Yet as the film's box office kept quietly climbing (prior to American Sniper's surge, it was the highest grosser of the nominees), and later, loftier releases failed to register, Fox Searchlight's stealth player held on to its industry affection, even tying with Birdman for the year's highest nomination tally.
It's the highest number of nominations ever, which speaks for itself that Hairspray has just overwhelmed people".
In its absence the AFA could garland Florian Flicker's Grenzgänger, which picked up the highest number of nominations – seven – for the forthcoming awards.
The other performers with the highest number of nominations were the rhythm-and-blues singers and songwriters India Arie, with seven, and Alicia Keys, with six.
A historical drama about a soldier in Belfast at the height of the Troubles has picked up the highest number of nominations at this year's British independent film awards.
If it was one of the least predictable ceremonies for some years, there was little doubt in one category: Daniel Day-Lewis was always going to win best actor for Lincoln, in what was a disappointing night for the Stephen Spielberg film which had the highest number of nominations, 10, and only one win.
Sega's critically acclaimed sci-fi chiller Alien: Isolation, based on the 1979 Ridley Scott movie, has picked up the highest number of nominations for this year's Bafta video game awards, earning recognition in the audio achievement, best game, British game, game design, game innovation and music categories.
Mad Men is about to make Emmy history with the highest number of nominations for a drama series.
She threw herself into acting and reaped the highest accolades: award nominations, an Oscar, an Obie, Emmys.
