Films That Should Have Won, or Be Nominated for Best Picture (1927- Present)
by WallaceFRCorrice | created - 18 Aug 2011 | updated - 09 Sep 2011 | PublicSometimes the academy doesn't make the best decisions ever. THIS IS BASED ON OPINION. So if you don't see a movie you like, or you see a movie you hate well, sorry.
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1. The Jazz Singer (1927)
Passed | 88 min | Drama, Music, Musical
The son of a Jewish Cantor must defy the traditions of his religious father in order to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz singer.
Director: Alan Crosland | Stars: Al Jolson, May McAvoy, Warner Oland, Eugenie Besserer
Votes: 11,068 | Gross: $7.63M
Nominated -
Ok, Ok, maybe not THAT great of a movie but it's still pretty good. Not to mention this film was groundbreaking at the time because it was the first feature-length film with synchronized sound.
2. Hell's Angels (1930)
Passed | 127 min | Drama, War
Brothers Monte and Ray leave Oxford to join the Royal Flying Corps. Ray loves Helen; Helen enjoys an affair with Monte; before they leave on their mission over Germany they find her in still another man's arms.
Directors: Howard Hughes, Edmund Goulding, James Whale | Stars: Ben Lyon, James Hall, Jean Harlow, John Darrow
Votes: 5,963 | Gross: $5.45M
Nominated -
Howard Hughes's World War I aviation epic was a great movie. The acting is superb and the dogfights are incredible, even to this day.
3. King Kong (1933)
Passed | 100 min | Adventure, Horror
A film crew goes to a tropical island for a location shoot, where they capture a colossal ape who takes a shine to their blonde starlet, and bring him back to New York City.
Directors: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack | Stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher
Votes: 90,939 | Gross: $10.00M
Nominated -
Audiences were stunned by the special effects in "King Kong" back in 1933, and it completely changed film forever. Now, "King Kong" is considered to be a classic film, and is loved by many monster movie fans and critics alike.
4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Approved | 83 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.
Directors: William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen | Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne, Roy Atwell
Votes: 215,357 | Gross: $184.93M
Nominated -
Walt Disney's first animated film made history. It was the first full-length animated film made in the United States, (not the first animated film ever made, there were 6 others made before this film) the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award, (Best Original Score). But no nomination for Best Picture, tsk tsk.
5. Citizen Kane (1941)
PG | 119 min | Drama, Mystery
Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: 'Rosebud.'
Director: Orson Welles | Stars: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead
Votes: 465,861 | Gross: $1.59M
Winner -
Okay, the Academy must have been wasted, high, ignorant, and really screwed up to make "How Green Was My Valley" win Best Picture. Now Don't get me wrong, I love John Ford and I think his films are terrific. But I simply disagree that "valley" is better than "Citizen Kane". I mean, come on! "Citizen Kane" is considered to be the Greatest Movie of all Time. Hands Down.
6. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
PG | 130 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Director: Frank Capra | Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 499,010
Winner -
"It's a Wonderful Life" is considered to be one of the most inspirational movies of all time. It is #11 in AFI's 100 years...100 Movies list and #1 in AFI's 100 Cheers list. Though considered a flop back in 1946, "It's a Wonderful Life" Is now considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time.
7. Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
PG-13 | 111 min | Drama
A rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies.
Director: Nicholas Ray | Stars: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus
Votes: 97,923
Nominated -
James Dean's amazing and emotional performance of a troubled teenager is pretty much what made this movie great. Hell, James Dean should wave won a Best Actor award for his preformance.
8. The Searchers (1956)
Passed | 119 min | Adventure, Drama, Western
An American Civil War veteran embarks on a years-long journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches after the rest of his brother's family is massacred in a raid on their Texas farm.
Director: John Ford | Stars: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond
Votes: 96,244
Winner -
Now THIS is a John Ford movie that deserves to win Best Picture, let alone at least be nominated. The greatest Western film ever made. and not to mention John Wayne's performance is classic. This is a movie that should not be missed and is easily one of the greatest films of all time.
9. The Seventh Seal (1957)
Not Rated | 96 min | Drama, Fantasy
A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
Director: Ingmar Bergman | Stars: Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe
Votes: 198,383
Nominated -
"The Seventh Seal" is a dark, gripping saga of a knight trying to survive the Black Death during the 12th Century. The film is now considered to be a classic of world cinema and is considered to be one of the world's greatest films ever made.
