20 Outstanding Best Picture Nominees That Often Fly Under the Radar

Katrina Sirotta

Contributor

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The Best Picture Oscar stands as one of Hollywood's most prestigious awards. While many 21st-century winners have left a lasting mark on cinema, not all films have shared this fate. Some films, celebrated in their era, have since faded from the limelight.

In our quest to uncover Best Picture nominees that have been overlooked in pop culture, we examined every nominated film. Our aim was to find those that didn't clinch the award and had fewer than 50,000 votes on IMDb. We curated the top 20 based on user ratings, with ties resolved by vote count, using data from March 2024. IMDb It's expected that this list includes many classics from early cinema, as such films typically garner fewer votes in online databases. Notably, numerous acclaimed titles from the '70s also made the cut.

Interestingly, not a single film from the '80s made it to the top 20 or even the top 30. Despite the decade's pop culture icons like 'Back to the Future' and 'The Breakfast Club,' '80s cinema marked a shift towards blockbuster appeal, which might explain their enduring popularity.

Though these films might not dominate today's discussions, their contributions to cinema are undeniable. Recognized with Best Picture nominations, these movies deserve your attention. Discover these gems, and who knows, you might find a new favorite.

Bob Fosse, a renowned director and choreographer, brought his story to life in 'All That Jazz.' Starring Roy Scheider and Jessica Lange, this musical drama pushed the boundaries of the genre. Despite receiving four Oscar wins out of nine nominations, initial reactions were polarized.

All That Jazz (1979)
Bettmann // Getty Images

#20. All That Jazz (1979)

  • Director: Bob Fosse
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8
  • Metascore: 72
  • Runtime: 123 minutes

Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

The Postman (1994)
By Directors Michael Radford and Massimo Troisi

#19. The Postman (1994)

  • 'The Postman' beautifully captures the bond between a humble postman in a quaint Italian village and the exile poet Pablo Neruda. While lead actor Massimo Troisi postponed critical heart surgery until filming concluded, he tragically passed away the day after. The film won an Oscar for its score yet remains somewhat overshadowed by a later movie of the same name.
  • IMDb user rating: 7.8
  • Metascore: 81
  • Runtime: 108 minutes

John Kobal Foundation // Getty Images

The Thin Man (1934)
Featuring William Powell and Myrna Loy, 'The Thin Man' is a witty comedy about a retired detective and his wife solving a murder for fun. While it spawned five sequels, it lost the Oscar race to 'It Happened One Night,' which swept the awards ceremony in 1935.

#18. The Thin Man (1934)

  • Director: W.S. Van Dyke
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: 86
  • Runtime: 91 minutes

Victor Fleming’s 'Captains Courageous' is a cinematic adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s novel. The narrative follows a privileged boy, Harvey, who ends up working on a fishing boat after being rescued at sea. While it didn’t win Best Picture, Spencer Tracy won Best Actor for his role as the Portuguese fisherman, Manuel.

Captains Courageous (1937)
Bettmann // Getty Images

#17. Captains Courageous (1937)

  • Director: Victor Fleming
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: 81
  • Runtime: 117 minutes

FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' chronicles the touching story of a beloved teacher's deep connections with his students over numerous decades. Although pitted against the monumental 'Gone with the Wind' at the 12th Academy Awards, Robert Donat secured the Best Actor win against Clark Gable.

#16. Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

  • Directors: Sam Wood, Sidney Franklin
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 114 minutes

Warner Bros./Courtesy of Getty Images

Auntie Mame (1958)
Mame Dennis, the titular character in 'Auntie Mame,' is a vivacious woman who cares for her orphaned nephew. Despite being the second-highest-grossing film of 1958 and earning six Oscar nominations, it didn't win any. Rosalind Russell's portrayal still resonates with audiences.

