Quantcast

What Was the Biggest Oscar Upset of All Time?

SodaHead Film 2012/02/23 21:09:04
You!
Add Photos & Videos
With "The Artist" monopolizing Oscar predictions this year, there's bound to be at least one upset. But hey, that's how it goes. The Academy Awards are usually pretty accurate, but with 83 years under its belt, it's bound to kick up dust now and again. That's not to say controversial wins are necessarily wrong choices, either. Sometimes they simply have to pick between two great films and risk the offense.

Take the 2002 battle for Best Picture and Best Director, for example: Roman Polanksi's "The Pianist" and Rob Marshall's "Chicago" were both excellent films by any standards. However, perhaps due to his past, Polanski's win for Best Director was considered an upset. Other upsets take some time to recognize. When "Citizen Kane" lost Best Picture in 1941 it wasn't a huge deal, but now that it's considered the greatest film of all time, the loss seems like an obscenity.

We couldn't possibly include all of the upsets that have occurred over the years, especially since so much of this is completely relative -- in fact you might disagree with some of the options -- but we put together a list of some well-known upsets and provided you with one of those coveted "Other" options. Tell us which Oscar win upset you the most!

ralph fiennes
Add a comment above

Top Opinion

  • Jalex 2012/02/23 22:26:05
    Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth") loses Best Actress (1999)
    Jalex
    +9
    'Citizen Kane' obviously the biggest upset, but I remember being personally peeved when Gwyneth Paltrow won Best Actress over Cate Blanchett. I don't know what those dolts were thinking. Same thing with 'The Two Towers' losing Best Picture to freaking 'Chicago.' What a joke that was (and remains).

Sort By
  • Most Raves
  • Least Raves
  • Oldest
  • Newest
Opinions

  • Rivende... deadshot 2012/02/26 08:00:51
    Rivendellknight
    Edward Norton should have at least three by now. 25 th hour, American history x, primal fear, the score, he even made the hulk watchable.
  • bmacklowe deadshot 2012/06/12 09:47:14
    bmacklowe
    Lemmon wasn't nominated for "Glengarry Glen Ross" and in an ensemble film like that, one does question which category he belonged in. Pacino should have won in the 1970s when he did his best work, although I thought he gave strong performances in "The Insider" (1999) and "Insomnia" (2002). Lemmon had already won an Oscar for "Save the Tiger" (1973). Like Pacino, Lemmon won basically on the "we have to give it to him sometime" sentiment. Oddly that didn't work for Peter O'Toole in 2007, but that's because he won an Honorary award the previous year. Truthfully that sentiment should not have worked for Lemmon, since he had won in support for "Mr. Roberts" (1955). Personally, I think Robert Downey, Jr's "Chaplin" would have been a better choice for the 1992 Best Actor award.
  • deadshot bmacklowe 2012/06/13 11:51:43
    deadshot
    Wow. Thanks for setting me straight, because I could've sworn Lemmon was nominated. Well, he should've been nominated.
  • bmacklowe deadshot 2012/06/14 00:30:06
    bmacklowe
    But you gotta admit he gave one of the most enthusiastic acceptance speeches ever! So much so that the following year Matt Damon and Ben Affleck thanked him "for showing us how to do an acceptance speech." He was perfect for the role he played in "Jerry Maguire." To be fair, no one can know how a career will turn out. Look at F. Murray Abraham, whose terrific performance in "Amadeus" won Best Actor of 1984. Of their nominees I agree Norton deserved it the most. You just never know.
  • Kenneth Huang 2012/02/24 20:06:50 (edited)
    "Brokeback Mountain" loses Best Picture (2005)
    Kenneth Huang
    +4
    The WTF comes not from Brokeback's loss, but that a complete piece of garbage managed to win Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay - I've seen middle school essays written better than that terrible script. And Matt Dillon got nominated for playing a major jerk - gee that must've been super hard for him.
  • bmacklowe Kenneth... 2012/06/13 23:32:28
    bmacklowe
    I think a lot of people are harder on "Crash" because it won over "Brokeback Mountain." In reality, "Crash" does feature some good acting and the film's message/theme is heartfelt. Matt Dillon's character was a "jerk" in the beginning but he goes through a transformation later in the film. Dillon was being recognized for his performance, as well as a long and largely successful career. Agree that "Crash" was not the best picture, but it certainly is not the worst to ever win that prize. I also wouldn't describe it as garbage, but that's just my opinion.
  • Kenneth... bmacklowe 2012/06/20 20:16:55
    Kenneth Huang
    I see, but I have to disagree. I don't care for Brokeback Mountain; I didn't even really like it. But Crash to me is just such a horrible horrible movie.
  • bmacklowe Kenneth... 2012/06/21 00:42:51
    bmacklowe
    What do you think should have won that year?
  • Kenneth... bmacklowe 2012/06/27 19:23:13
    Kenneth Huang
    Well, of the nominees for that year, I've seen all of them except Munich. Honestly, I didn't particularly like any of the four (Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck) that I saw, but of those four I thought Good Night and Good Luck was the best (or should I say, the least bad). So I'd say Good Night and Good Luck for now, until and unless I see Munich and decide that it's better.
  • sharebear817 2012/02/24 19:04:34
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    sharebear817
    +8
    harry potter not making best picture, no nods for Ralph Fiennes or Alan Rickman who were amazing in the movies!
  • Temlakos~POTL~PWCM~JLA~☆ 2012/02/24 18:41:20
    "Citizen Kane" loses Best Picture (1941)
    Temlakos~POTL~PWCM~JLA~☆
    +3
    Citizen Kane is the best motion picture of all time. That this didn't make Best Picture in its year is a disgrace to the Academy.

