RANKED: The 10 worst movies to win the best picture Oscar — and what should have won

Business Insider ^ | February 2, 2017 | Jason Guerrasio

[EveningStar]

Winning the best picture Oscar doesn't just signal that a movie is regarded by Hollywood as the top achievement in the medium for the year; it can help cement a movie's status, with past winners that have gone on to become classics like "The Godfather," "Lawrence of Arabia," and "On the Waterfront."

But the Academy voters don't always get it right. Tucked away in the 88 years of Oscar ceremonies are best picture winners that quickly vanished from the zeitgeist, never to be heard from again. That's often because they weren't as good as originally thought.

It's probably too early to say which of the nine best picture nominees in 2017 -- including critical favorites "La La Land," "Moonlight," and "Manchester by the Sea" -- will live on in our memories, but here's hoping the Academy doesn't screw this one up when the Oscars air February 26.

Here we look back on the 10 most disappointing best picture winners and choose the nominees that should have won:

[EveningStar]

ping

[PGR88]

1997 - ANYTHING but “The English Patient.” Most pretentious and annoying movie ever made.

[mowowie]

Yet another site that won’t let me view due to ad blocker, that’s three today including LA Times and Chicago Tribune.
I could just disable the ad blocker but NOPE.....Sorry BI

[Williams]

Before I read it, the disgusting American Beauty (sp) better be number one on this list.

[Ciaphas Cain]

What won 1977: Annie Hall

What should have won 1977: Star Wars

Either Star Wars or Smokey and the Bandit (which wasn't nominated but that's beside the point.)

[JBW1949]

My “worst movie ever made”....

Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?

Absolutely worst EVER!!!!!!

[Mr. Douglas]

What won: Anny hall

What should have won: Star Wars

And I strongly disagree regarding Crash vs Brokeback mountan. Crash is AMAZING!

[Dilbert San Diego]

Ah geez not this blank again. Referring to how this article pushes Broke back Mountain. I never saw it so can’t say, but just because it was about homosexual cowboys is that really reason enough to give it an Oscar???? An Oscar as a reward for breaking new ground for plowing uncharted territory???

[Williams]

Half the list is good half is PC crap. Failure to include the despicable American Beauty is unforgivable. Winner should have been The Sixth Sense or any other movie.

[Cowboy Bob]

I agree with about half of the list. Several of the most recent films (and the ones that “should have won”) are forgettable films.

[Mr. Douglas]

Oops. I see you beat me to it.

I remember the rewards that year. They showed the stupid “lobster in the kitchen” scene and then showed an exhilarating battle scene from Star Wars, and then announced the winner.

All I could think was, “seriously?!”

[Trillian]

I went through it and haven’t watched most of them.
To show you what kind of article this is.. they said brokeback mountain should have won.

[Mr. Douglas]

Ah geez not this blank again. Referring to how this article pushes Broke back Mountain. I never saw it so can’t say, but just because it was about homosexual cowboys is that really reason enough to give it an Oscar???? An Oscar as a reward for breaking new ground for plowing uncharted territory???

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This is especially true considering what DID win that year. I own Crash and it is one of the most powerful movies in my collection. If it were a wine it would have the most complex flavor of anything in my cellar. You’d think about that glass of wine for the rest of the week.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I can imagine this years Oscars “And the winner of the Oscar along with their bash Trump speech is....”

[Fishtalk]

OMG “Brokeback Mountain”, such an awful movie.

And so not believable.

[murron]

I agree. I don’t remember what other movies were up that year, but surely one of them was better than this movie.

[InterceptPoint]

Only slightly off topic: Angela Lansbury should have won Best Supporting Acress for her most memorable role in The Machurian Candidate in 1963. Patty Duke won for the Miracle Worker. What a waste.

Great movie if you can find it.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Oscars have never been kind to sci-fi and fantasy. Many have been nominated but it wasn’t until 2003’s The Return of the King that the ceiling was finally broken through.

[PGR88]

You are right - “American Beauty” was absolutely disgusting. It was a seminar on homosexual anger, vindictiveness, and hate for commonly-accepted culture, combined with Hollywood’s destructive cultural Marxism.