When Oscar Got It Wrong
The Oscars are seen as the top prize for movies, but sometimes great films don't win. Here are ten amazing movies that they missed out on.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
This is a story about a boy with scissors for his hands. Inspired by Burton's own feelings of being alone as a kid. The story is about feeling lonely and finding yourself, as shown by Edward's special skills in making shaped bushes and cutting hair.
Edward Scissorhands (1990), Twentieth Century
Behind The Scenes And Casting Choices
Tim Burton came up with Edward Scissorhands from his own drawing and story idea, and Caroline Thompson wrote the script. They looked at many actors before picking Johnny Depp, who felt connected to the role.
Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Film That Shaped Pop Culture
Yes, it didn't win big awards, but Edward Scissorhands left a strong mark on culture. Its special look and heartfelt story won many fans and even inspired a modern dance show by Matthew Bourne. It went on to win the British Academy Film Award for Best Production Design.
How People Reacted To The Film
When Edward Scissorhands came out in December 1990, it did well in theaters, making $86 million worldwide. Many people loved its mix of magic and dark style, praising Johnny Depp's role. On the Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has a 90% rating today.
Field Of Dreams (1989)
Field of Dreams is a famous movie that mixes fantasy with baseball, family, and dreams. Stars Kevin Costner as a farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield. This special field brings back the ghosts of famous players.
Universal, Field of Dreams (1989)
A Magical Baseball Field
Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, hears a strange voice say, "If you build it, he will come." Believing the voice, Ray builds a baseball field in his cornfield. Ultimately, it's about making peace, finding forgiveness, and loving baseball.
Universal Pictures, Field of Dreams (1989)
A Journey To The Field
There were a lot of doubts and a tough start, but eventually, Field of Dreams was made into a movie. A very good film on a farm in Dyersville, Iowa, where they worked hard to make the baseball field look real.
Reception And Legacy
When Field of Dreams was released, it got mixed reviews but soon gained many fans. It was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture. Roger Ebert called it a modern fairy tale, but some reviews from Variety and Rolling Stone were not as kind.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho can be said to be one of the best thrillers ever. The movie made a big mark on the horror genre, became a major film, and earned four Oscar nominations.
The Shower Scene
The shower scene in Psycho is one of the most watched scenes ever. Janet Leigh's scary performance and Hitchcock's clever direction made it huge in the genre. It is truly surprising that this important scene didn't win an Oscar.
Pioneering Modern Horror
Psycho is known as one of the first movies to really change horror films. It introduced new ideas about mental illness and murder, portraying them in a way that was different from anything before. This new way of showing scary and dark topics set a new standard for horror movies.
As Usual, The Academy Missed Opportunity
It was one of the first movies to show a toilet flushing, showing Hitchcock's courage to try new things. It took many years before horror movies started getting the awards they deserved, like when The Silence of the Lambs won Best Picture.
King Kong (1933)
Released in 1933, King Kong amazed people everywhere. This movie mixed action, a nice love story, and a giant gorilla that no one had seen before. It was a huge hit, earning lots of money and drawing huge crowds to theaters.
A Movie That Changed How Films Were
The filmmakers used a unique method called stop-motion to make Kong move. This took hours and hours of hard work. They also mixed the sounds of lions and tigers at different frequencies to create Kong's loud roar.
King Kong (1933), RKO Radio Pictures
The Oscar Were Very Young
With all this work, why didn't King Kong win an Oscar? One reason is that the Oscars were very new in 1933, only four years old. There were no awards for things like special effects or sound. The movie didn't fit into the few award categories that existed back then.
A Pioneer
In 2006, the remake of King Kong won three Oscars, showing that the original movie's magic still inspires people. Even though the 1933 King Kong never won an Oscar, it was a first of its kind.
RKO Pictures, King Kong (1933)
Seven Samurai (1954)
This is an important film in movie history. Directed by Akira Kurosawa, it changed how movies are made and told. It also inspired films like The Magnificent Seven and Star Wars. Even with its impact and praise, it did not win the Best Foreign-Language Film award that year.
Toho Studios., Wikimedia Commons
Challenges In Making Seven Samurai
Making Seven Samurai took over a year and cost almost half a million dollars, making it the most expensive film in Japan at that time. The team used new filming techniques, like special lenses and multiple cameras. It was huge in Japan and was a top movie in 1954.
Seven Samurai (1954), Toho Company
Success And Missed Awards
Seven Samurai impressed people in Japan and worldwide. It was one of the top films in Japan in 1954 and is still listed among the best foreign films ever. Despite its big influence on movies, it didn't win any Oscars, which just proves that awards don't really reveal a film's impact.
How Seven Samurai Remains Influential
It has created a new way of telling stories, and its action scenes keep inspiring filmmakers and viewers. The film is named one of the best. In Empire magazine, it got The 100 Best Films of World Cinema and has stayed popular on home videos.
It's A Wonderful Life
A touching movie by Frank Capra with James Stewart as George Bailey. George gives up his own dreams to help his town, Bedford Falls. When he feels lost and wants to end his life, his guardian angel Clarence shows him what the town would be like if he were never born.
RKO, It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Oscar Nominee
The movie was nominated for five Oscars in 1947, including Best Picture, but didn't win. Some viewers liked it, but critics felt it was unrealistic, with characters and settings that seemed staged rather than real. The movie was nominated for five Oscars in 1947, including Best Picture, but didn't win any.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946), RKO Radio Pictures
From Box Office Flop To Holiday Favorite
At first, It didn't do well at the box office and had a lot of financial struggles. But over time, as it became more widely available, the film grew to be loved by many and is now one of the best holiday classics, known for its warm message.