    Three words:

    William.

    Randolph.

    Hearst.
  • moiraregis Temlako... 2012/02/24 23:04:48
    moiraregis
    +1
    as marion davies used to say, "Hearst come, Hearst served"--
  • bt sedlock Temlako... 2012/02/25 03:56:48
    bt sedlock
    +1
    It did win an Oscar for Cinematography for which Greg Toland was responsible for.
  • goblue1968 2012/02/24 18:35:15
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    goblue1968
    +4
    Joe Pesci not getting Best Supporting Actor for Goodfellas. He played the character so well that they repeated the characterization for Casino.
  • deadshot goblue1968 2012/02/24 19:16:05
    deadshot
    +1
    Um, you might want to fact-check that. Just a helpful suggestion.
  • goblue1968 deadshot 2012/02/26 13:13:10 (edited)
    goblue1968
    You're right, Pesci won in 1990. I got bad information from an unreliable source.
  • Mighty Mouth 2012/02/24 18:02:46 (edited)
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    Mighty Mouth
    +3
    Joe Pesci losing best supporting actor in Scorcesee's Goodfellas. Indeed Goodfella's losing the best picture oscar.
  • deadshot Mighty ... 2012/02/24 19:19:00
    deadshot
    +2
    Insofar as GOODFELLAS not winning, that's a good point, but you might really want to Google 1990 Oscar winners in regards to Best Supporting Actor winners. Because Pesci DID win.
  • MissNovemberTuesday 2012/02/24 18:01:44
    "Saving Private Ryan" loses Best Picture (1998)
    MissNovemberTuesday
    +2
    I had to pick only 1, so this was it, but I also think Brokeback Mountain should have won and James Cameron should have won. I wanted to also mention one that was not on the list. It's A Wonderful Life did not win that year. Granted, the film that won was also amazing. Shame it couldn't have been a tie.
  • Michael 2012/02/24 17:48:25
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    Michael
    +1
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time (is going to be) if "The Artist" wins! It is a terrible movie, full of other movies pasted together, with all foreign participants, including the director's wife being the "beautiful young up and comer" which she clearly is not (young, beautify or a great actress)! Over played by everyone, which is not the way the early movies were acted.
  • Colin L 2012/02/24 17:44:13
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    Colin L
    +2
    Goodfellas and/or Pulp Fiction losing Best Picture and/or Best Director. Take your pick.
  • MOMMA THOMAS 2012/02/24 17:30:40
    James Cameron ("Avatar") loses Best Director (2009)
    MOMMA THOMAS
    +1
    WIFE SWOOPED HIM!
  • Dickens 2012/02/24 17:20:49
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    Dickens
    +3
    ...the most significant Oscar loss is obviously "Citizen Kane" which probably ties "Schindler's List" as the best movie ever made...the most ridiculous win is gwyneth paltrow winning for "Shakespeare in Love"...
  • Occidental Jihadist 2012/02/24 17:14:37
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    Occidental Jihadist
    +1
    Branagh's "Henry V" not winning best picture, and him not winning either best actor or best director, in 1989.
  • Aqua Surf 2012/02/24 16:50:42
    "Brokeback Mountain" loses Best Picture (2005)
    Aqua Surf
    +3
    Anyone remember "Crash"? I don't think so. What a travesty.
  • Eleanor Barker 2012/02/24 16:44:50
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    Eleanor Barker
    +1
    The Social Network loses Best Picture.
  • gtorborg77 2012/02/24 16:14:42
    The biggest Oscar upset of all time was...
    gtorborg77
    +1
