8 Movies that Got Robbed on Oscar Night

1. Gangs of New York

“Gangs of New York” was a masterpiece that should have won best picture for its combination of skillful acting (delivered by Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz), its direction (courtesy of Martin Scorsese), and the incredible story of the Five Points in New York as the nation sat on the cusp of civil war.

Unfortunately, the film lost out to the glitzy remake of “Chicago.”

2. Saving Private Ryan

“Saving Private Ryan” had everything needed for a best picture film, including Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Steven Spielberg.

The film told the story of the search for one man during the chaos of World War II and highlighted the drama of the D-Day invasion.

It lost out to the romantic period piece that was “Shakespeare in Love.”

3. L.A. Confidential

L.A. Confidential may not have had the large set pieces and sweeping camera angles of a big-budget film, but it perfectly recreated the film noir genre and captured the essence of classic 1950s Los Angeles.

Kim Basinger, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pierce starred in this film that lost out to “Titanic.”

4. The Shawshank Redemption

“The Shawshank Redemption” is the prison film to beat all prison films, and it was based on a story by writing legend Stephen King.

With an incredible script and seasoned cast, this film has become a classic, but it lacked the soundtrack, attention, and notoriety of “Forrest Gump,” and ultimately lost out.

5. Taxi Driver (lost to Rocky)

“Taxi Driver” broke a lot of ground for future filmmakers, and it discussed themes that are still somewhat taboo in film. From Robert DeNiro’s troubled character to Jodi Foster’s portrayal of a child prostitute, “Taxi Driver” was the great film that no one was ready for. It lost out to “Rocky.”

6. The Wizard of Oz

“The Wizard of Oz” broke ground in the field of special effects, and the film’s bold color, choreographed scenes, and delightful storytelling have made it one of the few films that has truly stood the test of time.

Had it not been released in the same year as “Gone with the Wind,” it might have stood a better chance.

7. Chinatown

“Chinatown” is another film that would have won had it not been for stiff competition in the year it was released.

The film lost out to “The Godfather Part II,” and few will argue that the wrong film won.

Still, Chinatown is another groundbreaking film that captured the film noir genre perfectly, and it highlighted amazing performances from a young Jack Nicholson and the talented Faye Dunaway.

8. Fargo (lost to The English Patient)

The Coen Brothers’ films haven’t always gotten the respect they deserve, and Fargo definitely deserved more accolades than it got.

The story of a kidnapping gone wrong, told in the way that only the Coen brothers can tell it, was both terrifying and hilarious at the same time.

It lost out to the heavily touted “The English Patient.”