Just because a movie wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards doesn’t mean it’s a good movie.
Sure, some all-time classics, such as The Godfather, Casablanca, and The Silence of the Lambs, deserved their win. Others, however, left moviegoers scratching their heads.
Some Best Picture winners are very much a product of their time, while others simply scream “Oscar bait” in our eyes. For whatever reason, these movies haven’t aged well, making them some of the worst films to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. As we enter the holiday movie season, when Best Picture contenders are normally released, it’s a good time to review some former Best Picture winners that didn’t deserve the Oscar.
The Greatest Show on Earth
Before you even consider the quality of The Greatest Show on Earth, consider the heavyweights it beat out: High Noon, The Quiet Man, Ivanhoe, and Singin’ in the Rain weren’t even nominated!
Greatest Show isn’t a terrible movie by any means, but I wouldn’t call it Oscar worthy. Some argue that it was the Academy’s response to director Cecil B. DeMille not winning in the past, and this was most likely his final chance.
The Broadway Melody
It may have been innovative for its time, but The Broadway Melody is a cliched, stereotypical movie that fails at doing anything remarkable.
Sure, it may have been enjoyable in 1929, but the best movie of the year? Come on, now.
Shakespeare in Love
This won over Saving Private Ryan.
I can’t believe that’s a sentence I have to write. It didn’t even win Best Directing! So why did it win Best Picture? Because Harvey Weinstein campaigned for it to win, and it worked.
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King’s Speech
To give The King’s Speech credit, it had a very good night at the 83rd Academy Awards, but I’d argue it wasn’t deserved.
When you think of the movies from 2010, you likely think of Inception, The Social Network, and Black Swan, to name a few. The King’s Speech inexplicably beat all of those movies out for Best Picture and Best Directing.
Out of Africa
Even upon release, Out of Africa wasn’t met with critical acclaim.
Despite strong performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, that’s not enough to make the film anywhere near enjoyable.
The Academy didn’t get that memo, though.
Driving Ms. Daisy
Here’s one that the Academy even agrees with, saying that given a second chance, they would have given the award to My Left Foot.
It’s not like the nominees at the 62nd Academy Awards were lacking, either. I don’t think anyone would have been upset if Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, or Field of Dreams won.
The English Patient
I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again: I’m with Elaine Benes on this one: The English Patient is long, boring, and beyond overrated.
I have no idea how Fargo didn’t take home the award, even if I also find that film overrated. Personally, I’m a sucker for Jerry Maguire. It just goes to show that there were plenty of other options this year!
Dances With Wolves
I don’t think anybody is upset that Dances With Wolves beat out The Godfather Part III, but also beating out Goodfellas? Let’s be honest here.
The meme that Martin Scorsese couldn’t take home the big prize shouldn’t have been a thing; Goodfellas is undeniably a better picture.
Nomadland
COVID-19 loomed over the 93rd Academy Awards, with the show taking place in April rather than its typical late February time slot.
Honestly, if you ask me, the entire nominee list for Best Picture was relatively weak, but something had to win. Ironically, the only awards Nomadland would win would be Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
Argo
Speaking of a weak nominee list, Argo feels like it won by default.
I’m impressed at how quickly the film lost its relevance over the years. One interesting thing about the 85th Academy Awards: a different movie won every major award, arguably proving that it was a generally weak field.
Cimarron (1931)
Another example of an older film that has been crushed by critical reassessment, Cimarron dates itself with outdated racial caricatures.
Even if you can look past those, the movie still has some serious pacing issues and is solely carried by Irene Dunne.
Green Book (2018)
Green Book isn’t a bad movie, but it’s the definition of pure Oscar bait.
Over time, a reassessment has shown that The Favourite or Roma were far more deserving, as they are more entertaining and engaging.
Cavalcade (1933)
The definition of style over substance, Cavalcade doesn’t do much once you look past its impressive visuals.
It suffers from similar issues as other movies from the past: a lack of narrative focus combined with an uninteresting plot.
Gigi (1958)
On the one hand, Gigi is an incredibly stylish spectacle of a film, complete with excellent performances. It often does too much, but there’s still a good time to be had.
Having said that, I can’t get past the nature of the relationship between Gaston Lachaille and Gigi, who is supposed to be no older than 15, is incredibly creepy.
Around The World In 80 Days (1956)
Based on the Jules Verne novel, Around the World in 80 Days is an innocent enough movie that’s plenty of fun. It’s not deep or impactful, but it’s still a good time.
That’s not good enough to win Best Picture, though, or at least it shouldn’t be. That didn’t stop the Academy from awarding it over The King and I and The Ten Commandments, though.
Crash (2004)
You knew this one was coming.
Crash is the textbook definition of a movie that shouldn’t have won Best Picture. Looking back over 20 years later, I’m still not sure how this happened.
Jack Nicholson, who presented the award, seemed taken aback when he opened the envelope. I don’t blame him.
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