#15. Auntie Mame (1958)

  • Director: Morton DaCosta
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 143 minutes

Released during Hollywood’s censorship era, 'The Little Foxes' was a bold take on capitalism. Featuring Bette Davis as the relentless Regina Giddens, the film didn’t secure any of its nine Oscar nominations but remains impactful for its daring themes.

The Little Foxes (1941)
RKO Radio Pictures // Getty Images

#14. The Little Foxes (1941)

  • Director: William Wyler
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 116 minutes

Starring Joan Crawford, 'Mildred Pierce' is a melodrama about a dedicated mother and her ungrateful daughter. It revived Crawford’s career, earning her an Oscar and later inspired a 2011 miniseries. Although it lost Best Picture to 'The Lost Weekend,' its legacy endures.

Mildred Pierce (1945)
Bettmann // Getty Images

#13. Mildred Pierce (1945)

  • Director: Michael Curtiz
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: 88
  • Runtime: 111 minutes

AVCO Embassy/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

The Lion in Winter (1968)
'The Lion in Winter' is a gripping historical drama centered on King Henry II's choice of successor. Though it missed out on Best Picture, the film won three Oscars, including Katharine Hepburn’s third Best Actress win, cementing her legacy with an unmatched record.

#12. The Lion in Winter (1968)

  • Director: Anthony Harvey
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 134 minutes

'The Emigrants' tells the epic tale of a Swedish family’s challenging voyage to America for a better life. Although it garnered four Oscar nominations, it went up against 'The Godfather,' which took home Best Picture.

The Emigrants (1971)
Warner Brothers // Getty Images

#11. The Emigrants (1971)

  • Director: Jan Troell
  • IMDb user rating: 8
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 151 minutes

John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
Henry Fonda leads in 'The Ox-Bow Incident,' a tense Western about vigilante justice. Uniquely nominated for Best Picture alone, it ultimately lost to 'Casablanca.'

#10. The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)

  • Director: William A. Wellman
  • IMDb user rating: 8
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 75 minutes

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Discover the top-rated slot machines to play Ingmar Bergman, a titan of filmmaking with over 60 films, presents 'Cries & Whispers,' hailed for its visual beauty. Its seemingly simple story of a dying woman and her sisters is a poignant masterpiece that lost the Best Picture Oscar to 'The Sting.'

Cries & Whispers (1972)
Bettmann // Getty Images

#9. Cries & Whispers (1972)

  • Director: Ingmar Bergman
  • IMDb user rating: 8
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 91 minutes

PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images

Secrets & Lies (1996)
'Secrets & Lies' intricately weaves a narrative of a Black woman discovering her white biological mother post her adoptive parents' death. Despite fierce Oscar competition including 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Fargo,' it received five nominations yet lost Best Picture to 'The English Patient.'

#8. Secrets & Lies (1996)

  • Director: Mike Leigh
  • IMDb user rating: 8
  • Metascore: 92
  • Runtime: 136 minutes

'Fiddler on the Roof,' adapted from the beloved stage musical, depicts a Jewish farmer’s trials in finding husbands for his daughters amid rising antisemitism in their Russian village. Receiving eight Oscar nominations in 1972, it won three, but 'The French Connection' took home Best Picture. Roger Ebert gave it 4/4 stars 'The Crowd,' a silent film, explores everyday life for a couple amidst the bustling city. Noted for its experimental realism, it was among the nominees at the inaugural Academy Awards, securing a nod for the short-lived Unique and Artistic Picture category.

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
United Artists // Getty Images

#7. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

  • Director: Norman Jewison
  • IMDb user rating: 8
  • Metascore: 67
  • Runtime: 181 minutes

Films that aren’t box office hits are often disregarded, but exceptions exist. 'The Heiress,' about a wealthy young woman defying her oppressive father for love, didn’t fare well financially yet received eight Oscar nominations, winning four despite losing Best Picture to 'All the King’s Men.'

The Crowd (1928)
'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' chronicles the touching story of a beloved teacher's deep connections with his students over numerous decades. Although pitted against the monumental 'Gone with the Wind' at the 12th Academy Awards, Robert Donat secured the Best Actor win against Clark Gable.

