Iconic films that never bagged an Oscar

“HERE’S Johnny!” It’s one of the most famous lines in cinematic history, yet Jack Nicholson was totally overlooked by the Academy. Here are some of the biggest films of our time that missed out on an Oscar.

The Wolf of Wall Street was nominated for five Academy Awards but failed to win in any category.

WITH the 88th annual Academy Awards around the corner and the recent controversy surrounding another all-white list of nominees, there is sure to be even more upheaval surrounding this year’s winners than ever before.

As each awards season rolls around, discontented fans and “experts” take to social media to air their gripes about which of their favourite actors and films missed out.

But hugely celebrated and wildly successful films have been snubbed by the Academy for years, long before social media made it possible for viewers to respond to the televised ceremony.

Here are some of the biggest flicks over the last 50 years that never scooped a single gold statue.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)

The Shawshank Redemption, a commercial dud, even scooped seven nominations.

Despite bombing at the box office, Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption snagged seven nominations (including Morgan Freeman for Best Actor) and to this day sits at #1 on IMDb’s Top 250. Some say the 1994 classic never stood a chance against the likes of Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump and Lion King. But, more than two decades on and still one of Hollywood’s most beloved dramas, did the Academy get it wrong?

THE SHINING (1980)

How could Jack Nicholson have missed out?

“Here’s Johnny!” It may be one of the most famous lines in cinematic history, but Jack Nicholson’s (who improvised the line) terrifying performance does not number among the actor’s 12 Oscar nominations. The 1980 film listed as one of the greatest horror movies of all time.

FIGHT CLUB (1999)

Brad Pitt, arguably at his best as tough guy Tyler Durden in Fight Club.

The David Fincher masterpiece only received one nomination in 1999, a nod for Best Sound Editing. Many argued that Brad Pitt, who starred in the cult hit based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, was inexplicably overlooked by the Academy, as were Helena Bonham-Carter and Edward Norton.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)

The entire cast of Brokeback Mountain got snubbed in 2006.

It was tipped to take home Best Picture at the 2006 ceremony, but Brokeback Mountain missed out to Paul Haggis’ Crash. Even Jack Nicholson couldn’t believe his eyes as he announced the winner on stage. Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Williams were all nominated but all three went home empty-handed.

PSYCHO (1960)

Janet Leigh was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Psycho.

Somehow, Psycho missed out on a nomination for Best Picture in 1960. Alfred Hitchcock was nominated for Best Director, but failed to take home the gong. Bernard Hermann wasn’t even nominated for one of the most frightening film scores of all time, nor was Anthony Perkins for his chilling portrayal of Norman Bates. The thriller, set in the now infamous Bates Motel, remains one of Hitchcock’s biggest achievements.

VERTIGO (1958)

James Stewart with Kim Novak in a scene from Vertigo.

While we’re at it, Hitchcock’s fan favourite Vertigo, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, was nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Sound Recording but lost out to South Pacific and Gigi respectively. Gigi, whose signature song “Thank Heaven For Little Girls” is sung by a 70-year-old Maurice Chevalier, won Best Picture that year, a category Vertigo, voted by a British Film Institute poll as the best movie of all time, wasn’t even nominated in.

To add insult to injury, Hitchcock NEVER won a competitive Oscar. Let that sink in for a moment. Only one of his films (Rebecca) won Best Picture. Later, Hitchcock was given an honorary Oscar.

THE TERMINATOR (1984)

“The future is in his hands.”

James Cameron’s 1991 sequel cleaned up in the technical categories, but his 1984 original received no nominations. The Terminator wasn’t even nominated for Best Special Effects, even though its digital magic was nothing short of revolutionary at the time.

HEAT (1995)

Robert De Niro failed to get a nod for his role in Heat.

You would think having Robert De Niro and Al Pacino going head-to-head in this cops-and-robbers flick might have landed director Michael Mann at least a few nominations. Nothing, nada.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE (2001)

Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring in scene from Mulholland Drive.

Critics have routinely hailed David Lynch’s Mulholland Dr. as one of recent history’s best films, yet only Lynch earned a nomination for his creepy 2001 masterpiece starring Laura Elena Harring and Naomi Watts. An embarrassing oversight by the Academy indeed.

BLADE RUNNER(1982)

Identity crisis.

Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic is exactly that, a classic. The visually stunning dystopian film based on Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was only nominated for its visual effects and art direction, categories it lost.

TAXI DRIVER (1976)

“Are you looking at me?”

Robert De Niro’s searing performance as the volatile and psychologically damaged Travis Bickle is burnt into the memories of all those who’ve seen Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece. But Scorsese didn’t even get nominated in the directing category, and it wouldn’t be until 2006 before he took home the statuette for Best Director for The Departed.

What other massive movies missed out on an Oscar? share with us below.

Originally published as Iconic films that never bagged an Oscar