Some movies give off a certain Oscar-style sheen, but there have also been plenty of surprising Best Picture contenders. It’s well-known that the Academy prefers to recognize certain kinds of movies, like biopics and historical dramas. Still, there’s usually space for one or two surprises to slip through the cracks.
Some movies with middling reputations have somehow snagged Oscar nominations, but what’s even more surprising is when a great movie that just doesn’t fit the Academy mold gets recognized. Big-budget action movies, sci-fi epics and animated children’s movies have all been some of the most shocking Best Picture nominees.
10
Babe (1995)
Babe’s Heartwarming Charms Make It A Children’s Classic
Babe
- Release Date
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July 18, 1995
- Runtime
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89 minutes
- Director
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Chris Noonan
- Writers
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Dick King-Smith, George Miller, Chris Noonan
- Producers
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Bill Miller, Doug Mitchell
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Christine Cavanaugh
Babe (voice)
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Miriam Margolyes
Fly (voice)
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Danny Mann
Ferdinand (voice)
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Babe will be fondly remembered as a children’s classic by a certain generation, possibly those who watched it endlessly on VHS. It’s a heartwarming tale of togetherness and triumph, with a tone that adapts Dick King-Smith’s book. Still, it’s a little surprising that the Academy saw it as one of the five best movies of 1995.
Although many people remember it as a cute but imperfect childhood favorite, it actually received seven Oscar nominations in total.
Babe was a surprise hit with critics, and it currently holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This dwarfs the 67% score that audiences have given it. Although many people remember it as a cute but imperfect childhood favorite, it actually received seven Oscar nominations in total. Movies like Heat, Casino and Se7en all missed out.
9
The Hours (2002)
The Hours Was Lucky To Be Nominated
The Hours
- Release Date
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December 27, 2002
- Runtime
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114 minutes
- Director
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Stephen Daldry
- Writers
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David Hare, Michael Cunningham
With the benefit of hindsight, The Hours now looks like the one outlier in a competitive Best Picture field at the Oscars in 2003. Chicago took home the trophy, but Gangs of New York, The Pianist and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers would have been worthy winners. At the very least, they’ve retained their popularity more than The Hours has.
It would be harsh to say that The Hours is a bad movie, but whether it’s worthy of Oscars success is another question. It features a strong cast on top form, with Nicole Kidman winning Best Actor for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf. However, this was the only one of The Hours’ nine nominations that bore fruit.
8
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
The First Indiana Jones Movie Seems Like An Odd Pick For The Academy
There’s no denying that Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies, and it showcases the director’s flair for cinematic action and swashbuckling adventure. However, it doesn’t intuitively seem like the kind of movie that the Academy might deem worthy of nomination.
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Spielberg has historically been one of the most successful directors in terms of box office success, but it wasn’t until he made Schindler’s List that the Academy finally honored him with the major awards. Raiders of the Lost Ark has more in common with the likes of Jurassic Park and The Adventures of Tintin, neither of which were nominated for Best Picture.
7
War Horse (2011)
One Of Spielberg’s Less Popular Movies Still Received A Nomination
War Horse
6/10
- Release Date
-
December 25, 2011
- Runtime
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146minutes
Continuing with the theme of Steven Spielberg’s unusual history with the Oscars, War Horse scored a surprise nomination in 2011. It’s not considered one of the director’s best movies, but he has such a long track-record of Best Picture nominations that War Horse often gets overlooked.
War Horse‘s reviews were solid but not spectacular, and it hasn’t retained the same kind of passionate fan base as many of Spielberg’s most popular classics. It’s an emotional war story based on a best-selling book by Michael Morpurgo, but a Best Picture nomination is a little generous.
6
Mank (2020)
Hollywood Biopics Often Surpass Expectations
Mank
8/10
- Release Date
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December 4, 2020
- Runtime
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131 minutes
- Writers
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Jack Fincher
In some ways, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Mank was nominated for Best Picture, partly because the COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 an odd year for cinema, and partly because the Academy has historically been more favorable towards movies about making movies. The black-and-white photography might also have drawn more attention.
