Every year, cinema aficionados wait with bated breath for the Academy Awards, a ceremony that upholds the custom of honoring the yr’s finest movies—in idea, not less than. In actuality, the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences doesn’t at all times get it proper in relation to nominations and awards alike. That’s very true on reflection, with earlier nominees and winners displaying their age over time. What was as soon as thought-about basic might now appear comparatively subpar, or on the very least, insignificant.

Why does a lackluster movie get nominated within the first place? One may surprise. There isn’t a single specific purpose, although, after all, even a nasty Oscar nominee or winner will probably supply one thing of worth. Generally, the film displays sure anachronisms that enrapture audiences on the time however poorly date themselves. Or, within the case of 1967’s “Physician Dolittle”—which tanked on the field workplace however nonetheless received a number of Oscars—the studio aggressively campaigned throughout awards season. Then there are simply the dangerous film years, through which the cream of the crop remains to be considerably inferior to the movies that got here earlier than and after. After all, these are Finest Image nominees, so the bar nonetheless sits excessive on the low finish, or does it?

To find out what constitutes which nominations had been the “worst” in Oscar historical past, Stacker gathered all the motion pictures nominated for Finest Image on the Oscars and ranked the bottom 25 within the group by IMDb person score, with #1 being the “worst.” Imagine it or not, a few of these movies truly did go on to win the Academy Award for Finest Image. (Twenty movies from the Nineteen Twenties to the Forties weren’t thought-about because of a scarcity of adequate information.)

Learn on to see which movies had been the “worst” to be nominated for the Finest Image Oscar.

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#25. The Divorcee (1930)

– Director: Robert Z. Leonard
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 84 minutes

Tailored from Ursula Parrott’s 1929 novel “Ex-Spouse,” this pre-Code drama examines the infidelities of a married couple and issues that ensue. Lead actress Norma Shearer challenged society’s double requirements by way of her portrayal of Jerry, a spouse who isn’t shy about flirtation or sexuality. She took dwelling the Finest Actress Oscar for her efficiency within the movie.

#24. The Nice Ziegfeld (1936)

– Director: Robert Z. Leonard
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 176 minutes

This musical drama tells the story of Broadway producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. (William Powell), whose private life is as wild as any stage play. Whereas overly lengthy and riddled with inaccuracies, it affords a daring sense of spectacle and encompasses a top-notch forged. It took dwelling three Academy Awards, together with Finest Image.

#23. The Gown (1953)

– Director: Henry Koster
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 135 minutes

This epic facilities on Roman tribune Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), who lays declare to Jesus’ mantle after the crucifixion. Laid low with guilt, he embarks on a path towards Christian redemption. “Overblown melodramatic biblical nonsense,” critic Kim Newman wrote of the movie for Empire Journal. It misplaced within the Finest Image class to “From Right here to Eternity.”

#22. The Unintended Vacationer (1988)

– Director: Lawrence Kasdan
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 121 minutes

Director Lawrence Kasdan reunited with “Physique Warmth” stars William Damage and Kathleen Turner for this romantic drama, tailored from Anne Tyler’s novel of the identical title. Within the wake of his son’s dying and a commensurate rupture in his marriage, a journey author (Damage) should resolve between saving his marriage or forging a brand new life. Geena Davis received the movie’s sole Academy Award for her supporting position as a canine coach named Muriel.

#21. Gigi (1958)

– Administrators: Vincente Minnelli, Charles Walters
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 115 minutes

This musical romantic comedy swept all 9 classes for which it was nominated on the thirty first Academy Awards, setting a file on the time. Set in Paris on the flip of the twentieth century, it chronicles the connection between a rich playboy (Louis Jourdan) and a younger courtesan in coaching (Leslie Caron). Writing for BuzzFeed, journalist Kate Aurthur referred to as it “the creepiest, most pedophiliac film ever to win Finest Image.”

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#20. Prizzi’s Honor (1985)

– Director: John Huston
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 130 minutes

The penultimate movie from director John Huston is a pitch-black comedy in regards to the romance between a hitman (Jack Nicholson) and hitwoman (Kathleen Turner). Its cynical portrait of mob life affords an ingenious counterpunch to the usual sub-genre fare. Anjelica Huston took dwelling the film’s sole Academy Award for her supporting position as Maerose Prizzi.

