Each year, the Oscars offer some of the biggest moments in popular culture. It never fails to bring to floor a new viral moment whether that be an outfit choice, someone falling on the way to collect their award or history being created.
But throughout all of the moments of celebration, there have been many snubs where the award didn’t go to what people felt was the sure bet. Here are ten of the biggest snubs in the history of the Academy Awards as highlighted by the New York Times.
Do the Right Thing for Best Picture (1990)
Actual winner: Driving Miss Daisy
In 1990, Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ was pipped to the post for Best Picture. Following its release, the film was met with divisive opinion, with fear that riots would break out written in reviews. Could it have been this that influenced the Academy voters? Morgan Freeman starred in the winning film Driving Miss Daisy.
Marilyn Monroe, Some Like It Hot, for Best Actress (1960)
Actual winner: Simone Signoret, Room at the Top
Marilyn Monroe missed out on the Best Actress award for her role in Some Like It Hot. Famously, there were reportedly troubles on set of filming Some Like It Hot, with Monroe’s personal life being a part of that.
Denzel Washington, Malcolm X, for Best Actor (1993)
Actual winner: Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman
The Academy have been described by some as giving an Oscar out in favour of an actor’s career as opposed to an individual’s performance. Many believe this was the case for Denzel Washington when he was subbed over Pacino.
The Dark Knight for Best Picture (2009)
Actual winner: Slumdog Millionaire
The Oscars have often excluded blockbuster action films from the Best Picture category, but with eight nominations in other categories, it shocked many that The Dark Knight did not even receive a nomination for Best Picture in 2009. Following this, the award category opened up its nomination number from five to 10.
Barbra Streisand, Prince of Tides, for Best Director (1992)
Actual winner: Jonathan Demme, The Silence of the Lambs
Barbara Streisand is a two-time Oscar winner, but despite her film being nominated in seven other categories, including Best Picture, she was not nominated for best director. This accolade instead went to Jonathan Demme, The Silence of the Lambs.
Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture (2006)
Actual winner: Crash
Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger’s performance in Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee, won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. However, the snub for Best Picture sparked controversy, with people believing the reason for its loss being due to discrimination against the film’s gay love story.
Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo, for Best Director (1959)
Actual winner: Vincente Minnelli, Gigi
Alfred Hitchcock, who is known as the master of suspense, didn’t get a nomination for Best Director for his film Vertigo. Hitchcock has been described as often overlooked by the Academy, as he was passed over each of the five times he was nominated.
Pulp Fiction for Best Picture (1995)
Actual winner: Forrest Gump
People claimed that Forrest Gump was the obvious choice for the Academy to select, believing that Pulp Fiction was too unconventional for the Academy voters. The debate is still prevalent in today’s society as Pulp Fiction is often described as one of the most influential films of its time.
David Oyelowo, Selma, for Best Actor (2015)
Actual winner: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
This loss sparked a debate about race, with all 20 of the Oscar acting awards going to white actors in 2015. The Acadmey are known to choose a transformational biopic performance above all. The race conversation led to the Oscars diversifying their voting panel.
In the Mood for Love for Best Picture (2001)
Actual winner: Gladiator
Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love has been described as influential in the concept of romance within films. However, this failed to be enough for it to pick up an Oscor, as the Hong Kong love story failed to win any awards.