12 Times the Oscars Got It Wrong: The Biggest Upsets in Academy History
The biggest night in the film calendar is nearly upon us once again. It's time for Hollywood's elite to don their finest attire, glide up the red carpet, and prepare emotional acceptance speeches for a global audience of millions. Yes, Oscar night is approaching, with awards set to be presented at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15. This year promises fierce competition, with millions tuning in—even in the middle of the night for UK viewers—to see top honours go to contenders like One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme.
However, over the years, there have been numerous occasions when Academy voters are widely believed to have gotten it 'wrong.' From surprising best picture choices to the snubbing of legendary performances, or even ignoring deserving films altogether, these decisions have sparked debate and disappointment. Let's delve into 12 of the most controversial Oscar moments.
Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love vs. Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (1999)
The 1999 Oscars are notorious for controversy. Not only did Roberto Benigni's best actor win for Life Is Beautiful raise eyebrows over Tom Hanks or Sir Ian McKellen, but the best actress category also caused a stir. Gwyneth Paltrow took the trophy for Shakespeare In Love, a solid performance, but many argued it paled in comparison to Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I or Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station. Paltrow later reflected on the win's dramatic impact, noting how it shifted public perception from curiosity to criticism.
Shakespeare In Love vs. Saving Private Ryan (1999)
Adding to the 1999 furor, Steven Spielberg's war epic Saving Private Ryan, widely expected to win best picture, lost to Shakespeare In Love. While the latter is a decent film, many attribute its victory to Miramax's aggressive marketing campaign under Harvey Weinstein, rather than artistic merit. Saving Private Ryan did win five Oscars, including best director, but its best picture loss remains one of the ceremony's biggest upsets.
Crash vs. Brokeback Mountain (2006)
Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain was the favourite to sweep the 2006 Oscars, with predictions for best film and director. Lee won best director, but in a shocking twist, the best picture award went to the low-budget ensemble drama Crash. Presenter Jack Nicholson mouthed 'woah' upon announcing the winner, and decades later, many Academy members and critics label it one of the 'worst' decisions in Oscars history.
Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once vs. Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2023)
In the 2023 supporting actress category, Jamie Lee Curtis won for Everything Everywhere All At Once, but many believed Angela Bassett deserved the statuette for Wakanda Forever. Bassett expressed visible disappointment and later called it a 'supreme disappointment.' She received an honorary Oscar the following year, with Regina King praising her transcendent talent.
The Color Purple (1986)
Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's novel entered the 1986 Oscars with 11 nominations, including best film and director, but left empty-handed. Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey lost acting awards, and the film was beaten by Out Of Africa. This joins other films like The Turning Point (1977) and Gangs Of New York (2002) in scoring zero wins despite multiple nominations.
Al Pacino in Scent Of A Woman vs. Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1993)
Denzel Washington was the front-runner for best actor in 1993 for Malcolm X, but lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman. Spike Lee and others argued Washington deserved the win, suggesting Pacino's award recognized his body of work after seven previous nominations rather than a superior performance.
Green Book vs. Roma (2019)
In 2019, Alfonso Cuaron's Roma was tipped to be the first non-English language best picture winner, but lost to Peter Farrelly's Green Book. This sparked debate over whether the Academy favours feel-good, accessible films over critically acclaimed ones. Roma did win best foreign film, cinematography, and director, but its best picture loss was a shock.
Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday vs. Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard (1951)
Gloria Swanson was expected to win best actress for Sunset Boulevard in 1951, but Judy Holliday took the award for Born Yesterday. This major upset also saw Bette Davis miss out for All About Eve, which won best film and director but not acting prizes.
Gandhi vs. E.T. (1983)
Richard Attenborough's Gandhi won six Oscars in 1983, including best film, but debate persists over whether it deserved to beat Steven Spielberg's E.T. Attenborough himself questioned if his film was better, praising Spielberg's cinematic genius in a 2008 interview.
Grace Kelly in The Country Girl vs. Judy Garland in A Star Is Born (1955)
Judy Garland was heavily favoured to win best actress for A Star Is Born in 1955, but Grace Kelly won for The Country Girl. Garland watched from a hospital bed, with a camera crew on standby for her expected reaction, making the loss particularly awkward.
Anthony Hopkins in The Father vs. Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2021)
The 2021 Oscars, held during the pandemic, saw Chadwick Boseman posthumously expected to win best actor for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. In a surprise, Anthony Hopkins won for The Father, becoming the oldest best actor winner at 83. Hopkins paid tribute to Boseman in his speech, acknowledging the unexpected outcome.
Citizen Kane vs. How Green Was My Valley (1942)
Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, often called the greatest film ever, lost best picture to How Green Was My Valley in 1942. This is attributed to a smear campaign by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who banned mentions of the film and led to its box office failure. Citizen Kane only won best original screenplay, cementing its loss as a historic Oscar blunder.
