Winning an Oscar is regarded as one of the most respected and highest achievements that one can receive in the world of cinema. Every year, people gather around their screens to watch the annual awards ceremony and all its glitz and glamor in order to see which of their favourite actors, directors, editors, and other industry talents take home the coveted golden statuettes. For those in the industry, the road to the Oscars is a legitimate campaign: from industry events and screenings to hundreds of meetings and interviews, awards season is no joke.
What's ultimately interesting is seeing which genre of films are nominated every year for the most prestigious award of them all: the Academy Award for Best Picture. What exactly makes a film worthy of a Best Picture nomination? On the one hand, Hollywood, for years, has come out with big blockbuster movies that star the most successful actors in the business and rake in millions at the box office. Despite commercial success, however, blockbusters don't always receive the same critical acclaim that, say, smaller-budgeted dramas do. In fact, actors and produced have recently commented publicly on how superhero movies are rarely nominated for Best Picture due to a "genre bias." While it's easy to claim that blockbusters don't get nominated for Oscars, it's not necessarily true. Here are five blockbusters that were nominate for Bes Picture at the Oscars (and five that should have been).
Nominated: Jaws (1975)
Jaws is credited as the first-ever summer blockbuster and has influenced so much of today's cinema. This action/adventure film was directed by Steven Spielberg and has been scaring audiences ever since its release in June of 1975. Jaws is iconic for countless reasons, from John Williams's infamous score, to revolutionary camera work, and quotable lines this movie has become a classic. With a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and the fact that the movie made four-hundred seventy-two million dollars at the box office, Jaws definitely earned its Best Picture nomination.
Nominated: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The next blockbuster nominated for Best Picture once again comes from director Steven Spielberg. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released in June of 1982 and just like Jaws stands the test of time, as the film is still finding new audiences today with a younger generation. With a ninety-nine percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this beloved film follows a young boy Elliot (Henry Thomas) who becomes best friends with a kind-hearted alien that is deserted on planet Earth.
Nominated: Avatar (2009)
Avatar is one of the most successful movies of all time and comes from the mind of Academy Award-winning director James Cameron. The film's success lies in the fact that it was able to achieve something no other movie had previously been able to in terms of special effects and the use of technology. Avatar takes editing and the use of digital effects to the next level in every capacity. The blockbuster broke box-office records as one of the highest-grossing movies of all time and the fastest movie to gross one billion dollars. With a figure of almost three billion dollars, Avatar even beat out James Cameron's 1997 Titanic which up until 2009 was considered the highest-grossing movie of all time.
Nominated: Black Panther (2018)
This film is unique to the list because it is one of the only superhero movies to ever be nominated for Best Picture. Black Panther comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the only MCU film to ever be nominated in this category. While it didn't end up taking home the win in this category, Black Panther did win Oscars for Best Original Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.
Nominated: Inception
Inception is a fan favorite from director Christopher Nolan that brought in eight-hundred thirty-six million dollars at the box office. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio along with Elliot Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy. In addition to its Best Picture nomination, Inception was nominated for seven other Oscars and won four for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing. While it didn't receive a nomination for Best Director or Best Actor the movie is still considered one of Christopher Nolan and Leonardo DiCaprio's best works.
Should Have Been Nominated: The Dark Knight (2008)
This Christopher Nolan film is yet another example of superhero movies being snubbed by the Oscars. With a box office earning of over one billion dollars and an incredibly talented cast The Dark Knight still was unable to land a Best Picture nomination. The movie was wildly successful overall but the most notable aspect of the movie is Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker. Luckily the actor was able to win his first Academy Award for this role in the category of Best Supporting Actor.
Should Have Been Nominated: Skyfall (2012)
Regardless of whether or not you know your cinema history, everyone has heard of James Bond. He is by far one of the most iconic and notable characters of all time as well as being one of the most successful movie franchises of all time. Despite how well received and loved Skyfall was, and despite the Sam Mendes' unforgettable take on the franchise (especially after Quantum of Solace's disappointing turn), the film did not receive a Best Picture nomination.
Should Have Been Nominated: Star Wars: Episode 7 - The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars: Episode 7- The Force Awakens shook the world when it was released in 2015 and seemed to be all anyone could talk about. The movie brought in two billion dollars and was the first of three Star Wars films to be released starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Oscar Issac. While there are nine extremely successful Star Wars films in total only one, Star Wars: A New Hope, was able to receive a Best Picture nomination.
Should Have Been Nominated: Knives Out (2019)
While Knives Out had an extremely talented cast, the real reason why this blockbuster should have been nominated for Best Picture is because of its screenplay. The story Knives Out tells is so original and engaging, it locks the audience in as soon as the movie starts playing. The budget for the film was forty million dollars and, in the end, was not nominated for any Academy Awards. Fortunately, the sequel Knives Out 2 is set to release in the coming months of 2022.
Should Have Been Nominated: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Twenty years ago the first film in the Harry Potter franchise was released. These movies were adapted from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels and are some of the most-watched movies of all time. Now with a Harry Potter world at Universal Studios, Flagship stores all over the world, and Harry Potter restaurants, to say this franchise is a success is an understatement. All together the movies have made over seventy billion dollars worldwide. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was nominated for three Academy Awards, but not Best Picture.