Shame on the Academy: 10 Oscar-Worthy Movies Snubbed Over the Century
Their IMDb scores are ample proof that these films deserve more recognition than they have received.
Apparently, Greta Gerwig's Barbie isn't the only great movie the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has overlooked in its nearly century-long history.
Here are ten of the most remarkable films of all time that never won a Best Picture Oscar or even got nominated.
La Grande Illusion (1937, 8.1 on IMDb)
Although this French World War I drama was the first foreign film to be nominated for an Oscar, it failed to win Best Picture at the 11th Academy Awards, an embarrassment to the institution. Jean Renoir's film tells the story of several French prisoners of war who are held in a fortress run by their old German friend. While they are supposed to hate each other, they learn that there are more important things in life than wars, national differences, and other made-up conventions.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
Citizen Kane (1941, 8.3 on IMDb)
This Orson Welles classic is undoubtedly one of the greatest movies ever made. Charles Foster Kane, a rich but lonely newspaper publisher, dies in his Florida mansion, sparking public interest in his life and personality. As a group of journalists set out to uncover the truth about him, they learn of the tragedies and triumphs of his life.
Citizen Kane was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but won only Best Original Screenplay. What's even more insane is that in 2003, the movie was featured in a series of U.S. postage stamps dedicated to the Academy's 75th anniversary.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
Rear Window (1954, 8.5 on IMDb)
Despite being one of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous works, this movie wasn't even nominated for Best Picture. Rear Window tells the story of a professional photographer, Jeff Jefferies, who is confined to a wheelchair due to a leg injury. Bored with his life, he begins secretly watching his neighbors through their windows, which leads him to conclude that there's something strange about one of them.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
A Face in the Crowd (1957, 8.2 on IMDb)
Like Barbie, this Elia Kazan film received mixed reviews from critics. But even more tragically, it didn't receive a single Oscar nomination.
The satirical drama centers on Larry Rhodes, a convict in an Arkansas prison who one day is invited to perform on a radio show where he wins over the audience with his charisma and musical talent. As a result, Rhodes rises to fame and enjoys wealth and prestige despite his criminal past.
Available to stream on: Apple TV+.
Badlands (1973, 7.7 on IMDb)
Terrence Malick's controversial neo-noir crime drama starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek was not only snubbed by the Academy, it was shunned altogether. Filled with cold-blooded murders and underage lovemaking, the film follows two young lovers on the run after killing the girl's father, who disapproved of their relationship. And as they search for a safe haven, they slaughter more and more people along the way.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
Blue Velvet (1986, 7.7 on IMDb)
Sure, David Lynch received a Best Director nomination for his work on this film, but it was a smokescreen, as the film itself wasn't even considered for Best Picture. Blue Velvet revolves around Kyle MacLachlan's character, a college student who has to return to his hometown to take care of his sick father. One night, on his way home from the hospital, the boy finds a severed human ear and takes it to the police. A series of mysterious and dangerous events ensue.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
Do the Right Thing (1989, 8.0 on IMDb)
This Spike Lee film received two nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay, neither of which it won. In the wake of a serious climate crisis, this film, telling the story of a heat wave in New York, may seem particularly relevant. As the city's residents are scorched by the heat, they lose the last drops of their humanity and all of their troubles emerge.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
Goodfellas (1990, 8.7 on IMDb)
Although Martin Scorsese's film received six Oscar nominations, it only won Best Supporting Actor, which was completely unfair. The biopic explores the rise to power of one of America's most famous mobsters, Henry Hill, during the early years of his 'career,' when he made a name for himself by killing anyone who got in his way.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
Boogie Nights (1997, 7.9 on IMDb)
The year Titanic won the Oscar for Best Picture, P.T. Anderson's film wasn't even nominated in that category. This dramedy centers on Eddie Adams, a high school dropout who is invited by a famous director to try his hand at porn. Eddie turns out to be perfect for the job, and the audience quickly falls in love with him, which changes his life forever.
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime Video.
The Kids Are All Right (2010, 7.0 on IMDb)
Given that the Academy rarely considers the work of female directors for Best Picture, it is a feat that Lisa Cholodenko's film received four nominations. Unfortunately, it did not win in any of the categories. The family comedy-drama centers on a lesbian couple with two teenage children and the havoc one of the children wreaks when she decides to find her biological father.
Available to stream on: Netflix.