4 Oscar-Nominated Flops That Shouldn’t Have Been In The Best Picture Race
Picture this: Hollywood’s biggest night, glittering gowns, and a trophy that everyone wants to take home.
But wait, not every film that gets nominated for Best Picture actually deserves to be there!
Some movies make us scratch our heads and wonder what the Academy was thinking when they handed out those golden invitations.
From box-office bombs to critical disasters, these four films prove that even Oscar can make some pretty questionable choices.
1. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Winning over the legendary western ‘High Noon’ remains one of Hollywood’s most controversial decisions.
This circus spectacular looked amazing with its colorful costumes and death-defying acts, but the story felt emptier than a popcorn bucket after the previews.
Decades later, film historians shake their heads at how this bloated circus drama beat out far superior movies.
The acting felt stiff, the romance was unconvincing, and the whole thing ran way too long.
If time machines existed, most critics would travel back to undo this Oscar blunder!
2. Doctor Dolittle (1967)
Rex Harrison talking to animals sounds adorable, right?
Wrong!
This musical disaster barely made back half its massive $18 million budget, leaving studio executives crying into their handkerchiefs.
With a Metascore of 29%, it ranks among the worst-reviewed Best Picture nominees in history.
The songs dragged on forever, the special effects looked cheesy even for the 1960s, and audiences simply stayed away in droves.
How it snagged a Best Picture nomination remains one of Oscar’s most puzzling mysteries.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Rami Malek absolutely crushed his portrayal of Freddie Mercury, but the movie itself played things safer than a bike helmet convention.
The film sanitized Queen’s wild story into a generic, paint-by-numbers music biopic that hit every predictable beat.
Historical inaccuracies littered the screenplay like confetti at a concert.
Behind-the-scenes drama involving the fired director created chaos during production.
While the Live Aid recreation gave everyone goosebumps, the rest of the movie felt like a Wikipedia article brought to life without any real depth or edge.
4. War Horse (2011)
Even Steven Spielberg, Hollywood’s golden child, can stumble sometimes.
This World War I drama about a boy and his beloved horse felt more like a two-hour greeting card than a serious war film.
The story pulled at heartstrings with all the subtlety of a marching band in a library.
Beautiful cinematography couldn’t save the overly sentimental plot that made viewers roll their eyes more than tear up.
Though technically well-made, it lacked the emotional punch and originality expected from a Best Picture contender.
