The Academy Awards is that platform where films of every language get much-needed recognition. Hollywood has a long history in terms of cult classics and critically acclaimed films, including Titanic and Avatar. The majority of them have proved themselves deserving enough to get an Oscar.
There are directors, such as Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, whose works are specifically known for different reasons. A bunch of those masterminds created something unique and amazing in their career but they were never considered worthy of an accolade at the Academy Awards. While the reasons remain unknown, here are 7 movies that could not make it to the list of winners at the prestigious award ceremony.
1. The Shawshank Redemption
Stephen King and his novels are popular among the public along with their respective adaptations. The 1994 prison drama failed to mint money at the time of release and the blame was given to films like Pulp Fiction that became the first preference for people.
But in the next few years, The Shawshank Redemption started to attain a cult status and although it tanked, the film was nominated for seven awards in 1995, including for Best Picture. Furthermore, the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score is sufficient to prove that it was way better than other films of that period. The film is available for streaming on HBO Max.
2. Taxi Driver
Martin Scorsese is known by everyone for covering the period of the 70s and 80s. He did the same with the 1976 thriller, Taxi Driver. Robert De Niro, who played the lead character, was also included among the nominations for Best Actor at the Academy Awards the following year but Peter Finch took away the Oscar.
The basic premise was set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War in New York City where the main character, Travis Brickle, tries to adjust himself in his job as a taxi driver and additionally deals with other issues, including loneliness. The movie can be streamed on HBO Max.
3. Blade Runner
The science fiction film was among those projects that initially failed to impress the critics. The response improved over the years, with most of them calling Blade Runner one of the best works created so far in the mentioned genre. Although it was nominated in two categories at the 1983 Oscars, the movie did not win any of them.
A sequel, Blade Runner 2049, released in 2017, did not turn out to be profitable despite being praised by moviegoers. Both the films had Harrison Ford among the lead cast members. The movie is available for streaming on Apple TV.
4. Psycho
Considered to be one of the greatest films, the 1960 horror movie also became an inspiration for slashers. Psycho did not win an Oscar but was nominated in four categories, including Best Director for Alfred Hitchcock.
It was in the headlines at the time of release due to certain scenes that were not very common. This included the sequences showing blood and a shower scene featuring the lead actress, Marion Leigh. Psycho was followed by a few sequels that could not recreate the essence of the original. The film can be streamed free on MUBI and Apple TV.
5. 12 Angry Men
Cinema lovers have a very special attraction towards legal dramas since they have the elements to keep the audiences engaged on the screen until the end. 12 Angry Men was an adaptation of a play and the storyline left an impact on famous personalities working at the courts.
It was so popular that there were more adaptations over the next few decades and although the movie tanked at the box office, it received a positive response when it had its premiere on television. Among the accolades, it had three nominations at the 30th Academy Awards but did not emerge as the winner. 12 Angry Men can be streamed on platforms like Tubi and Apple TV.
6. Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai was one of the longest films ever made but it had a huge fanbase among Japanese people. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%, the storyline was set in a village that is targeted by a group of bandits and the farmers decide to bring a samurai to save themselves.
The film had the opportunity to get an Oscar and was nominated for two awards in Art Direction and Costume Design. However, it ended up losing both the awards. The film is available on Apple TV and MUBI for free.
7. Field of Dreams
The sports fantasy drama released in 1989 had Kevin Costner playing the lead role and it was also successful at the box office. A television remake reportedly entered development three years ago but was eventually canceled. Furthermore, the positive response did not help Field of Dreams to get an award at the 1990 Academy Awards, where it was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The main storyline focuses on a corn farm owner, Ray Kinsella, who changes the farm into a baseball field and gets in touch with the ghosts of three baseball stars. Field of Dreams is available for streaming on Apple TV.
