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The Oscars, also known as The Academy Awards, honor films that demonstrate outstanding creativity and technological achievements across various categories. These accolades are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during an annual live televised event. The five most prominent categories, referred to as the Big Five, include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay (either Original or Adapted). Additionally, numerous other categories recognize the various aspects of filmmaking, such as production design, editing, and musical scores.
The Oscars serve as the culmination of the awards season, but occasionally, the wrong film is awarded Best Picture. This category is intended to celebrate the most exceptional film of the year in its entirety, and while Academy members usually select the most deserving film, there have been instances where a movie has won over others that may have been superior in terms of box office earnings, critical acclaim, or audience reception. Here are ten films, listed in no particular order, that we believe should not have received the Best Picture award and the reasons why.
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10 Times the Wrong Movie Won Best Picture at the Oscars
Rocky (1976)
The 1976 film “Rocky” is a beloved cult classic in the fighting genre, starring Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie follows the journey of Rocky Balboa, an amateur boxer and loan shark collector, who unexpectedly gets the chance to challenge Apollo Creed for the world heavyweight boxing title. It was the first installment in the Rocky franchise and has inspired numerous inspirational sports movies depicting individuals striving for success.
However, there is a perspective that suggests “Rocky” may not have been the most deserving film to win the Oscar for Best Picture in its year. While it was undoubtedly a remarkable achievement for all involved, other films such as “Taxi Driver” and “Network” held more significant artistic and cinematic value and could have been equally worthy of the award. “Taxi Driver,” in particular, is often considered one of the greatest movies of all time and marked a breakthrough for Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and writer Paul Schrader. It remains a compelling character study of a lonely man trapped in a nightmarish world of violence, as noted by Kyle Rupprecht of MovieMaker.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
The 1998 film “Shakespeare in Love,” directed by John Madden and produced by Harvey Weinstein, is a romantic comedy set in a historical period. It depicts a fictional love story between William Shakespeare (played by Joseph Fiennes) and Viola de Lesseps (portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow) while Shakespeare is writing “Romeo and Juliet.” The movie was a significant success, grossing $289.3 million globally at the box office.
However, there are reasons why some believe “Shakespeare in Love” should not have won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Unlike other films on this list, the main criticism is not related to its quality, but rather its standing as an adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous play. Some argue that it falls short in capturing the essence of Shakespeare’s work. Additionally, it faced stiff competition from the highly acclaimed and visually stunning “Saving Private Ryan,” which many believe deserved the top prize for its exceptional cinematography.
It’s also worth noting that Harvey Weinstein, the film’s producer, exerted significant influence on the Oscars to secure the win for his own film, which raised concerns about the fairness of the process.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump, the 1994 film starring Tom Hanks, which is based on Winston Groom’s 1986 novel, won the Best Picture Oscar. However, there is some debate about whether it deserved this accolade. Many argue that other films, such as The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction, both of which presented distinctive aspects of life and left a significant mark on 90s culture, might have been more fitting choices for the top honor and had a more profound societal impact.
The King’s Speech (2010)
The King’s Speech, a historical drama, narrates the story of King George VI’s struggle with a stammer and his journey to overcome it, with the help of an Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The film showcases their growing friendship and ultimately culminates in the successful broadcast of the king’s wartime speech in 1939 following his brother’s abdication.
Why The King’s Speech Shouldn’t Have Won Best Picture that year is because The Social Network, released in 2010, had a more significant societal impact. The King’s Speech’s win was primarily attributed to its timing, being released just before the awards season, highlighting the crucial role of timing in the competitive awards circuit. However, after winning Best Picture, the film failed to maintain its cultural relevance, and according to Collider, it has faded into obscurity, with people now expressing a desire for a sequel to The Social Network due to its continued relevance.
Argo (2012)
In 2012, Ben Affleck directed and produced the film “Argo,” in which he also starred. This historical thriller is based on two sources: Tony Mendez’s 1999 autobiography, “The Master of Disguise,” and Joshuah Bearman’s 2007 Wired article, “The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran.” The movie depicts C.I.A. operative Tony Mendez’s role in orchestrating the rescue of six American diplomats during the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis by creating a fake sci-fi movie.
