UNJUSTLY OVERCOME: films that should have won the Oscar for Best Picture

The history of the Academy Awards is marked by great stories, but also by injustices that continue to generate debate among critics and film buffs to this day. The winner of the statuette isn't always the one who truly matters. Best movie It manages to withstand the test of time, unfairly leaving groundbreaking and courageous masterpieces in the background. In this analysis, we revisit historical clashes and list the films that should have won the award. Oscar, delving into the technical, social, and artistic context that led to revolutionary productions being overlooked in favor of safer or more conventional narratives. Check out the full list! 

1979: An Unmarried Woman lost to The Deer Hunter

Original title: An Unmarried Woman

Original title: The Deer Hunter

An Unmarried Woman: 89% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,2 on IMDb

The Gunman: 86% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,1 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Bitter Return, The Sniper, Heaven can wait, Midnight Express e An Unmarried Woman

Where to watch An Unmarried Woman: currently unavailable

Where to watch The Sniper: Youtube

Though The Sniper have revealed Meryl Streep e Christopher Walken, its war sequences have become dated when compared to the freshness of An Unmarried Woman. The long Paul Mazursky It triumphs as a revolutionary study on female emancipation and stands out among the films that should have won the Oscar for its sensitivity in capturing the identity of the modern woman. Guided by the composer's soundtrack. Bill Conti and for the impeccable performance of Jill Clayburgh, An Unmarried Woman It maintains the timelessness and social impact that the plot of Michael ciminoDespite its power, it failed to sustain itself over the decades.

1980: Apocalypse Now lost to Kramer vs. Kramer

Apocalypse Now: 91% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,4 on IMDb

Kramer vs Kramer: 90% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,8 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: The show must go on, Apocalypse Now, The Winner, Kramer vs. Kramer e Norm Rae

Where to watch Apocalypse Now: Youtube

Where to watch Kramer vs. Kramer: HBO Max e Youtube

Winning the statuette by Kramer vs. Kramer Its popularity in 1980 was mainly due to it being a box office and critical phenomenon, but time has solidified its status. Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola, as one of the films that should have won the Oscar. While the film directed by robert benton It focuses on the minimalism of a family drama about divorce, the war odyssey of Coppola It is a technical masterpiece of monumental execution and unparalleled visual impact. If judged by its artistic ensemble and cultural impact, Apocalypse Now surpasses the winner.

1981: Raging Bull lost to Ordinary People

Original title: Raging Bull

Original title: Ordinary People

Raging Bull: 92% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,1 on IMDb

People Like Us: 90% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,7 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Destiny Changed His Life, the elephant man, People like us, Indomitable Bull e Tess

Where to watch Indomitable Bull: MUBI, Prime Video e Netflix

Where to watch People like us: Prime Video

The predictable People like us, Robert Redford, surpassed the revolutionary Indomitable Bull directed by Martin ScorseseAlthough the drama of Redford Whether it's an intimate portrait of suburban angst, the film by Scorsese It definitely belongs on the list of the best films that didn't win an Oscar. The work is superior for its visceral aesthetic, using frenetic editing and black and white to transform the self-destruction of the protagonist played by [actor's name]. Robert De Niro in pure cinematic density. 

1982: Raiders of the Lost Ark lost to Chariots of Fire.

Original title: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Original title: Chariots of Fire

Raiders of the Lost Ark: 94% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,4 on IMDb

Chariots of Fire: 84% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,1 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Atlantic City, Chariots of Fire, On Golden Pond, Raiders of the Lost Ark e Reds

Where to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark: Paramount +

Where to watch Chariots of Fire: Disney +

Chariots of Fire, de Hugh hudsonThis perfectly illustrates the Academy's preference for slow-paced, highly sophisticated biographical dramas. By awarding this aesthetic that invests in British polish, the awards ended up ignoring the cultural impact of... Raiders of the Lost ArkDirected by Steven Spielberg, which remains one of the films that should have won the Oscar for redefining the structure of modern entertainment. In addition to consolidating Harrison Ford like a star, the movie of Spielberg It remains a vibrant experience to this day, whose mastery of visual language and narrative rhythm surpassed the conventionalism of winning narratives.

1983: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial lost to Gandhi.