#19. Across the World in 80 Days (1956)

– Administrators: Michael Anderson, John Farrow
– IMDb person score: 6.7
– Runtime: 175 minutes

Phileas Fogg (David Niven) bets he can circle the earth in simply 80 days on this journey comedy, tailored from a Jules Verne novel. It scored massive on the field workplace, successful 5 of the eight Academy Award nominations it acquired, together with Finest Image.

#18. Our City (1940)

– Director: Sam Wooden
– IMDb person score: 6.6
– Runtime: 90 minutes

Based mostly on Thornton Wilder’s award-winning play, this nostalgic melodrama examines love and loss in a small city. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and got here up empty-handed by the tip of the night time. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” took dwelling Finest Image that yr.

#17. The Biggest Present on Earth (1952)

– Director: Cecil B. DeMille
– IMDb person score: 6.6
– Runtime: 152 minutes

Cecil B. DeMille takes viewers behind the scenes on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on this Technicolor drama. In keeping with legend, the director insisted the actors truly study their circus stunts. It received two Academy Awards: Finest Image and Finest Screenplay.

#16. Airport (1970)

– Administrators: George Seaton, Henry Hathaway
– IMDb person score: 6.6
– Runtime: 137 minutes

This blockbuster thriller spends 12 hours within the lifetime of airport personnel and passengers as they cope with all the things from terrorism to inclement climate. It sparked a wave of subsequent catastrophe movies and was later parodied within the smash comedy “Airplane!” Out of 10 Oscar nominations, it received just for Finest Supporting Actress (Helen Hayes).

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#15. Romeo and Juliet (1936)

– Director: George Cukor
– IMDb person score: 6.5
– Runtime: 125 minutes

One among many movies to adapt Shakespeare’s basic weaves a story of an ill-fated romance between two star-crossed lovers. Quite a few critics level to the miscasting of Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard, each actors critics believed had been too outdated for the respective title roles. It went dwelling empty-handed on the ninth Academy Awards.

#14. A Contact of Class (1973)

– Director: Melvin Frank
– IMDb person score: 6.5
– Runtime: 106 minutes

This British romantic comedy places a slapstick twist on the in any other case critical topic of infidelity. An affair between an American businessman (George Segal) and a British divorcee (Glenda Jackson) paves the way in which for a sequence of small disasters. Jackson’s portrayal within the movie earned her the Academy Award for Finest Actress.

#13. Wilson (1944)

– Director: Henry King
– IMDb person score: 6.4
– Runtime: 154 minutes

This technicolor biopic follows Woodrow Wilson (Alexander Knox) as he grapples with numerous conflicts on his strategy to the presidency. Whereas critically acclaimed, it made a lackluster impression on audiences. It received 5 Oscars however misplaced within the Finest Image class to the Bing Crosby musical “Going My Means.”

#12. Love Is a Many-Splendored Factor (1955)

– Administrators: Henry King, Otto Lang
– IMDb person score: 6.4
– Runtime: 102 minutes

This schmaltzy romance takes place in China at a time of nice political upheaval, chronicling the affair between a married man (William Holden) and a Chinese language English widow (Jennifer Jones). The casting of American actress Jennifer Jones as a Eurasian girl is amongst its many dated qualities. It received Oscars for music and costume design.

#11. A Farewell to Arms (1932)

– Director: Frank Borzage
– IMDb person score: 6.4
– Runtime: 80 minutes

This adaptation of Hemingway’s semi-autobiographical novel depicts the torrid romance between a British nurse (Helen Hayes) and an American ambulance driver (Gary Cooper) throughout World Battle I. “Lacks the uncooked gusto of the ebook however fantastically performed by its two leads,” wrote critic David Parkinson for Empire Journal. It received two Academy Awards for Finest Sound and Finest Cinematography.

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#10. Tom Jones (1963)

– Director: Tony Richardson
– IMDb person score: 6.4
– Runtime: 129 minutes

Albert Finney performs the title position on this British comedy in regards to the misadventures of a romantic insurgent. As soon as a essential and industrial darling, its erratic execution feels sloppy by at present’s cinematic requirements. Out of 10 nominations, it received 4 Academy Awards, together with Finest Image.