Why It Shouldn’t Have Won: “Argo” received the Oscar for Best Picture that year, surpassing other outstanding films such as “Lincoln” and “Zero Dark Thirty,” which appeared to be more obvious choices for the award. While “Argo” does possess a compelling narrative, it could be argued that it wasn’t the most deserving film in its category. A reviewer like Stanley Fish from The New York Times might concur, as he noted, “This is one of those movies that rely on your not engaging in too much critical analysis; because as soon as you start contemplating the storyline instead of getting caught up in it, there doesn’t appear to be much beyond the expert maintenance of suspense, even though you already know the outcome.”
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Birdman (2014)
Birdman, the 2014 film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Michael Keaton, received significant critical acclaim for its portrayal of Riggan Thomson, a washed-up actor known primarily for his superhero role. The movie was praised for its black comedy-drama elements and featured a stellar cast, including Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts.
However, some argue that Birdman shouldn’t have won the Best Picture award that year because there was a more deserving contender: Boyhood. Richard Linklater’s film chronicles the life of Mason Evans Jr., depicting his experiences growing up with divorced parents. Many believe that Boyhood, filmed in increments over a decade to capture the actor’s real-life development, was a profound and dedicated cinematic achievement. Consequently, it is seen as the rightful choice for the Best Picture award over Birdman.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
The film “12 Years a Slave,” released in 2013 and nominated for numerous awards, portrayed the harrowing reality of slavery in the 1800s, based on Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir. Directed by Steve McQueen, the movie recounts how Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) was abducted in Washington D.C. in 1841, sold into slavery, and endured 12 years of brutal servitude.
However, despite its cultural significance, some argued that “12 Years a Slave” wasn’t the most deserving choice that year. Instead, they believed that “Gravity,” a groundbreaking cinematic science fiction masterpiece starring Sandra Bullock, should have won the Oscar. “Gravity” was praised for its revolutionary technical achievements. Phil Pirrello of Fandango News even outlined five reasons why “Gravity” should have been awarded Best Picture, emphasizing that genres like science fiction, often overlooked by the Oscars, deserved more recognition, a sentiment that proved true in that particular year.
Crash (2005)
The crime drama film “Crash” was created by Paul Haggis, who produced, directed, and co-wrote it, drawing inspiration from a personal experience in 1991 when his Porsche was carjacked while parked outside a store on Wiltshire Boulevard. The movie boasts a star-studded ensemble cast, including well-known actors like Sandra Bullock, Ryan Phillippe, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Esposito, Don Cheadle (who also served as a producer), and Matt Dillon.
Although “Crash” was considered a financial success, earning $98.4 million against its modest $6.5 million production budget, it garnered mixed critical reviews. Notably, American film critic David Edelstein of Slate observed that “Crash” could have been a groundbreaking exploration of race relations if it hadn’t been marred by overly theatrical storytelling.
Why It Shouldn’t Have Won: While it clinched the Best Picture Oscar that year, many critics and viewers were disappointed with “Crash.” They found fault in its treatment of racism and discrimination issues, as well as its overly simplistic plot, which made the film appear exaggerated on screen. Some argued that its competitor, “Brokeback Mountain,” which delved into themes of love and identity by portraying a romantic relationship between two cowboys in the 1960s through the 1980s, was a more deserving winner.
Even though “Ang Lee won the Best Director award, and “Brokeback Mountain” received two more Oscars, “Crash’s” Best Picture win raised questions about potential homophobia within the Academy membership, implying that Hollywood might not be as accepting of the LGBTQ+ community as it claimed. This served as a reminder that films with significant societal contributions are often overlooked.
The Shape of Water (2017)
In 2017, the romantic fantasy drama “The Shape of Water” directed by Guillermo del Toro, which tells the story of a mute custodian named Elisa Esposito falling in love with an amphibious humanoid creature, received critical acclaim. However, it shouldn’t have won the Best Picture award that year, primarily because there were more deserving films among the nominees. “Get Out,” a psychological horror film by Jordan Peele, and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” a crime drama by Martin McDonagh, were considered by many viewers and critics to be more culturally and socially significant and were better candidates for the prize.
Green Book (2018)
Green Book, a 2018 film directed by Peter Farrelly, faced significant criticism for its handling of race-related themes and storytelling approach, which led many to question its deservingness of the Oscar for Best Picture that year. Critics argued that the movie fell short in addressing these issues, as it was seen as perpetuating the “white savior” trope, where a bigot’s redemption takes center stage. According to Salon, the film represented an outdated mode of thinking and filmmaking that should have evolved by then.
In contrast, a substantial number of reviewers, critics, and audiences believed that the film BlacKkKlansman was a more deserving candidate for the Best Picture award, primarily due to its more accurate portrayal of culture and racial issues.
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