Original title: E.T. the Extraterrestrial

Original title: Gandhi

ET: The Extra-Terrestrial: 99% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,9 on IMDb

Gandhi: 89% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,0 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: ET: The Extraterrestrial, Gandhi, Missing: A Great Mystery, Tootsie e The Verdict

Where to watch ET: The Extraterrestrial: Youtube

Where to watch Gandhi: Prime Video

The Academy's choice for Gandhi In 1983, it prioritized political ceremony over innovation, leading to the overproduction of Steven Spielberg one of the landmark films among the Oscar favorites that lost. Although the work of Richard Attenborough Count on the excellent performance of Ben KingsleyIt doesn't deliver the technical magic and cultural impact that transformed... ET: The Extraterrestrial in a popular symbol of the seventh art. While Spielberg It revolutionized visual effects and created a universal emotional connection, taking the traditional narrative of Gandhi He didn't retain the same stamina.

1987: Hannah and Her Sisters lost to Platoon.

Original title: Hannah and Her Sisters

Original title: Platoon

Hannah and Her Sisters: 92% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,8 on IMDb

Platoon: 89% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,1 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Children of Silence, Hannah and her Sisters, The mission, Platoon e A Window to Love

Where to watch Hannah and her Sisters: Prime Video

Where to watch Platoon: MUBI

The favoritism of Platoon It established a war drama that, despite revealing names such as Charlie Sheen e Willem DafoeToday, it sounds overly didactic. In parallel, Hannah and her Sisters It stands out among the films unjustly overlooked at the Oscars for being a more refined work, sustained by an analysis of human complexity. In the winning film, the director sought impact through the visual shock of Vietnam, while the screenplay by... Woody Allen and the performances of Barbara hershey e Mia Farrow They delivered a narrative intelligence that proved to be the true artistic pinnacle of 1987.

1988: Moonstruck lost to The Last Emperor.

Original title: Moonstruck

Original title: The Last Emperor

Moonstruck: 90% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,2 on IMDb

The Last Emperor: 86% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,7 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Backstage in the News, Fatal Attraction, Hope and Glory, The Last Emperor and Moon Spell

Where to watchMoon Spell: MUBI

Where to watchThe Last Emperor: Prime Video

Once again, the Academy's focus on imposing, well-paced biopics ensured the award for... The Last Emperoreven though the film is excessively methodical. By prioritizing this technical aspect, the awards failed to recognize... Moon Spell...which remains among the best films that didn't win an Oscar for recapturing the freshness of classic romantic comedies. With unforgettable performances by... Expensive e Nicolas Cage, the timeless film transcends the rigor of the plot of Bernard Bertolucci by delivering charisma and entertainment that stand the test of time.

1989: Big was not a finalist and Rain Man won the award.

Original title: Big

Original title: Rain Man

I Want to Be Big: 98% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,3 on IMDb

Rain Man: 88% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,0 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: The Accidental Tourist, Dangerous Liaisons, Mississippi BurningRain Man and A Secretary of the Future

Where to watch I want to be great: Netflix

Where to watch Rain Man: Prime Video, Netflix e Youtube

Rain Man He is remembered for his performances of Dustin Hoffman e by Tom Cruise and even has good reception, but the film lacks the inventiveness of I want to be greatThe absence of this film among the finalists is one of the greatest injustices of the Oscars, since it delivered a brilliant fable about the loss of innocence, disguised as a comedy. While the winner relies on the dramatic weight of its stars within a conventional structure, the transformative performance of Tom Hanks elevated the history of I want to be great elevated to the status of a timeless classic.

1990: Field of Dreams lost to Driving Miss Daisy.

Original title: Field of Dreams

Original title: Driving Miss Daisy

Field of Dreams: 88% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,5 on IMDb

Driving Miss Daisy: 85% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,3 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Born on July 4th, Dead Poets Society, Driving Miss Daisy, Field of Dreams e my left foot

Where to watch Field of Dreams: Prime Video

Where to watch Driving Miss Daisy: Youtube

Winning the statuette by Driving Miss Daisy It can be considered one of the most lukewarm moments of the awards ceremony, as it's a polished film that quickly faded into collective oblivion. While the winner relied on a safe and conventional narrative about friendship, Field of Dreams It used baseball as a metaphor for redemption and family ties with a rare sentimental power. The impact was so profound that it transformed its setting into a real place of pilgrimage, proving itself a far more memorable work than the contained drama of Bruce Beresford.