#6. The Crowd (1928)

  • Director: King Vidor
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 98 minutes

'The Grand Illusion,' a trailblazer in the prison break genre, is renowned as one of cinema’s greatest works. Centered on two French soldiers plotting an escape during WWI, its acclaim endures.

The Heiress (1949)
'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' chronicles the touching story of a beloved teacher's deep connections with his students over numerous decades. Although pitted against the monumental 'Gone with the Wind' at the 12th Academy Awards, Robert Donat secured the Best Actor win against Clark Gable.

#5. The Heiress (1949)

  • Director: William Wyler
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 115 minutes

Top 20 Best Picture Nominees That Deserve More Recognition

The Grand Illusion (1937)
Featuring William Powell and Myrna Loy, 'The Thin Man' is a witty comedy about a retired detective and his wife solving a murder for fun. While it spawned five sequels, it lost the Oscar race to 'It Happened One Night,' which swept the awards ceremony in 1935.

#4. The Grand Illusion (1937)

  • Director: Jean Renoir
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 113 minutes

Explore the top 20 Oscar-nominated films for Best Picture that should be celebrated more. Dive into a treasure trove of cinema that's often overlooked.

The 20 Most Noteworthy Best Picture Nominees That Deserve More Praise

The Red Shoes (1948)
The Best Picture Oscar is among the most prestigious awards in the film industry, often shaping the legacy of movies in profound ways. However, not every nominee has enjoyed enduring acclaim. Some were celebrated at their time of release but faded from collective memory.

#3. The Red Shoes (1948)

We've sifted through all the films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and identified those that have flown under the radar. We focused on titles that didn't win the award and have less than 50,000 votes on IMDb. These top 20 films were selected based on their IMDb user ratings, with data collected in March 2024. In cases of ties, the number of IMDb votes was the deciding factor.
– IMDb user rating: 8.1
– Metascore: data not available
– Runtime: 135 minutes

It's not entirely surprising that many early cinematic works appear on this list, as they tend to garner fewer votes on digital platforms. Interestingly, a significant number are from the 1970s, an era rich in artistic experimentation. Even more intriguing is the complete absence of 1980s films in the top 20, or even the top 30. Despite producing genre-defining classics like 'Back to the Future' and 'The Breakfast Club,' the decade is marked by a shift toward blockbuster movies that captivated broad audiences, leaving a lasting impression. While the films listed here may not dominate discussions like some others, their nominations for Best Picture underscore their importance in cinematic history. They're hidden gems worth discovering—you may find a new film to love.

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#2. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

  • Director: Mervyn LeRoy
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2
  • Metascore: data not available
  • Runtime: 92 minutes

Bob Fosse, known for his directorial and choreographic mastery, presented his life story through the lens of 'All That Jazz.' This musical drama, featuring Roy Scheider and Jessica Lange, is celebrated for redefining the musical film genre. Despite earning nine Oscar nominations and winning four, its initial release polarized audiences.

Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images sued Warner Bros. for $1 million Directors: Michael Radford, Massimo Troisi

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Find and enjoy a wide array of no deposit bonus casinos 'The Postman' depicts the bond between a humble Italian village postman and exiled poet Pablo Neruda. Tragically, its star Massimo Troisi, suffering from illness, delayed heart surgery to finish filming, passing away just after production ended. Although it received an Oscar for its score and favorable reviews later, it was somewhat eclipsed by the 1997 film of the same name.

Z (1969)
'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' chronicles the touching story of a beloved teacher's deep connections with his students over numerous decades. Although pitted against the monumental 'Gone with the Wind' at the 12th Academy Awards, Robert Donat secured the Best Actor win against Clark Gable.

#1. Z (1969)

  • Director: Costa-Gavras
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2
  • Metascore: 86
  • Runtime: 127 minutes

John Kobal Foundation // Getty Images