Legacy Of A Timeless Classic
Today, It's a Wonderful Life is considered one of the best movies ever made. Even though it didn't win an Oscar, its real reward is the joy and inspiration it brings to people all over the world.
Blade Runner
A sci-fi movie set in a future, rainy Los Angeles. It's about Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), whose job is to find and stop fake humans called replicants made by the Tyrell Corporation. The movie did not get much love at first, but people came around later.
Different Versions Of Blade Runner
Known for having many versions, each showing a different part of the story. The first one came out in 1982 and got mixed reviews. New versions were made in 1992 and 2007, each adding something new to the plotline.
Blade Runner (1982), Warner Bros.
A Great Cast
Blade Runner has a great cast, including Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty, Sean Young as Rachael, and Edward James Olmos as Gaff. Hauer's role as Batty is especially memorable. The film also had talented actors like Daryl Hannah and Brion James, adding to the variety and depth of the characters.
Impact Of Blade Runner
Even though it did not win big awards when it first came out, it has greatly changed sci-fi. The idea of a future with high-tech but broken-down cities is a big example of the cyberpunk style. In 1993, it was added to the National Film Registry as an important film.
Blade Runner (1982), Warner Bros.
12 Angry Men
Directed by Sidney Lumet, this is known as one of the best films ever. Made in 1957 and based on a 1954 TV show, it shows how a jury debates a case and deals with the challenges of prejudice towards finding justice.
Critics Loved It, But It Didn't Do Well At The Box Office
12 Angry Men didn't make a lot of money when it came out in the U.S. They praised the strong drama and the acting by Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb. The film also won awards like the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and others from the Edgar Awards.
Enduring Impact And Recognition
Roger Ebert listed it in his "Great Movies," and people praise it for its strong writing and courtroom scenes even today. It was also chosen for the National Film Registry because of its important role in film history.
A Missed Oscar Win
At the 1958 Oscars, 12 Angry Men didn't win any awards, losing to The Bridge on the River Kwai in all the categories it was nominated for. Despite that, 12 Angry Men remains a very good courtroom film.
United Artists, 12 Angry Men (1957)
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption didn't do well when it was first released. It did poorly at the box office when compared to big hits like Forrest Gump. However, it became popular over time through awards, rentals, and being aired on TV.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Castle Rock Entertainment
A Story Of Redemption And Triumph
The movie was shot in Shawshank prison, and it is about Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who was wrongly sent to jail. With the help of his friend Red (Morgan Freeman) and hope, he eventually escapes. The film shows how hope and never giving up can lead to freedom.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Castle Rock
From Failure To Favorite
When it first came out in 1994, The Shawshank Redemption didn't do well in theaters, making just $16 million. But it became popular through video rentals and TV and eventually earned $73.3 million. As time went on, it was added to the National Film Registry for its importance in culture.
The Shawshank Redemption, Warner Bros.
Making A Great Movie
Director Frank Darabont got the rights to Stephen King's story in 1987 and wrote the script inspired by old movies and prison stories. Although people doubted if prison films would do well, Darabont's hard work and ideas made this film a success.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Castle Rock
Amélie
Winning hearts with the way it viewed Paris, this film, released in 2001, was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and features Audrey Tautou as Amélie, a quiet waitress who just wants to be happy. While it didn't win any Oscars, it received lots of love from Europe.
Amélie (2001) Official Trailer 1 by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Awards And Recognition
Amélie has won many awards, including Best Film at the European Film Awards and four César Awards, such as Best Film and Best Director. It was also nominated for five Oscars, including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay, though it didn't win any.
Amélie Best Scenes by Hallmark Movies
A Heartwarming Plot
The film is about Amélie, who finds a box of childhood treasures and decides to make the lives of people around her better. She helps others in small, thoughtful ways, like guiding a blind man and helping her friends find love, all while hoping to find her own happiness and connection.
Amélie (2001) Official Trailer 1 by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Ongoing Appeal And Stage Adaptation
The music by Yann Tiersen and its colorful view of Paris still draw people in. Amélie inspired a musical that started in 2015, proving its lasting influence. The stage show, with new songs and lyrics, brings the movie's favorite characters and story to life.
Amélie (2001) Official Trailer 1 by Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange shows a shocking view of the future. The movie makes us think about what it means to be human and whether we truly have free choice. Stanley Kubrick made a bold choice by turning Anthony Burgess's gore book into a film.
Warner Bros., A Clockwork Orange (1971)
A Cinematic Experience Ahead Of Its Time
Kubrick used new camera tricks, bold visual style, and images that aren't in film history. The use of color, lighting, and odd sets created a world that was both strange and exciting. For its time, the movie's look was different.
Evening Standard, Getty Images
A Performance That Changed Villains
Malcolm McDowell played Alex DeLarge in a way that was both creepy and interesting. His acting was brilliant, to say the least, and he made the character shine. His performance shows that even villains could go beyond a one-dimensional arc.
Warner Bros., A Clockwork Orange (1971)
A Big Hit Despite Controversy
With a budget of just $1.3 million, it earned $114 million globally! It was a huge hit worldwide and became the top movie in France. Even though it didn't win an Oscar, it was one of the earliest X-rated movies to be nominated.
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