The prestigious Oscar award has evolved its meaning throughout the years. From recognizing the artistry of actors, directors, and crew members, it has continued to change the face of cinema by becoming the basis of what’s worthy to watch and what’s not.
In fact, there are many binge-watch-worthy films out there that have never won a single award, and yet fans love them so much that they watch these movies every chance they get. Indeed, you’ll be shocked to know that these popular crowd-favorite movies have never taken home a single Oscar!
Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese’s gritty neo-noir psychological thriller movie, starring Robert De Niro as the unstable New York cabbie, was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress for Jodie Foster, and Best Original Score. Unfortunately, it took home nothing.
Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott’s famed science fiction franchise starring Harrison Ford is a cult-classic favorite of many fans. It received two Academy Award nods, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects, though luck was elusive that day.
Despite barely making a profit at the box office, the movie has an impressive 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its sequel, Blade 2049 starring Ryan Gosling, managed to make up for its loss of awards.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, the Frank Darabont-helmed prison drama film based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption earned a staggering seven Oscar nominations, which is considered a feat for a King movie adaptation, though it did not nab a win in any category. Some of its accolades include Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Cinematography.
Memento (2000)
One of Christopher Nolan’s breakthrough projects in Hollywood is this neo-noir mystery psychological thriller which ended up becoming a massive box office hit.
The nature of the movie was its best-selling point, but it failed to market itself to the Oscars after it only ended up with Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing nominations and zero wins.
Lady Bird (2017)
Before Barbie, there was Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird starring Saoirse Ronan. The beloved coming-of-age drama was a critical success, having received a standing ovation during its Toronto International Film Festival screening and an almost perfect rating of 99% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, out of its five Oscar nominations, it won zero.
The Irishman (2019)
Another masterpiece from Martin Scorsese, Netflix’s The Irishman featuring an ensemble cast of veteran actors Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino, was universally acclaimed for its storyline, casting, and overall production. Fans and critics expressed admiration for the epic gangster movie, and it even secured ten Academy Award nominations. Shockingly, the film failed to snag a win.
Which of these movies have you watched and enjoyed? Do you think they deserved an Oscar win? All movies mentioned are available to stream via Netflix and Prime Video.
