Oscars Worst Best Picture Winners: A Look Back at the Most Egregious Mistakes

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The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, have been recognizing excellence in cinematic achievements for over nine decades. With a rich history of honoring outstanding films, directors, and performances, the Oscars have also been prone to making mistakes. Over the years, there have been several instances where the Academy has gotten it wrong, awarding the best picture prize to films that, in hindsight, did not deserve it. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most egregious mistakes made by the Academy and explore the films that should have won instead.

One of the most notable examples of the Academy's mistake is the 1941 best picture winner, "How Green Was My Valley". Directed by John Ford, the film is a coal-country drama that tells the story of a Welsh mining family. While it is a good film in its own right, it is often considered one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history, as it beat out Orson Welles' groundbreaking film "Citizen Kane", which is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. The cinematic masterpiece that is "Citizen Kane" should have taken the top prize, but instead, it was relegated to a single award for best original screenplay. Other notable films that were overlooked include "The Greatest Show on Earth", which won the best picture award in 1952, but should have lost to the classic Western "High Noon", and "A Man for All Seasons", which won in 1966, but should have been beaten by the critically acclaimed "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

The Academy's mistakes did not stop there. In 1973, "The Sting" won the best picture award, but it should have been "The Exorcist" that took the prize. The horror classic, directed by William Friedkin, is still widely popular today, and its influence can be seen in many modern horror films. Another notable example is the 1994 best picture winner, "Forrest Gump", which beat out Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction". While "Forrest Gump" is a good film, "Pulp Fiction" is a masterpiece of modern cinema, and its influence can still be felt today. Other films that were overlooked include "The English Patient", which won in 1996, but should have lost to the Coen brothers' "Fargo", and "Shakespeare in Love", which won in 1998, but should have been beaten by Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan".

In recent years, the Academy has continued to make mistakes. In 2018, "Green Book" won the best picture award, but it should have been "BlacKkKlansman" that took the prize. The film, directed by Spike Lee, is a powerful exploration of racism and police brutality, and its win would have been a significant moment in the history of the Oscars. Other notable films that were overlooked include "The King's Speech", which won in 2010, but should have lost to Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan", and "The Iron Lady", which won in 2011, but should have been beaten by Viola Davis' performance in "The Help". The list of films that should have won the best picture award is long, and it includes films like "The Color Purple", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and "Apocalypse Now", all of which are considered classics of American cinema.

In conclusion, the Academy Awards have a long history of making mistakes when it comes to awarding the best picture prize. From "How Green Was My Valley" to "Green Book", there have been many instances where the Academy has gotten it wrong. However, by looking back at these mistakes, we can gain a better understanding of the complexities of the Oscar voting process and the factors that influence the decisions of Academy members. We can also appreciate the films that should have won, and recognize the significant contributions they have made to the world of cinema. Some of the notable films that were overlooked by the Academy include:

• "Citizen Kane" (1941)
• "High Noon" (1952)
• "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966)
• "The Exorcist" (1973)
• "Pulp Fiction" (1994)
• "Fargo" (1996)
• "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
• "BlacKkKlansman" (2018)
• "Black Swan" (2010)
• "The Help" (2011)
• "The Color Purple" (1985)
• "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)
• "Apocalypse Now" (1979)

These films, among others, are a testament to the rich and diverse history of American cinema, and they continue to inspire and influence filmmakers to this day.

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