Winning an Oscar is a huge accomplishment. The directors and actors that are lucky to experience the feeling of winning an Oscar will never forget it. But too often we make the mistake of saying that only films that win these awards are worth our time. That couldn’t be further from the truth. So many movies that have huge followings or are fan favorites have never won an Oscar, and plenty has never been nominated for one. Below is a list of some of those films! Have a look at it and maybe you’ll find a film for a movie night!
Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino is one of the world’s most well-known directors. He has a career that spans decades, and a few of his films have a cult following. Despite this, his first film, Reservoir Dogs, went without receiving a single nomination at the Oscars. Fans of the film may not know that because of how popular the film is now, but it is true! But that first disappointment didn’t stop Tarantino from doing what he loves.
You can find Reservoir Dogs all over the internet! There are gifs, sound bites, and even clips on YouTube. Strangely, this film is loved more now than when it premiered.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
In 2020, there were few films talked about more than Director Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The French film focuses on the relationship between two women in the 18th century. You couldn’t read any film website, movie blog, or even articles that had a bad thing to say about this film. So, it’s odd that something so loved by the public and critics went without a single nomination at the Oscars.
Céline Sciamma has an impressive list of films under her belt. Her fans and peers adored Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and we’re sure that means more to her than a trophy ever could.
Paths of Glory
Stanley Kubrick’s anti-war film Paths of Glory went without getting nominated for an Oscar. The 1957 film focuses on French soldiers fighting in World War I. It’s a gutsy film and one that is worth a watch. It’s hard to believe that the man who gave us The Shining, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, could ever make a film that wasn’t given Oscar nominations. Kubrick probably didn’t mind all that much.
Because of the topic, and the time when it was released, it is easy to see why Paths of Glory didn’t receive any nominations. The film is still an incredible work of art.
Paterson
Paterson, starring Adam Driver, is about a man who writes poetry in his free time while driving a bus to make ends meet. It’s a touching film that was well-received when it first premiered. Despite it starring Adam Driver, who the entertainment industry loves, it received no nominations for an Oscar. When you see the passion that the actors have for their characters, you’ll be scratching your head as to why the film wasn’t nominated.
If you get a chance to watch this wonderful film, you’ll be asking yourself how Paterson didn’t at least receive a set or costume design nomination. Everything about it is so beautiful.
Our Little Sister
Emotional films are usually shoo-ins for Oscar nominations. Oscar voters love those types of films. But Our Little Sister, a Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, was overlooked for any nominations. The heart-wrenching film focuses on a trio of sisters who invite their half-sister to live with them after the death of their father. It has everything that Oscar voters go nuts over, but that still wasn’t enough to be nominated in any category.
An Oscar nomination wouldn’t make this film any better than it already is. The directors and actors created a piece of art that will be remembered forever. That’s what’s important.
Once Upon a Time in America
This film had everything: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and a score from the famous composer Enno Morricone. Yet, it still wasn’t nominated for an Oscar. Gangster films like this one have a tough time at award shows despite how well they do at the box office. We’re sure Sergio Leone mind that his film was left out now. It’s been over 30 years since the film premiered and people are still talking about it!
Even with the perfect mix of talented actors, directors, and composers working on a film, it’s still tough to get that illustrious Oscar nomination. The Oscars missed out on not nominating this film.
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Famed director Paul Schrader directed this film about writer Yukio Mishima in 1985. The film, as the title states, is split into four parts that detail the life of Mishima. Even films as ambitious as this one can go without receiving a single nomination for the Oscars. But this film, and its director, attempted something daring and pulled it off. The films adoring fans probably don’t care that it didn’t win an Oscar.
Paul Schrader has had a long and successful career. He has plenty to be proud of. Missing out on a few nominations at the Oscars probably hasn’t hurt him too much.
Night Moves
Gene Hackman is one of America’s greatest actors. He has a long list of well-respected films, and a number of those films have received nominations from the Oscars. But his portrayal of a private detective in the 1975 film Night Moves, wasn’t enough for even one nomination. This film is one of the best crime dramas ever produced. Whichever film beat it out for a nomination that year must have been incredible!
This film has suspense, action, and danger. And its fans know that not receiving any nominations won’t change the way they feel about it. That’s what matters the most when it comes to film.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Never Rarely Sometimes Always is a film that will leave you with a mix of emotions, just like any good film should. It follows the story of a teenage girl who realizes she is pregnant and decides that she does not want to keep the baby. This is a brave and important film. And though it deserved more praise, no number of nominations could change what it means to so many people.