#9. Anthony Hostile (1936)

– Administrators: Mervyn LeRoy
– IMDb person score: 6.3
– Runtime: 141 minutes

This historic epic takes place in 18th-century Italy and follows the exploits of its titular hero (Fredric March). It stars display legend Olivia de Havilland as a love curiosity in one in every of her earliest main roles. Regardless of successful 4 Oscars, The New York Occasions discovered the movie to have wasted its forged on “a pointless script and unimaginative route.”

#8. Three Cash within the Fountain (1954)

– Director: Jean Negulesco
– IMDb person score: 6.3
– Runtime: 102 minutes

Whereas staying collectively in Italy, three American ladies (Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters, and Maggie McNamara) bear separate romantic journeys on this visually luxurious dramedy. It’s one in every of two movie diversifications based mostly on the identical supply novel, the opposite being 1964’s “The Pleasure Seekers.” Frank Sinatra carried out the film’s Oscar-winning title music.

#7. She Finished Him Improper (1933)

– Director: Lowell Sherman
– IMDb person score: 6.3
– Runtime: 66 minutes

Mae West delivers a star-making efficiency as barroom singer Woman Lou on this pre-Code romantic dramedy. It was tailored from West’s stage play “Diamond Lil,” through which she equally distributed her languid model of sharp wit. The movie additionally options one of many earliest performances by Cary Grant as one in every of Lou’s potential suitors. Nominated for Finest Image, it misplaced out to the struggle drama “Cavalcade.”

#6. Arrowsmith (1931)

– Director: John Ford
– IMDb person score: 6.2
– Runtime: 108 minutes

John Ford’s adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of Dr. Martin Arrowsmith (Ronald Colman), who, enlisted to assist battle a bubonic plague outbreak, abandons protocol with a purpose to save as many lives as attainable. The movie was nominated for 4 Oscars, successful none.

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#5. Physician Dolittle (1967)

– Director: Richard Fleischer
– IMDb person score: 6.2
– Runtime: 152 minutes

This musical comedy was beset by manufacturing issues and controversies earlier than arriving in theaters, the place it grew to become a bomb of epic proportion. Due to an aggressive marketing campaign from Fox Studios, it scored 9 Oscar nominations regardless of its many flaws. It received for Finest Particular Results and Finest Tune.

#4. The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)

– Administrators: Charles Reisner, Christy Cabanne, Norman Houston
– IMDb person score: 5.9
– Runtime: 130 minutes

There have been no official nominees on the second Academy Awards in 1930, prompting the Academy to retroactively put this plotless musical comedy within the operating for Finest Image. Because the title may counsel, the movie is little greater than a compendium of song-and-dance numbers from MGM’s steady of stars corresponding to Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Stan Laurel, and Oliver Hardy.

#3. Cavalcade (1933)

– Director: Frank Lloyd
– IMDb person score: 5.9
– Runtime: 112 minutes

This pre-Code drama spans a number of many years and facilities on two British households from starkly completely different financial backgrounds. Regardless of excessive essential marks for manufacturing worth, to this present day it has didn’t discover a welcoming viewers. It received three Academy Awards, together with Finest Image and Finest Director.

#2. Cimarron (1931)

– Director: Wesley Ruggles
– IMDb person score: 5.9
– Runtime: 123 minutes

This epic journey from RKO Studios was one of the costly movies ever made on the time of its launch and an enormous field workplace success in addition. It was additionally the one Western to win Finest Image on the Oscars till “Dances with Wolves” took dwelling the trophy in 1990. Based mostly on an Edna Ferber novel, the movie finds quite a few folks converging on an Oklahoma boomtown within the late nineteenth century.

#1. The Broadway Melody (1929)

– Director: Harry Beaumont
– IMDb person score: 5.7
– Runtime: 100 minutes

The primary-ever Academy Award for Finest Image went to Hollywood’s first all-talking musical, which was additionally alternately launched as a silent movie. The story follows two sisters (Bessie Love and Anita Web page) as they pursue their Broadway desires, getting romantically entangled alongside the way in which. “It’s questionable whether or not it might not have been wiser to depart among the voices to the creativeness,” wrote critic Mordaunt Corridor for The New York Occasions.

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