Not all Academy Award winners have been universally loved. Many were considered disappointing or overrated at the time, and to this day, many are seen as unworthy compared to other movies that lost out on the biggest prize in Hollywood. Here are 20 of the most controversial and unpopular Best Picture Oscar winners ever.
Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days faced negative criticism for its thin story and reliance on spectacle over substance. Critics argue it won the Best Picture Oscar more for its star-studded cameos and lavish production than for its storytelling, overshadowing more deserving films like The King and I and The Ten Commandments.
Tom Jones
Tom Jones was criticized as a frivolous and shallow comedy, which some viewed as unworthy of the Best Picture Oscar. Critics argue that its chaotic style did not stand the test of time, overshadowing more serious and profound films such as Cleopatra and America.
A Man for All Seasons
Some saw A Man for All Seasons as having too conventional and overly theatrical an approach to be considered the best picture of 1966. Critics argue it lacked its competitors’ innovation and emotional depth, such as The Sand Pebbles and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Ordinary People
Following the success of the previous Best Picture winner, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Ordinary People received criticism for its lack of imagination and overly solemn approach, having been viewed as following the path laid down by Kramer Vs. Kramer. One critic described it as heartfelt but glum, lacking surprise or complexity, and felt the script’s symbolism was clichéd. Additionally, the fact that it came out the same year as Martin Scorcese’s legendary Raging Bull didn’t help the film’s cause.
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire was criticized for being too slow and small. Critics noted that the film’s character development was weak, making it difficult to distinguish and care about the protagonists. Despite its iconic soundtrack, the movie has not aged well; this is not one of the most fondly remembered Best Picture winners.
Gandhi
Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi has remained controversial for its portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian independence movement. Critics argue that the film simplifies a complicated historical saga and presents an overly positive view of Gandhi while also ignoring the contributions of other key Indian figures. The choice of Ben Kingsley to play the title character, while well-received at the time, has since been the subject of much debate.
Amadeus
The historical inaccuracies in Amadeus and the dramatization of the relationship between Mozart and Salieri meant that many critics struggled to take it seriously. Critics argue that the film’s portrayal of Salieri as a villain who contributed to Mozart’s death is largely fictional. While the movie’s credibility was up for question, its success wasn’t, taking in $90 million at the box office and winning a staggering 8 Oscars.
Out of Africa
Critics of Out of Africa slammed the film’s depiction of Africans, which some viewed as racist and demeaning, presenting them as inferior and undeveloped characters. Additionally, the film was criticized for its slow pacing. In the years since its release, opinions on the film have only gotten worse.
Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy faced criticism for its portrayal of race relations, particularly for perpetuating stereotypes and a condescending view of African American characters. Critics argued that the film presented an all-too-easy and overly simplistic narrative, avoiding deeper issues of racism. For Driving Miss Daisy to win Best Picture in the same year Do the Right Thing was released was quite something. For Spike Lee’s film to fail to be nominated was something even more bizarre.
Dances with Wolves
Dances With Wolves was accused of presenting a white savior narrative, overshadowing indigenous perspectives. Its infamous length and slow pacing also prevent many movie fans from watching it. Despite acclaim in some areas, the film sparked debates on cultural appropriation and historical accuracy. Today, its legacy is mixed at best, and it’s considered one of the weakest Best Picture winners of the later 20th century.
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump was a hugely popular and successful film. However, not many people felt it really deserved to win Best Picture over Pulp Fiction. Forrest Gump was criticized for its simplistic portrayal of complex historical events and accused of glossing over social issues.
Braveheart
Mel Gibson’s historical epic was a huge hit despite flagrant historical inaccuracies, particularly regarding William Wallace’s life and the depiction of Scotland’s history. Some criticized its portrayal of women and its reliance on Hollywood tropes. Despite winning many awards, the picture’s authenticity has left it with a tarnished reputation among history buffs.
Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love drew negative criticism for its fictionalized portrayal of William Shakespeare’s life. Critics argued it trivialized Shakespeare’s genius and the Elizabethan era and that the romance of the film was rather cliched by 1998.
American Beauty
While beloved by some, American Beauty was ridiculed by otters for portraying suburban life and what was seen as overly pretentious artistic ambitions. Some also argued the movie glamorized taboo subjects like underage sexuality and drug use with no meaningful payoff.
Gladiator
A surprise winner in a pretty poor year for movies, Gladiator was criticized for its historical inaccuracies. Experts praised the film’s generous artistic license with Roman history and culture. Critics also criticized its predictable plot and reliance on action over storylines or characterization.
A Beautiful Mind
A Russell Crowe movie won the big prize for the second year in a row. And for the second year in a row, opinion was divided. A Beautiful Mind faced negative feedback for its portrayal of John Nash’s life, accused of romanticizing mental illness, including Nash’s struggles with schizophrenia. The movie was also accused of whitewashing for its casting of Jennifer Connelly.
Crash
Many consider Crash to be the single most overachieving movie on this list. Its heavy-handed approach to race relations, stereotypes, and simplistic narratives led to accusations of a lack of authenticity. The nominated films that lost to Crash included Capote, Munich, and Brokeback Mountain.
The Departed
Although Scorsese fans were delighted to see their hero finally getting his hand on a Best Picture Oscar, some believed that it was the director more than his film that was being awarded. The US remake of the Hong Kong action classic Infernal Affairs didn’t do anything to raise itself above its excellent source material and is not seen as one of the highlights of Scorsese’s illustrious career.
The King’s Speech
Critics of The King’s Speech claimed that it portrayed therapy as a quick fix and overlooked the complexities of speech impediments. Some felt it sanitized royal history, neglecting deeper political tensions, and that the story was just too sentimental to be awarded Best Picture.
Green Book
Like some of the other movies on this list, Green Book faced criticism for being overly sentimental and too simplistic in its approach to race relations in America. Allegations of historical inaccuracies and oversimplification overshadowed its critical acclaim, sparking controversy and debates over its messaging.