It's extremely upsetting that this well-crafted film from director Eliza Hittman wasn’t given the respect it deserved at the Oscars. It was as close to perfection as a film can get.
Memories of Murder
Bong Joon-ho is now one of the world’s most well-known and recognizable directors. His film Parasite took the world by storm in 2020, even winning Best Picture at the Oscars. But his film Memories of Murder, which focuses on a haphazard detective tracking down a serial killer in South Korea, went unrecognized. The film is what all films should be. It’s hectic, well-paced, and even a bit funny.
We’re sure Bong Joon-ho isn’t all that mad about not receiving a nomination for Memories of Murder, but we are. The film is incredible! It will keep you on the edge of your seat!
A Matter of Life and Death
Fantasy films are oftentimes seen as childish or immature. And we suspect that 1946’s A Matter of Life and Death was seen that way by Oscar voters. The film is funny, weird, and heart-warming all wrapped into one. It isn’t a film you will easily forget. And the special effects for the time were second to none. Clearly, the Oscar voters at the time saw something different and weren’t at all wowed by the film.
This is one of those films that if it were released today, would make a fortune. Everyone loves fantasy films now, and with better special effects, this film would be untouchable!
Margaret
Films that are strange struggle to find support among Oscar voters. That was the case with Kenneth Lonergan’s film Margaret. The film focuses on a high-school student who causes an accident that kills someone. This leads her to lash out and act unlike herself. It’s a tense and uneasy film. And there are moments when you won’t know what’s going on, but you’ll be wondering how it didn’t win an Oscar when you finish it.
Not earning any nominations takes nothing away from this incredible film. Actress Anna Paquin, who is an Oscar winner, gives an incredible performance. She should have earned another Oscar for her part in this film.
The Man With Two Brains
Steve Martin is one of America’s most well-known comedic actors. He starred in the 1983 film The Man with Two Brains; a hilarious comedy directed by Carl Reiner. The film was a little offbeat, but still funny and deserving of an Oscar. We wish the Oscars would ease up and not take things so seriously. It would make room for a more diverse selection of films to be nominated. That’s something people would enjoy!
Steve Martin, despite all his years of acting, has never won an Oscar for his acting. But his long career speaks for itself. He will always be known as one of the funniest actors!
A Man Escaped
The atrocities of World War II led to a lot of films and books. In A Man Escaped, directed by Robert Bresson, a member of the French Resistance is captured by Germans and put into prison. It is an honest, raw, and unflinching look at what occurred during World War II. There are tons of films that focus on WWII, but A Man Escaped discusses a viewpoint that is often missing in those films.
It's a shame that such an honest and brave film went without a single nomination for the Oscars. Hopefully, Bresson was able to see how much the film meant to people before he passed.
Local Hero
Here is a film that is loved by many but did not get the respect it deserved from the voters. In this comedy, a man is sent to buy a village in Scotland where the company he works for wants to build a refinery. Things go wayward, and a good film is what we get out of it. This film won a Bafta for Best Director. Baftas are the UK equivalent of the Oscars.
Strangely, a film so loved by one part of the world could hardly be recognized by another. It’s a little weird, but we’re not at all surprised. The voters for the Oscars are picky!
The Long Goodbye
The 70s were full of incredible films. The industry took a different direction that decade. And while many of those films were awarded for their brilliance, there was plenty that was left behind. Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye was one of those films. It is a thriller about a private investigator in Los Angeles. It’s a gritty, dark, and hypnotizing joyride. It makes no sense that it didn’t receive a single nomination.
This film seems like Oscar bait. It’s set in L.A., it’s a noir type film, and it was talked about everywhere. It may not have won an Oscar, but it did earn itself a ton of fans!
The King of Comedy
Martin Scorsese is one of the world’s most well-known living directors. Even with all his success, he, too, has had a film not be nominated. The King of Comedy, which premiered in 1982 and featured Robert De Niro, received zero nominations despite being loved by many. The King of Comedy is a wild and unpredictable film, but it was not good enough in the minds of the voters. We would give it an award!
This just goes to show that even the most talented people sometimes lose. But people love this film, and they love Scorsese. So, in the end, he still came out a winner.
