthetics, real paint) over digital touch-ups. If you want an Oscar, build the monster for real.
- Context Matters: A movie’s quality is subjective, but technical skill is often measurable. The 2016 Suicide Squad may be a 26% on Rotten Tomatoes, but its makeup work set a standard for the genre that’s still being followed today.
Next time someone tells you the DCEU was a failure, just remind them that they have more gold on their shelf for character design than almost anyone else in the capes-and-tights business. It might not make the movie better in your eyes, but it definitely makes the history of the Oscars a whole lot more interesting.
Stop looking at the big picture for a second and look at the textures. Look at the scars on El Diablo. Look at the way the light hits Killer Croc's scales. That's where the Oscar lives. It’s in the pores.
Go back and watch the "Behind the Scenes" footage of the makeup chair for the 2016 film. You'll see the sheer amount of engineering required to keep those prosthetics on in a rain-soaked set. It’s grueling. It’s impressive. And, apparently, it’s exactly what the Academy was looking for.
Don't let the memes fool you; that win was earned through blood, sweat, and a lot of spirit gum.