10. Paths of Glory (1957)
Approved | 88 min | Drama, War
After a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready
Votes: 212,195
Nominated -
Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" is considered a classic war film by many critics, as well as being praised for showing the harsh reality of war. This was the film that made Stanley Kubrick famous, and launched his directing career.
11. Vertigo (1958)
PG | 128 min | Mystery, Romance, Thriller
A former San Francisco police detective juggles wrestling with his personal demons and becoming obsessed with the hauntingly beautiful woman he has been hired to trail, who may be deeply disturbed.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore
Votes: 426,764 | Gross: $3.20M
Nominated -
"Vertigo" was not even nominated for Best Picture, which is a shame. It is now considered to be Alfred Hitchcock's greatest film, and is considered one of the greatest mystery movies of all time.
12. Psycho (1960)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Votes: 718,062 | Gross: $32.00M
Nominated -
Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" is considered his most iconic film, but was very controversial when released in 1960, which is maybe why the film wasn't nominated for Best Picture. "Psycho" was named the greatest thriller of all time by the AFI. And the famous "shower scene" is still iconic even to this day.
13. Goldfinger (1964)
PG | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
While investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.
Director: Guy Hamilton | Stars: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton
Votes: 202,512 | Gross: $51.08M
Nominated -
James Bond's most famous movie is often considered by critics to be a classic, and is also one of the greatest spy films ever.
14. Bullitt (1968)
M/PG | 114 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A nonconformist San Francisco cop is determined to find the underworld kingpin who killed the witness under his protection.
Director: Peter Yates | Stars: Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn, Don Gordon
Votes: 75,810 | Gross: $42.30M
Nominated -
Let's not forget Steve McQueen in his most famous role in "Bullitt". A very great movie, the famous car chase sequence is still exciting to this day.
15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
G | 149 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
After uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter
Votes: 719,237 | Gross: $56.95M
Winner -
Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi epic was widely ignored upon release and was given mostly negative reviews, but the film was praised for it's special effects. (for which it won an Oscar) Now, "2001" is considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time, and was named the #1 greatest sci-fi movie by the AFI. However,the Best Picture award was given to "Oliver!", which is a fine movie but it's not the best of the year.
16. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
PG | 138 min | Drama, Sci-Fi
Roy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for answers as a momentous event approaches.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon
Votes: 216,804 | Gross: $132.09M
Nominated -
Steven Spielberg's film that made him popular, is ranked as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made. It was good enough to be even ranked with "Star Wars".
17. Apocalypse Now (1979)
R | 147 min | Drama, Mystery, War
A U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest
Votes: 709,922 | Gross: $83.47M
Winner -
Kramer vs. Who? Francis Ford Coppola's war epic is considered to be a classic, and many critics praised Marlon Brando's performance in the film. The film had more classic moments than any other film in 1979. It's one of Coppola's masterpiece.
18. Raging Bull (1980)
R | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent
Votes: 380,093 | Gross: $23.38M
Winner -
Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull" is considered to be by many critics, one of the greatest movies of all time. It was named the 4th greatest movie of all time in 2007 by the AFI, they also named "Raging Bull" the #1 greatest sports movie of all time. Instead the Best Picture award went to "Ordinary People".
19. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
PG | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
After the Rebel Alliance are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
Director: Irvin Kershner | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Votes: 1,379,298 | Gross: $290.48M
Nominated -
George Lucas made another Star Wars movie, and it was surprisingly better than the first one. It's a shame that this movie wasn't nominated because it is really, really good!
20. Blade Runner (1982)
R | 117 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Votes: 822,848 | Gross: $32.87M
Winner -
Ridley Scott made this groundbreaking, amazing, classic film in 1982 but it was somehow ignored by the Academy. "Blade Runner" is now considered to be a classic film, and was named the 6th greatest sci-fi film by AFI, and the #1 greatest sci-fi film of all time by IGN.com. Most people would go to "Gladiator" saying it's Ridley's best film, when I say, it's "Blade Runner".
21. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
PG | 131 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.
Director: Richard Marquand | Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Votes: 1,121,104 | Gross: $309.13M
Nominated -
The third (or sixth) film of the Star Wars saga, "Return of the Jedi" was one of the best films of the year. Great storyline, action, visual effects, and a great soundtrack. The film has gotten critical praise when it first came out in 1983. Sure, it's not the best Star Wars movie, but it's still really good!
22. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
R | 145 min | Biography, Drama, War
The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country for which he fought.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Tom Cruise, Bryan Larkin, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava
Votes: 115,900 | Gross: $70.00M
Winner -
Oliver Stone made "Born on the Forth of July" as a part of his Vietnam War trilogy, (the other two films being "Platoon" and "Heaven and Earth" This is a film in my opinion, better than "Driving Miss Daisy".
23. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
PG-13 | 105 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall
Votes: 523,653 | Gross: $56.36M
Nominated -
Tim Burton has claimed "Edward Scissorhands" to be his most favorite work, along with Danny Elfman, the film's composer. The film has gotten favorable reviews by critics, and many say it's one of Tim Burton's finest work.
24. Goodfellas (1990)
R | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Votes: 1,256,885 | Gross: $46.84M
Winner -
Francis Ford Coppola has "The Godfather", Quentin Taratino has "Pulp Fiction", Martin Scorsese has "Goodfellas". This film is a legendary gangster film that has received critical praise and was named the 2nd greatest gangster movie of all time by the AFI. However the Best Picture award, instead went to "Dances With Wolves"
25. Toy Story (1995)
G | 81 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman action figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's bedroom.
Director: John Lasseter | Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney
Votes: 1,068,190 | Gross: $191.80M
Nominated -
John Lasseter directed "Toy Story" back in 1995 and the movie is a classic to this day. The movie was groundbreaking due to the fact that it was the very first feature length CGI film.
26. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
R | 169 min | Drama, War
Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns
Votes: 1,495,965 | Gross: $216.54M
Winner -
"Saving Private Ryan" is one of those rare films that becomes an instant classic. Steven Spielberg has really outdone himself with this movie. From the opening scene of the violent D-Day, to the quest of finding Private Ryan, even till the very end of the movie, it's all great. This is a movie that shows compassion, friendship, and the horrors of war. Not to mention the film had a superb cast and director. Unfortunately the film didn't win Best Picture, instead it was shockingly/surprisingly given to "Shakespeare in Love" Come on!! I mean, "Shakespeare" wasn't a bad movie, it was actually pretty good. But let me say something, it is NOT better than "Saving Private Ryan" No offense to those who like "Shakespeare in Love". Sorry, but it's just my opinion.
27. The Matrix (1999)
R | 136 min | Action, Sci-Fi
When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth--the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.
Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Votes: 2,052,298 | Gross: $171.48M
Nominated -
"The Matrix" has become a classic over the past few years, and was a critical and box-office success. It also became a huge hit for The Wachowski Bros. "The Matrix" won 4 Academy Awards, including best visual effects. But sadly the film wasn't nominated for Best Picture.
28. Fight Club (1999)
R | 139 min | Drama
An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.
Director: David Fincher | Stars: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier
Votes: 2,322,735 | Gross: $37.03M
Nominated -
"Fight Club" has not only a HUGE cult following, It has gotten critical praise as the years passed for being one of the best movies of all time. It is certainly a film like no other.
29. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
PG-13 | 146 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
A highly advanced robotic boy longs to become "real" so that he can regain the love of his human mother.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor, Sam Robards
Votes: 322,949 | Gross: $78.62M
Nominated -
Say what you want about this movie, I think it's great. Also, I think that Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick did a great job on the movie. The visuals in the film are great, Haley Joel Osment did a good job acting, and the soundtrack by John Williams is superb.
30. WALL·E (2008)
G | 98 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
In the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Director: Andrew Stanton | Stars: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard
Votes: 1,200,051 | Gross: $223.81M
Nominated -
"WALL-E" is another film that has received much critical praise from critics around the world, and has even won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. But what's this? No Best Picture Nomination?
31. The Dark Knight (2008)
PG-13 | 152 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine
Votes: 2,869,647 | Gross: $534.86M
Nominated -
Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" was more darker, shocking, and edgier than any of the Tim Burton movies. Many critics said it was one of the best movies of the year. But there was no Best Picture nomination, it's a shame.
32. The Social Network (2010)
PG-13 | 120 min | Biography, Drama
As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.
Director: David Fincher | Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara
Votes: 758,400 | Gross: $96.96M
Winner -
"The Social Network" is basically the story of how Facebook was made, and it was possibly the best movie of the year. The film has received widespread critical acclaim and has been called the best movie of the year by many.
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