There’s a lot to love about Mank, but it doesn’t really compare to many of David Fincher’s best movies, like Se7en and Fight Club, neither of which received Best Picture nominations. It’s an unusual offering from a director who does a lot of his best work in the crime genre, but Mank is an expertly made biopic, scoring 10 nominations in total.
5
Up (2009)
Animated Movies Rarely Achieve A Best Picture Nomination
Up
10/10
- Release Date
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June 11, 2009
- Runtime
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96minutes
Many of Pixar’s best movies have been extremely successful at the Oscars, and the studio has dominated the Best Animated Feature category ever since Finding Nemo. However, scoring a Best Picture nomination is much more difficult. Only Up and Toy Story 3 the following year achieved this distinction.
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Up is a joyous adventure, known for its heartbreaking opening sequence and its boundless creativity. Its nomination for Best Picture still seems like a surprise from the Academy. It begs the question of what makes Up so much worthier than Ratatouille, WALL-E or Inside Out.
4
Beauty & The Beast (1991)
Disney’s Classic Was Nominated At A Time When Animation Wasn’t As Respected By The Academy
Beauty and the Beast
- Release Date
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November 21, 1991
- Runtime
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84 Minutes
- Director
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Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
There are a couple of reasons why Beauty and the Beast‘s nomination for Best Picture is even more surprising than Up in 2009. Of course, there were only five nominees back then, but it’s also a shock given the fact that the Academy still hadn’t introduced the Best Animated Feature category, so animated movies were historically underappreciated.
Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s best animated movies, and one of its most visually stunning. It adopts the tried-and-tested formula of revitalizing an old fairy tale with catchy songs and plenty of jokes, but there are other Disney classics from the ’90s which were just as deserving of a nomination, like The Lion King and Aladdin.
3
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Even The Godfather’s Disappointing Third Act Received An Oscar Nomination
The Godfather Part III
6/10
- Release Date
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December 25, 1990
- Runtime
-
162 minutes
- Writers
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Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo
- Producers
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Charles Mulvehill, Fred Fuchs, Fred Roos, Gray Frederickson
The Godfather Part II became the first ever sequel to win Best Picture, following in the footsteps of Francis Ford Coppola’s original movie two years earlier. Compared to these classics – often touted as two of the best movies ever made – The Godfather Part III is remembered as a huge let-down.
The Godfather Part III‘s reputation is a little harsh. It’s certainly not as complete or as captivating as its two predecessors, but it has some great moments, particularly the operatic finale. Its Best Picture nomination is still a shock. It ended the night with no wins from its seven nominations.
2
The Insider (1999)
Michael Mann’s Forgotten Drama Received Seven Nominations
The Insider
- Release Date
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November 5, 1999
- Runtime
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157 Minutes
- Director
-
Michael Mann
- Writers
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Marie Brenner, Eric Roth, Michael Mann
The Insider was a box office flop, possibly because the real-life story of a whistleblower in the tobacco industry doesn’t sound particularly exciting, especially not to young audiences. This means that The Insider has flown under the radar, but it’s still a captivating drama that critics have often admired.
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Michael Mann is more famous for explosive crime thrillers like Heat and Collateral, but The Insider is just as compelling in its own way, thanks in part to two outstanding performances from Al Pacino and Russell Crowe. Perhaps it would be more popular today if it had won Best Picture over American Beauty.
1
Star Wars (1977)
The First Star Wars Movie Won Six Oscars
It’s easy to forget that the first Star Wars movie was nominated for 10 Oscars, because the franchise it created has come to represent the antithesis of what the Academy usually chooses to reward. It’s hard to imagine any of the upcoming Star Wars movies receiving a Best Picture nomination, no matter how good they are.
It won in technical categories like Best Visual Effects and Best Costume Design.
There’s a reason that Star Wars has become such a cultural institution, and the Oscars that it did win hold the key. It won in technical categories like Best Visual Effects and Best Costume Design, proving that George Lucas’ intelligent worldbuilding was coupled with cutting-edge filmmaking techniques.