1991: Goodfellas lost to Dances with Wolves

Original title: Goodfellas

Original title: Dances With Wolves

Goodfellas: 93% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,7 on IMDb

Dances with Wolves: 87% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,0 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: wake up time, Dance with wolvesGhost The Godfather: Part III e The Good Companions

Where to watch The Good Companions: HBO Max e Netflix

Where to watch Dance with wolves: currently unavailable

Dance with wolves It served as the perfect trap for the Academy, being a classic "Oscar bait" that is now seen as a rather unremarkable work. The true merit should belong to the film. The Good Companions, Martin Scorsese, which leads the list of the best films that didn't win an Oscar. While the film by Kevin Costner (who works as an actor and director) got lost in his own contemplative scale, Scorsese He revolutionized the crime genre with a keen eye on the mafia. In fact, the influence of his work shaped pop culture and paved the way for productions such as... The Sopranos.

1995: Pulp Fiction lost to Forrest Gump.

Original title: Pulp Fiction

Original title: Forrest Gump

Pulp Fiction: Time of Violence: 92% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,8 on IMDb

Forrest Gump: The Storyteller: 75% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,8 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Forrest Gump: The Storyteller, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pulp Fiction: Time of Violence, Quiz Show – The Truth Behind the Scenes e A dream of freedom

Where to watch Pulp Fiction: Time of Violence: Play Market, Paramount + e Netflix

Where to watch Forrest Gump: The Storyteller: Play Market e Paramount +

Winning the award by Forrest Gump: The Storyteller The 1995 Oscars are often cited as one of the biggest "misses" for prioritizing sentimentality in a year of aesthetic rupture. While the winner relied on an easily digestible formula and emotional manipulation, Pulp Fiction: Time of Violence, Quentin Tarantino, rewrote the rules of contemporary cinema with its non-linear structure and sharp dialogue. Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson e Uma ThurmanThe film stands out among those that should have won the Oscar for its audacity and originality, which made it a cultural landmark.

1997: Fargo: A Comedy of Errors lost to The English Patient.

Original title: Fargo

Original title: The English Patient

Fargo: A Comedy of Errors: 95% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,1 on IMDb

The English Patient: 86% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,4 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: the english patient, Fargo: A Comedy of Errors, Jerry Maguire: The Big Turnaround, Secrets and Lies e Shine – Shiny

Where to watch Fargo: A Comedy of Errors: MUBI, Prime Video e Netflix

Where to watchthe english patient: Play Market e Youtube

By rewarding the aesthetics of the english patientThe Oscars favored a traditional romance that doesn't have as much impact compared to the originality of... FargoWhile the victor became lost and focused on contemplative grandeur, the narrative of the brothers Coen It reshaped the rules of the crime genre with sharp, surgical humor, making it one of those films that should have won an Oscar. Furthermore, it's anchored by the iconic performance of... Frances McDormandHistory has proven to have a cultural relevance and narrative power that outweigh the impact of the victor.

1999: Elizabeth lost to Shakespeare in Love

Original title: Elizabeth

Original title: Shakespeare in Love

Elizabeth: 83% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,4 on IMDb

Shakespeare in Love: 92% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,1 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful, O Resgate do Soldado Ryan, Shakespeare in Love e Beyond the Red Line

Where to watch Elizabeth: Prime Video

Where to watch Shakespeare in Love: Prime Video

The favoritism of Shakespeare in Love The 1999 Oscar win is one of the most controversial cases, resulting from an aggressive campaign that stifled the impact of more complex works. While the winning film had its charm, the true cinematic achievement of that year was... Elizabeth. With a mesmerizing aesthetic, the film not only delivered a dense historical narrative, but also introduced the overwhelming force of Cate Blanchett which surpasses the winner in artistic merit and originality.

Furthermore, in terms of performances, the defeat of Fernanda Montenegro all with Gwyneth Paltrow It remains one of the greatest injustices ever recorded in the awards. While the Brazilian delivered in Central do Brasil a minimalist, profound and human performance, the victory of Gwyneth Paltrow by Shakespeare in Love It is often seen as a product of marketing, not dramatic superiority.

2000: The Sixth Sense lost to American Beauty.

Original title: The Sixth Sense

Original title: American Beauty

The Sixth Sense: 86% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,2 on IMDb

American Beauty: 87% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,3 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: American Beauty, Rules of Life, Waiting for a miracle, The Informant e The sixth Sense

Where to watch The sixth Sense: Disney +

Where to watchAmerican Beauty: Play Market e Paramount +

The Academy's historical resistance to the horror genre becomes evident when we analyze how The sixth Sense It was snubbed. The theme rarely receives due recognition in the main category, often being relegated to "genre entertainment" instead of legitimate art. By ignoring the plot of M. Night ShyamalanThe Oscars missed the chance to validate a film that used fear to explore grief and human connection with a mastery that conventional dramas rarely achieve. 

