It may have been snubbed at the Oscars, but the Force awakened on Tuesday for the current Star Wars blockbuster with the film gaining a leading 11 nominations for the upcoming MTV Movie Awards.

Breakout British star Daisy Ridley, 23, led the way for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, getting nods for best female performance, best hero and best fight in the Walt Disney movie that has taken more than $2 billion at the worldwide box office.

John Boyega, 23, was nominated for best breakthrough and best action performance for his role as turncoat Stormtrooper Finn, and the movie will also compete for movie of the year and best cast ensemble at the fan-based awards show in April.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens failed to win any of its five Oscar nominations in February - mostly for visual effects and editing - and failed to get a best picture nomination then.

The MTV Movie Awards, however, are all about fans. "It's about blockbuster movies that audiences line up to see; comedies, superheroes, science fiction, fantasy action," says the show's executive producer, Casey Patterson.

The MTV Movie Awards are known for their irreverent humor and categories like best kiss and best villain. This year's Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio will compete in the best fight category for his tussle with a ferocious bear in the movie The Revenant, as well as for best male performance.

Hit box-office action movie Deadpool got eight nominations, including for its stars Ryan Reynolds and Morena Baccarin.

The 2016 MTV Movie Awards will be handed out in Los Angeles at a ceremony hosted by Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart and broadcast on MTV on April 10.