    Hard to pick because there were so many "minor" upsets over the years, including all of the above. Really, though, my pick for biggest upset is a little unusual, but I'd have to go with "Silence of the Lambs" over Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" in 1991. It was the first time an animated film was nominated, and it still stands as Disney's best animated movie (though two others have come close since, in my opinion). It was such an amazing breakthrough in both storytelling and animation technology. It's not that "Silence" was a bad movie - it was quite good, in fact - but Best Picture? Ummm... no.
  • gtorborg77 gtorborg77 2012/02/24 16:23:11
    gtorborg77
    +1
    Let me add these upset gems: "Braveheart" over "Apollo 13" in 1995. Again, both great pics but come on.... And one more from the 90s: "American Beauty" over "The Green Mile" in 1999. That one's even more of an upset. To me, anyway.
  • Lois Gr... gtorborg77 2012/02/24 16:37:06
    Lois Griffin
    +2
    Yea, Tom Hanks movies are always great. Thats what I am saying. The movies we love and pay to see, they don't win. This occasion is a non-event to me. It does not make me run to the theaters to see, let's say... The Artist. Uh, no thanks! This night will be another fashion show of glitz and hundreds of rich folks with more money than god, parading around like they are all that matters. So, why then are there like maybe 10 people in Hollywood that actually are in movies?
  • moiraregis Lois Gr... 2012/02/24 23:06:49 (edited)
    moiraregis
    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$... why else?
  • bt sedlock Lois Gr... 2012/02/25 06:16:47
    bt sedlock
    What's ironic in your statement is that those hundreds of rich folks with more money than God parading around like they are all that matters like you say, are part of the left-wing socialist elite in Ameica who claim to speak for the avareage American and yet drive around in expensive cars and are aloof from the average commoner. These Hollywood actors are more rich than the "rich Republicans" they're always bashing and that's the truth.
  • Rivende... bt sedlock 2012/02/26 17:03:03
    Rivendellknight
    Your an idiot! I am glad somebody speaks for the poor and disenfranchised. The rich republicans have fox news and tools like you to help their cause less taxes for them more from the middle.
  • bt sedlock Rivende... 2012/02/27 00:28:26
    bt sedlock
    If you so "pal!"
  • bt sedlock Rivende... 2012/02/27 00:30:26
    bt sedlock
    The one person who speaks out but does nothing for the poor and disenfranchised is President Barack Obama.
  • Rivende... bt sedlock 2012/02/27 03:56:55
    Rivendellknight
    Thanks for removing all doubt.
  • Lois Gr... Rivende... 2012/03/01 15:52:44
    Lois Griffin
    RON PAUL 2012!!!
  • bt sedlock Rivende... 2012/02/29 04:06:55
    bt sedlock
    I mean I you "say" so "pal."
  • Lois Gr... gtorborg77 2012/02/24 16:23:37
    Lois Griffin
    +1
    The Lion King! Fabulous!!
  • bt sedlock gtorborg77 2012/02/25 06:02:44
    bt sedlock
    The 1958 Warner Brothers short KNIGHTY NIGHT BUGS starring Bugs Bunny won an Acedemy for best animated cartoon and garnered Bugs Bunny his only Oscar. Shame though, he starred in much better cartoons than KNIGHTY NIGHT BUGS.
  • ogre 2012/02/24 15:50:27
    Ralph Fiennes ("Schindler's List") loses Best Supporting Actor (1993)
    ogre
    +4
    If you saw Fiennes portrayal of the intelligent, human, banal, petty murderous camp commandant you know he was robbed! He portrayed a common Nazi as an ordinary man who commits heinous atrocities.

See Votes by State

The map above displays the winning answer by region.

Entertainment

2013/05/22 08:10:50

Hot Questions on SodaHead
More Hot Questions

More Community More Originals