2002: In the Bedroom lost to A Beautiful Mind.

Original title: In the Bedroom

Original title: A Beautiful Mind

Between Four Walls: 93% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,4 on IMDb

A Beautiful Mind: 74% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,2 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: A brilliant mind, Murder in Gosford Park, Between Four Walls, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring e Moulin Rouge: Love in Red

Where to watchBetween Four Walls: Prime Video

Where to watch A brilliant mind: Play Market

The choice of A brilliant mind The 2002 award is often seen as a belated reward from the Academy to the director. Ron Howard, resulting in an award for a conventional, low-risk biographical drama. While the film served as a showcase for Russell Crowe e Jennifer ConnellyIt lacked the rawness and precision found in... Between Four Walls. The movie starring Sissy spacek e Tom Wilkinson, delivers a sharp and devastating character study of grief, surpassing the sanitized narrative of the victor.

2006: Brokeback Mountain lost to Crash.

Original title: Brokeback Mountain

Original title: Crash

Brokeback Mountain: 88% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,7 on IMDb

Crash: No Limite: 73% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,7 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: The Secret of Brokeback Mountain, Cloak, Crash: On the Edge, Good night and good luck e Munich

Where to watch The Secret of Brokeback Mountain: currently unavailable

Where to watch Crash: On the Edge: Prime Video, balloon play e Youtube

Winning the main statuette for Crash: On the Edge The 2006 Oscar nomination is widely considered one of the most bizarre mistakes of the Oscars and, upon analysis, can be seen as a reflection of a veiled conservatism within the Academy, which preferred the safety of a shallow narrative to the courage of... The Secret of Brokeback MountainWhile the winner offered a superficial approach to social tensions, the story of Ang Lee delivered a sensitive and innovative approach to repression and desire. Starring Heath Ledger e Jake GyllenhaalThe film broke barriers and remains iconic, proving that its failure was not merely an artistic mistake, but a reflection of the prejudice of the time towards a revolutionary novel.

2008: Risk Behavior lost to No Country for Old Men

Original title: Michael Clayton

Original title: No Country for Old Men

Risk Conduct: 90% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,2 on IMDb

No Country for Old Men: 93% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,2 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Desire and Atonement, Juno, Risky Behavior, Where the weak have no place e Black Blood

Where to watch Risky Behavior: currently unavailable

Where to watchWhere the weak have no place: Play Market e Prime Video

Although the achievement of Where the weak have no place have consecrated the directors Joel e Ethan Coen At its peak, the production relies on gratuitous violence that, for many, doesn't surpass the elegance of... Risky BehaviorThis film recaptured the intelligent atmosphere of 70s thrillers, supported by a sharp script and an impeccable performance from [actor's name]. Tilda Swinton, who, incidentally, won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film. Furthermore, with George Clooney At one of its best moments, the film delivered a dramatic depth and social impact that make it a more complete work than the visceral pursuit of the brothers. Cohen.

2015: Whiplash: In Search of Perfection lost to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Original title: Whiplash

Original title: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Whiplash: In Search of Perfection: 94% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,5 on IMDb

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): 91% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,7 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: American sniper, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Boyhood: From Childhood to Youth, The Grand Budapest Hotel, O Jogo da Imitação, Selma, The theory of everything e Whiplash: In Search of Perfection

Where to watch Whiplash: In Search of Perfection: HBO Max

Where to watchBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): Play Market, Disney + e Netflix

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) It stood out at the 2015 awards ceremony both for its cast, which included... Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts e Edward Norton...as well as the emphasis on a choreographed long take focused on the artistic ego. The focus, however, is... Whiplash: In Search of Perfection delivered a brutal and electrifying psychological duel, with magnetic performances from Miles Teller e J.K. Simmons...and proved that precise storytelling and impeccable rhythmic editing have far more impact and lasting power than the visual juggling proposed by the winner.