Insomnia
Sometimes, even a strong cast of actors isn’t enough to garner any attention for an Oscar nomination. 2002’s Insomnia, directed by Christopher Nolan, starred Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank. Those are very talented and decorated actors. But even with all that talent, this film didn’t receive a single Oscar nomination. Whatever else came out in 2002 must have been incredible to shut this film out. That’s our only guess!
If a movie involves Al Pacino, we aren’t sure how it’s not getting nominated. He’s one of the greatest living actors. Just about everything he touches seems to turn to gold!
In the Mood for Love
All the films on this list deserve to be nominated for an Oscar, but it’s going to be hard to find one that is more deserving than In the Mood for Love. This film is one of the greatest romance films. Wong Kar-Wai, the director, has gained a huge following from this film alone. It’s beautiful, the script is enticing, and the setting is beautiful. The Oscars made a mistake in not nominating this film.
The film that was nominated over this film had to have been flawless. But In the Mood for Love has a large following now. So, it’s all worked out for Wong Kar-Wai.
His Girl Friday
Cary Grant was huge, both physically, and in the sense of his notoriety in Hollywood. But even that couldn’t land the film His Girl Friday an Oscar nomination in 1946. The story follows two journalists who were once married. It’s a funny, fast, and upbeat film. Rosalind Russell also puts in an excellent performance alongside Cary Grant. This film was robbed. Plain and Simple. It should have been showered in nominations.
His Girl Friday is seen as an iconic film now, but it deserved so much more praise when it premiered. We’re sure the voters in 1946 were criticized for leaving this film out.
Heat
Here is another example of a great cast not earning a film any nominations. Robert De Niro paired with Al Pacino for the 1995 hit Heat. In the film, the two are pitted against one another. De Niro plays a dangerous criminal, and Pacino plays a cop. It sounds like it would be Hollywood gold. Heat won no Oscars, but it has been compared with some of the greatest thrillers since its release.
It’s sad to think that two of the greatest American actors could come together, create something incredible, and not be rewarded. De Niro and Pacino are legends. No little trophy is changing that.
Halloween
Horror films have always been shunned by award ceremonies. They, much like fantasy and science fiction films, are not taken seriously. it doesn’t’ surprise us at all that the film that started slasher films went without any nominations at the Oscars. As bad as it must have been to go unrecognized at the time, the Halloween franchise is still going strong today. There’s a new film added to the franchise every few years.
Halloween is an iconic film. People across the world love it, and it is all over American television channels come October. It deserved some more recognition when it was released.
La Haine
Your average moviegoer may not know about this film, but film fanatics will, and they will be surprised to know that it didn’t receive any love from the Oscars. The film, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, follows three young men as they navigate life on the outskirts of Paris. It’s a quick-paced, high-energy, and creative film. There’s no doubt in our minds that it should have been nominated in 1995 for Best International Film.
This film is really good. It’s somewhat dark, and a little violent, but it’s a true piece of art. the Oscars made a big mistake by not giving it any nominations.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Cowboy films are as American as apple pie and hamburgers, so it is odd that The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, went without any award nominations at the Oscars. Clint Eastwood stars in this Western about a bounty hunter on the search for gold. The film is loved and revered now, and it was even loved when it came out. It just somehow slipped off the radar of those voters.
Westerns are huge when it comes to American films. And The Good, the bad and the ugly is one of the most popular. This was news to us that the film didn’t receive any nominations.
Frances Ha
Greta Gerwig starred in this 2012 coming of age film about a New Yorker in her 20s trying to figure life out. The film's relatability and focus on a female protagonist earned it high praise. And while the film didn’t earn any nominations in 2012, Greta Gerwig, the star of the film, earned a Best Director nomination in 2017 for her film Lady Bird. So, in a way, things kind of worked out!
Frances Ha gained so many fans and so much praise when it came out. It’s a shame that it didn’t receive any nominations but that doesn’t lessen the impact the film made!
Don’t Look Now
Here is another horror film that was undervalued and not nominated in any Oscar categories. To be fair, Don’t Look Now came out the same year as The Exorcist, which was nominated for multiple Oscars. The film is a bit off-kilter, but it is still a great film worthy of respect. It’s both a horror and thriller film with a few supernatural elements. If you haven’t seen it, check it out.
It’s always tough when two similar films come out at the same time, but we still think that there had to be at least one nomination that Don’t Look Now could have been given.
