The Academy Awards celebrate cinema excellence annually, yet often make questionable decisions. From overlooked directors to controversial Best Picture winners, here are ten of the most shocking Oscar snubs and discover where to watch them all online.
Alfred Hitchcock Never Won Best Director
Despite creating masterpieces like Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock never won a Best Director Oscar. The master of suspense remained unrecognized by the Academy throughout his legendary career.
Stanley Kubrick Overlooked for 2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking 2001: A Space Odyssey won for Visual Effects but wasn't nominated in major categories. The visionary director never received a Best Director Oscar despite revolutionary work on A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket.
Citizen Kane Lost Best Picture
Often cited as the greatest film ever made, Orson Welles' debut Citizen Kane lost Best Picture to How Green Was My Valley. While respectable, the winner hasn't had Kane's lasting impact on cinematography, storytelling, and editing.
Amy Adams: Six Nominations, Zero Wins
Amy Adams has consistently delivered Oscar-worthy performances time and again, be it as a lead in American Hustle and supporting roles in The Fighter, Vice, and others. And yet despite six nominations, she remains Oscar-less. In fact, her admirers will argue that she deserved to be nominated for way more films such as Arrival, Big Eyes, and Nocturnal Animals.
Saving Private Ryan Lost to Shakespeare in Love
Steven Spielberg's visceral World War II epic Saving Private Ryan was the presumed winner until Shakespeare in Love pulled off a shocking upset. The lightweight period romantic comedy defeating the powerful war film remains one of the Academy's most controversial decisions.
Jake Gyllenhaal Snubbed for Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal's chilling portrayal of sociopathic journalist Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler earned universal praise but wasn't even nominated for Best Actor—one of recent Oscar history's most baffling oversights.
Brokeback Mountain Lost to Crash
Despite winning Best Director for Ang Lee, the moving gay romance Brokeback Mountain lost Best Picture to Crash. While the former received universal acclaim, Crash is now widely criticized for its heavy-handed approach to racism.
Do the Right Thing Not Nominated for Best Picture
Do The Right Thing, Spike Lee's groundbreaking exploration of racial tensions wasn't nominated for Best Picture, while the more palatable Driving Miss Daisy won—a film now considered one of the most forgettable winners.
Glenn Close: Eight Nominations, No Wins
Before Amy Adams, there was Glenn Close. With powerful performances in Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Wife, Glenn Close holds the record for most nominations without a win among actresses.
The Dark Knight Not Nominated for Best Picture
Christopher Nolan's revolutionary Batman film The Dark Knight earned Heath Ledger a posthumous Oscar but was denied a Best Picture nomination. This omission sparked such backlash that the Academy expanded the category to include up to ten nominees.
How to watch the biggest Oscar-snubbed movies streaming online in India
Check out JustWatch’s guide to know how and where to watch these classic yet snubbed movies and performances on streaming platforms in India. The list below also provides offers to buy, rent, or watch these movies for free (if available).
These snubs demonstrate that even Hollywood's most prestigious awards ceremony is fallible, often overlooking innovative filmmaking and exceptional performances in favor of safer, more conventional choices.
