"That's all they're giving him?": Fans react to David Lynch's five-second tribute in Oscars 2025 'In Memoriam' segment 

Celebrated filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away earlier this year on January 16, was included in the 97th Academy Awards’ ‘In Memoriam’ section. ‘In Memoriam’ at the Oscars includes montages of movie personalities who died in the preceding year and were honored for their significant contributions to the film industry.

David Lynch was a part of the slate of actors, directors, writers, and set designers, among others, honored at the Oscars. The barely there five-second clip recognizing him included brief clips from his iconic films and television shows, Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, and Blue Velvet.

Fans of the auteur, though, were left baffled at the minimal nature of the Oscars' tribute to David Lynch, who suffered from emphysema. They took to X to note that the Oscars did not go above and beyond to recognize the contributions of a writer and director who had such a distinctive voice and always pushed the boundaries of what cinema means.

Netizens posted the choicest memes to highlight the absurd nature of the snub.

A fan of David Lynch took to X to express frustration. Posting a clip with an actor holding a gun to their head, the user wrote,

“David Lynch literally changed cinema and THATS ALL THEY'RE GIVING HIM ?”

Another Lynch fan was quick to point out the difference between tributes that fans of Lynch made for the director on social media and the Oscar’s tribute. The fan wrote on X,

“Crazy how editors on tiktok made better tributes to David lynch than the f—king academy awards”

Another X user chose a screen grab of the actor John Lithgow sitting with a sad and downcast face, probably reacting to something unrelated, to express the disappointment at the short tribute for Lynch. The user wrote,

“Only 5 seconds for David Lynch:”

A Lynch fan wrote to express annoyance at the long tribute for James Bond during the Oscars. Recognizing Lynch’s influence on cinema, the fan wrote,

“they did a ten minute james bond tribute for no reason but relegated one of the most influential directors of all time to a five second clip. there is no respect here. RIP david lynch. your impact on cinema, art and our lives is forever.”

Another Lynch fan very simply and succinctly communicated their exasperation at the Oscar’s tribute to Lynch. The fan wrote on X,

“Should have done more for David Lynch.”

Another netizen shared their frustration and wrote,

“Kinda pisses me off, actually.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Katya Zamolodchikova also took to X to express surprise at the cinematic legend receiving a short and cursory tribute from the Oscars. Katya wrote on X,

“Not giving David Lynch something more substantial than a 2 second in memoriam clip — #Oscars2025 you better sleep with both eyes open.”

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Tribute for Gene Hackman compared to the tribute for David Lynch

Fans commenting on the Oscars compared the Academy's tributes to David Lynch and actor Gene Hackman.

Notable actor Gene Hackman, who appeared in films like French Connection and The Conversation, died recently along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The cause of death of the couple, who were found by maintenance workers in their residence, has not been determined yet. Hackman’s contributions to Hollywood were noted in the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the Oscars. Hackman has won the Oscar twice.

Hackman was paid tribute by Morgan Freeman, his co-star in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and Stephen Hopkins’ Under Suspicion. In an ABC News clip, Freeman can be seen making a speech for Hackman. Freeman said,

“This week our community lost a giant and I lost a dear friend Gene Hackman”

While Freeman continued to talk about Hackman’s legacy, Lynch’s fans compared his tribute with the filmmaker's. It is clear that fans felt Lynch's contributions should have also been recognized in detail by the Academy. In particular, fans were upset and felt Lynch deserved a longer tribute. A fan wrote on X,

“Gene Hackman getting a special in memoriam but not David Lynch I’m sick”

David Lynch, who is known and celebrated internationally for his surrealist cinema that comments on humanity, was nominated four times for an Oscar. Unfortunately, Lynch never won the award, though. He was recognized by the Academy in 2019, when he received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards.

Meanwhile, David Lynch was paid a special tribute by his ex-partner and the star of his films, Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart, Isabella Rossellini. Rossellini, appearing alongside Laura Dern, a frequent face of Lynch's films, wore a blue velvet dress in a nod to the director’s first film with her, in which she played a troubled woman who used to sing a song called ‘Blue Velvet.’