Bringing Up Baby
Comedies always have a tough time at the Oscars. They fall into one of the categories of films that are well-liked by the public but aren’t respected by those who vote for the Oscar nominations. But Bringing Up baby is a timeless classic. 1938 was a long time ago, but this film still holds up. There are jokes and moments in this film that could still make people laugh today.
The cast included Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Charlie Ruggles. These were big names at the time. We aren’t sure how those names didn’t earn this film a single nomination.
Breathless
French New Wave films don’t get much more famous than Breathless. The film stars Jean Seberg as Patricia, a student living and working in Paris. She eventually falls in love with a criminal, Michel, which sets off a chain of events. It’s happy, sad, upbeat, and even a little dark at times. But overall, it’s an incredible film that helped to make the French New Wave movement popular around the world.
There are so many iconic moments in this one film. It’s a mystery as to why it wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, but it’s near the top on our list of greatest films.
Blow Out
Brian De Palma has made some huge films: Scarface, Carrie, and Carlito’s Way. He’s no stranger to making films that have a lasting impact on society, but he’s never been one to worry about Oscar nominations. Even with that, his 1981 film Blow Out deserved more notoriety. The cast alone was award-worthy. John Travolta and John Lithgow were the main stars. Those are two actors that can make any movie Oscar-worthy!
Our only guess is that the Oscar voters must have been tired of thrillers in 1981. To leave this film out seems like a crime. At least it is getting the love it deserves today!
The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski is one of the internet’s favorite movies. You see people quote it all the time, there are gifs from the film, and there are even accounts on Twitter and Reddit dedicated to it. Despite its online popularity today, it didn’t earn any award nominations from the Oscars. It’s exciting, funny, and even a bit weird. It’s those three characteristics that make it loved so much by people on the internet.
Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Julianne Moore. That’s a hell of a cast and that’s not even everyone! How did this film go so unnoticed? What a shame. The Oscars missed out.
The Big Heat
Fritz Lang directed this noir film about a detective who takes on the criminals of his city. It’s quick-paced, action-filled, and exciting from beginning to end. It’s a good movie, but it wasn’t good enough for the Oscars. This 1953 film received no nominations for its efforts. It’s hard to believe that one of the greatest directors at the time had one of his pieces of work go unnoticed and without a single nomination.
We’ve already spoken about how taste in films is subjective, but we feel that sometimes that needs to be overlooked. It’s embarrassing that such a great film was left out by the Oscars.
Before Sunrise
Romance films score big at the Oscars, and there aren’t many romance films bigger than Before Sunrise. The film is the first in a trilogy of films that follow Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as the main couple. Before Sunrise’s cult following today shows that even without an Oscar, this film is one of a kind. People love it so much that you barely even hear about the other films in the trilogy.
Before Sunrise is a fun, lighthearted, and beautiful film. It’s no surprise that people are obsessed with it. Who doesn’t want to imagine themselves falling in love with someone in Paris?
Babyteeth
Films dealing with teenagers, and especially teenagers who are dying, are always touchy subjects. But 2019’s Babyteeth should have been in conversations about winning an Oscar. It’s heart-warming, anxiety-inducing, and maybe a little unbelievable at points, but it is so good. This film was made and based in Australia, and we think that may have hurt its chances. Had it been an American film, Babyteeth definitely would have been nominated.
Our hope for this incredible film is that more people will see it. It is definitely a film that deserves more respect, whether it was nominated for an Oscar or not.
American Psycho
Americans love a bloody film. But for some reason, the Oscars didn’t love this one. American Psycho, starring Christian Bale, is one of the most well-known films across the world. It’s based on the book of the same name written by author Bret Easton Ellis. If you haven’t seen this film, we won’t spoil it for you. But once you watch it, you will be wondering how it missed out on receiving nominations as well.
This is one of the most disturbing movies ever made. Even with the violence that it has, this film still should have been nominated for Best Film. Once you see it, you never forget it.
American Honey
It is always surprising when films get praised by film festival judges and crowds, and then when the Oscars roll around, they get nothing. That was the case with American Honey. From the talk surrounding it during film festivals, it seemed like it was going to be an Oscar winner, but it wasn’t even nominated. IF we learned anything from this list, it’s that the Oscar voters are a picky group of people.
This is a film you won’t soon forget. It deserved nominations for the cast, the director, and setting and clothing design. All of it was so good. It’s a disgrace it wasn’t nominated.