When it comes to ranking movies, IMDb, the world’s most popular online movie database, is the go-to source for film buffs around the world. IMDb is a unique platform for evaluating movies because it takes both critics’ and public reviews into account. It also assigns a movie a score in the range 1-10, based on these reviews. As a result, the scores assigned to top-rated movies tend to be a good indication of their overall quality.
In the film industry, the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the ‘Oscars’, are the most prestigious awards a filmmaker can receive. The ‘Best Picture’ award is regarded as the highest accolade for a movie, and is the award most filmmakers aspire to receive. However, there are plenty of great movies that fail to receive a nomination for Best Picture, either because they flew under the radar or simply because the competition was too intense.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the highest-rated movies on IMDb that were not nominated for Best Picture. We will outline the main characteristics that make each movie stand out, along with the reasons behind why they didn’t receive the nomination. Let’s get started!
- Parasite (2019)
IMDb Score: 8.6
Parasite, a black comedy satire directed by acclaimed Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, was released in 2019 and became an immediate critical and commercial success. The movie follows the lives of a dysfunctional family as they struggle to make ends meet, and eventually employ a scheme to become employed by a more affluent family.
Parasite garnered rave reviews for its sharp wit and angst-filled atmosphere, with its script and screenplay earning praise for its thought-provoking themes and its visuals for translating everyday emotions into a powerful postmodern experience. It won four Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film), but it is indeed a surprise oversight that it was not nominated for Best Picture.
- Blade Runner (1982)
IMDb Score: 8.1
Blade Runner, released in 1982 and based on Philip K. Dick’s novel ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’, is an iconic sci-fi classic directed by Ridley Scott. The movie follows a blade runner called Rick Deckard, who is tasked with hunting down and eliminating a group of rogue replicants led by Roy Batty.
Blade Runner is widely considered to be one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, due to its remarkable visuals and thought-provoking themes. Its score was also widely admired, composed by Greek-French composer Vangelis who created an ambient electronic soundtrack that was perfect for the dystopian setting. Despite its overwhelming critical acclaim, it failed to receive a nomination for Best Picture.
- Wonder Woman (2017)
IMDb Score: 7.4
Wonder Woman is a 2017 DC Extended Universe superhero movie directed by Patty Jenkins. It follows Diana Prince, an Amazon warrior who discovers her superhuman powers and decides to use them to help humankind in their fight against the villainous Ares.
The movie was groundbreaking not just because of its action scenes and spectacular visual effects, but also due to the powerful female lead, which had a major impact on the industry. Gal Gadot, who played the role of Diana, received universal praise from critics and fans alike for her stoic and sublime performance. It is not clear why this movie failed to receive a nomination for Best Picture, as many critics considered it to be one of the best superhero movies ever made.
- Taxi Driver (1976)
IMDb Score: 8.3
Taxi Driver, released in 1976 and directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies ever made. The movie follows the story of Travis Bickle, an unstable taxi driver in New York City who is driven to violence as he embarks on a mission to purge the city of its ills.
Taxi Driver was revolutionary in its time, featuring raw performances and bold cinematography. Robert De Niro, who played the role of Travis, was praised in particular for his intense performance. Despite this, the film failed to receive a nomination for Best Picture, which can be attributed to its disturbing themes and graphic violence.
- Casablanca (1942)
IMDb Score: 8.6
Casablanca is a 1942 romantic drama directed by Michael Curtiz, based on a play of the same name by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. Set during World War II, the movie follows a former anti-Nazi freedom fighter Rick Blain, as he floods back memories from the past with a former lover.
Casablanca received rave reviews upon its release, due to its powerful performances, its stirring dialogue and its timeless songs such as ‘As Time Goes By’. It also won three Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay), but amazingly, it was not nominated for Best Picture.
Why These Movies Failed To Receive Best Picture Nominations
As we’ve seen in the previous section, each of these movies are highly rated by IMDb users and by critics alike. So why didn’t these movies receive Best Picture nominations?
The answer lies in the different criteria on which Best Picture nominations are based. Whereas IMDb scores are largely based on public opinion, the Academy Awards are judged by industry professionals. As a result, the Academy’s selection criteria tends to be more highbrow, focusing more on elements such as artistry, technical finesse, and storytelling. Therefore, movies such as Blade Runner and Taxi Driver, which are more stylized and dark in tone, are often overlooked.
However, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that a highly-rated IMDb movie could be considered for a Best Picture nomination. In 2019, Parasite made history by becoming the first foreign-language film to ever win the award. As As film industry knowledge and acceptance of different genres increase, so will the understanding of why these movies were not nominated for Best Picture.
As we’ve seen in this article, IMDb ratings can serve as a useful indicator of a movie’s overall quality, but they do not always translate into a nomination for Best Picture. There are many brilliant movies that have failed to receive the coveted award, either because they flew under the radar or because the competition was too intense.
Each of the movies mentioned above have something special that sets them apart, and are highly recommended for any movie fan. So, the next time you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, why not try watching one of these highest-rated movies on IMDb that weren’t nominated for Best Picture?