2018: Phantom Thread lost to The Shape of Water

Original title: Phantom Thread

Original title: The Shape of Water

Phantom Thread: 91% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,4 on IMDb

The Shape of Water: 92% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,3 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Call Me By Your Name, The Fate of a Nation, Dunkirk, Run!, Lady Bird: Time to Fly, Phantom Thread, The Post: The Secret War,  The Shape of Water e Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 

Where to watch Phantom Thread: MUBI

Where to watch The Shape of Water: Disney +

The Shape of Water It did indeed deliver a visually stunning fable, but it lacks the sophistication and psychological depth incorporated in... Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas AndersonWhile the fantasy of Guillermo DelToro While aiming for an easily understandable narrative, Anderson's film offered a meticulous and elegant character study of obsession and power. Featuring excellent performances by... Daniel Day-Lewis e Vicky Krieps, Phantom Thread It surpassed the aesthetic appeal of the winner by constructing a much more complex and lasting storyline.

2019: The Favourite lost to Green Book.

Original title: The Favourite

OriginalGreen Book

The Favorite: 93% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,5 on IMDb

Green Book: The Guide: 77% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,2 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: Infiltrated in the Klan, Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, The favorite, Green Book: The Guide, Rome, A Star is Born e Vice

Where to watch The favorite: Disney +

Where to watch Green Book: The Guide: Prime Video e Youtube

Winning the main statuette by Green Book: The Guide It is often remembered as a historical mistake for its shallow approach and outdated "white savior" formula. In parallel, The favorite It subverted the period drama with brilliant acerbity, establishing itself among the films that should have won the Oscar for its narrative sophistication. With impeccable performances by Olivia Colman, Emma Stone e Rachel Weisz, the feature film by Yorgo Lanthimos It balances the power dynamic with a unique visual aesthetic.

2021: Minari: In Search of Happiness and The Sound of Silence lost to Nomadland.

Original title: Threatening

Original title: Sound of metal

Original title: nomadland

Minari: In Search of Happiness: 98% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,4 on IMDb

The Sound of Silence: 97% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,7 on IMDb

Nomadland: 93% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,3 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: My father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Deficiency, Minari: In Pursuit of Happiness, nomadland, beautiful revenge, The sound of silence e The Chicago 7

Where to watch  Minari: In Pursuit of Happiness: Prime Video e Youtube

Where to watch The sound of silence: Youtube

Where to watch nomadland: Disney +

the conquest of nomadland It allows for a contemplative portrait of marginalized America, but its documentary aesthetic and wandering pace now seem to lose steam in the face of the urgency of its competitors. While the film by Chloe zhao it relied on the naturalness of Frances McDormand, The sound of silence It presented a revolutionary sensory experience, using sound design to immerse the audience in hearing loss in an unprecedented way. Driven by the physical performance of Rice AhmedThe film did indeed challenge cinematic language with a technical audacity that the winner did not seek.

Furthermore, at the other end, Minari: In Pursuit of Happiness It deconstructed the American dream through the rural setting of Arkansas and a genuine family dynamic. In the historical balance, both the technical innovation of The sound of silence how much emotional investment Threatening They established deeper connections with the audience; therefore, both films can be considered unjustly overlooked, remaining powerful studies on resilience while the winner seems stagnant in its own contemplative silence.

2022: Nightmare Alley lost to In the Rhythm of the Heart.

Original title: Nightmare Alley

Original title: CODA

Nightmare Alley: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes | 7,0 on IMDb

In the Rhythm of the Heart: 94% on Rotten Tomatoes | 8,0 on IMDb

Nominees of the year: belfast, In the Rhythm of the Heart, don't look up, drive my car, Duna, King Richard: Creating Champions, Licorice Pizza, The Nightmare Alley, Dog Attack e Love sublime love

Where to watch The Nightmare Alley: Disney +

Where to watch In the Rhythm of the Heart: Prime Video e Youtube

Even though the victory of In the Rhythm of the Heart While it celebrated the representation of the deaf community, the work follows a conventional narrative execution, close to the television format, and lacks the aesthetic vigor expected of a major winner. In contrast, The Nightmare Alley It's pure cinema, bringing a noir and cynical atmosphere to the subject of human degradation. Driven by the magnetism of Bradley Cooper and by the sophistication of Cate BlanchettThe film delivers an artistic and sensory density that makes the linear optimism of the winning film seem modest and dated in comparison.

And for you, what was the biggest injustice done by the Academy? Leave your opinion in the comments!

See also other features:

See all the films that have won the Oscar for “Best International Feature Film”

Oscar 2026: see where to watch the Best Picture nominees at the awards ceremony

Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 15 / 03 / 2026.

Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Digital Spy e USA Today