Earning anAcademy Awardnomination for Best Picture is one of the highest honors in cinema. It’s an achievement that many filmmakers strive for, a prestigious mark of recognition and validation. Even if they fail to claim the top prize, many Best Picture nominees go on to become timeless masterpieces, right alongside whatever film that won. In some cases, the nominee may become more iconic and beloved thanthe actual Best Picture winner. For instance,Raging Bullis regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, even though it lost Best Picture toOrdinary People, a film that gets virtually no love 25 years later.
But a Best Picture nomination doesn’t always promise everlasting glory. Some nominees fade into obscurity as soon as they lose the award. These 10 films have become lost to time, even though they were quality films that warranted one of the highest honors in Hollywood.
10’In the Bedroom' (2001)
In the Bedroom
In the Bedroomcenters on a family whose lives are turned upside down when their college-aged son gets involved with an older woman. It features a talented cast that includes Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, and Marisa Tomei. In addition to Best Picture, the film also racked up Oscar nominations for Best Actress for Spacek,Best Actor for Wilkinson, and Best Supporting Actress for Tomei.
In the Bedroomis a well-acted tour de force that explores the dynamics of a seemingly perfect family. Although it’s since faded into obscurity, several of its fellow nominees have remained beloved films, such asThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge!,andA Beautiful Mind,which wound up winning the top prize.
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9’Elizabeth' (1998)
Elizabethcaptures the early years of Queen Elizabeth I and her ascent to England’s throne.The best part about this movie is Cate Blanchett, who was relatively unknown at the time. Her remarkable performance as Elizabeth I launched her to the top of Hollywood’s A-list, where she still remains today. Blanchett reprised her role in the sequel,Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which covers the later part of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. She scored Best Actress nominations for both films.Elizabethdeserves to be seen just for Blanchett’s performance alone.
1998 was an iconic year in cinema, jam-packed with incredible films. Other heavy hitters nominated that year includeLife Is BeautifulandSaving Private Ryan.Audiences were shocked when the Academy Award for Best Picture went toShakespeare in Love, arguably the weakest contender of the group.
8’Shine' (1996)
Shineis a biopic based on the life of David Helfgott, an Australian concert pianist who suffered from mental illness. Geoffrey Rush’s riveting performance as Helfgott was the actor’s breakthrough role in cinema.Shinelost Best Picture toThe English Patient,which is your typical long-winded, Oscar-bait movie. But even withoutThe English Patient,Shinewas still up against the likes ofFargoandJerry Maguire,both of which were stronger candidates for Best Picture. AlthoughShinelost in that category, Rush did claim the Oscar for Best Actor.
Because it’s an Australian film about an Australian figure,Shinewent largely under the radar and continues to do so nearly 30 years later. Now is the perfect time to revisit this film, given the recent uptick in mental health awareness in contemporary society.
7’Quiz Show' (1994)
Directed by Robert Redford,The Quiz Showdramatizes theTwenty-Onequiz show scandals of the 1950s, where a U.S. Congressional lawyer investigates the fixed win of one of the show’s most popular contestants. Its cast includes some big up-and-coming names at the time, such as John Turturro, Ralph Fiennes, Hank Azaria, Mira Sorvino, and Christopher McDonald. Although it bombed at the box office,The Quiz Showrounded up critical acclaim and Oscars nominations, including Best Picture.
1994 was astackedyear for amazing films. It gave us three of the greatest films of all time, withPulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, and the ultimate Best Picture winner,Forrest Gump.With those three behemoths, it’s no wonder thatThe Quiz Showhas fallen by the wayside over the years. However,it’s still a solid flick that deserves more love than it gets.
6’Hope and Glory' (1987)
Hope and Glory
1987 was a weaker year for movies.The Last Emperorwon Best Picture that year, beating out more memorable films likeFatal AttractionandMoonstruck.But among 1987’s nominees is a little movie that often goes overlooked:Hope and Glory.A war dramedy full of laughs and heartache, it was written and directed by British filmmaker, John Boorman.
Hope and Gloryis based on Boorman’s experiences growing up in London during World War II, telling the story through the eyes of a child. Is it the greatest war movie ever made? Certainly not. But it is an underrated gem that uses comedy and drama to produce a satisfying, and surprising, story.
5’The Verdict' (1982)
The Verdict
Based on the 1980 novel of the same name,The Verdictis a courtroom dramaabout an alcoholic, down-on-his-luck lawyer who takes on a medical malpractice case to salvage his floundering career. The lead role is played by Hollywood icon Paul Newman, who received a Best Actor nomination for his powerful performance.
Although it was lauded for its direction and writing at the time,The Verdicthas since been buried by other 1982 classics, such asE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Tootsie,andGandhi.Gandhiwas the big winner of 1982, taking home the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor for its lead star, Ben Kingsley.
4’Nashville' (1975)
1975 was another stacked year for movies. Just look at this list of Best Picture nominees:Barry Lyndon,Jaws, Dog Day Afternoon,and the ultimate winner,One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.Any one of those films would’ve been a sufficient Best Picture winner (thoughCuckoo’s Nestwas the right choice). But among these behemoths is an underrated film that gets lost in the shuffle:Nashville.
A musical with some comedy and drama, it follows numerous interrelated people in Nashville’s country and gospel music industry, as they prepare for a political convention over a hectic few days.Nashvilleis epic in its scope. It juggles a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines and features an hour’s worth of musical numbers. Legendary film criticRoger Ebert namedNashvilleone of the best movies of the 1970sover the other 1975 nominees. If you’re a fan of old-school musicals, thenNashvilleis a film that you’ll want to check out.
3’Sounder' (1972)
The Godfather. Cabaret. Deliverance.These aren’t just iconic films; they were all Best Picture nominees in 1972, withThe Godfatherrightfully claiming the top spot.Sounderis another Best Picture nominee from 1972. It follows a family of African-American sharecroppers in the Deep South, during the Great Depression.
Sounderwas praised for its African-American characters and story at a time when Hollywood was very white-focused, making it standout in theaters. It collected numerous Oscar nominations, though it didn’t win any of its categories. With its racial themes,Sounderis a film that could be appreciated by contemporary audiences.
2’Becket' (1964)
During the 1960s, the Academy Awards showed an affinity formovies revolving around English royalty, andBecketis no exception. An historical drama, it captures the tumultuous relationship between England’s King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) and his friend-turned-bishop Thomas Becket (Richard Burton). Adapted from the 1959 playBecket or the Honour of God, Becketwon the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film’s critical acclaim birthed an unofficial sequel, 1968’sThe Lion in Winter.Both films earned a Best Picture nomination, though they both wound up losing.Becketfaced some fierce competition at the Oscars that year, such asMy Fair Lady(which won Best Picture),Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,and the Disney classic,Mary Poppins.
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1’The Longest Day' (1962)
The Longest Day
The Longest Dayis an historical war epic about the D-Day landings in Normandy during World War II. It features a large international ensemble cast that includes John Wayne, Sean Connery, and Henry Fonda.
Shot in black-and-white to give it that classic, vintage feel,The Longest Daywon the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. It lost Best Picture, however, to another classic historical war epic,Lawrence of Arabia, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made. Other contenders for the Best Picture includedMutiny on the BountyandTo Kill a Mockingbird.
