A Rare Breed

The Oscars don’t carry as much prestige as they once did, but the Academy of Arts and Sciences program remains the most well-known annual film awards show. The latest program is scheduled for March 2nd. Filmmakers and studios continue to covet the Academy’s golden trophies. Genre flicks have generally been snubbed by the Academy. Let’s take a look at the few horror movies nominated for Best Picture.

With the news that The Substance has been nominated for the Academy’s highest award, it’s the perfect time to examine this group. Here are all seven listed in chronological order. I’ve also mentioned the Oscars that each film won (if any).

To be fair, some of these movies fit better in the thriller category. My thoughts on the distinctions between horror and thriller can be found here. All of these movies are at least horror adjacent, so I’m including them.

For what it’s worth, I’ve also listed my opinion on who deserved to win the Oscar for each year. For full transparency, I’ve placed an * next to the nominees that I haven’t seen. Credit goes to the official Academy Awards Database for the historical info about Oscar nominees and winners.

The Exorcist (1973)

The Academy Awards were first held in 1929, but it took over four decades for the first horror movie to receive a Best Picture nomination. The Exorcist’s shocking and extreme content made it one of the most controversial films of the ’70s.

It polarized critics, but many hailed it as a masterpiece. It received a whopping ten nominations, including Best Director for William Friedkin.

What it was up against: American Graffiti, A Touch of Class*, The Sting, Cries and Whispers

Outcome: Lost to The Sting 

The Academy has long had a reputation for picking “feel good” movies over darker content. So it’s no surprise that The Exorcist (and the bleak Ingmar Bergman drama Cries and Whispers) were passed over. The Exorcist did manage to win Oscars for Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay.

What I Would Have Picked: The Exorcist, although I also love American Graffiti, a wonderfully bittersweet mood piece directed by a pre-Star Wars George Lucas.

Jaws (1975)

I don’t know who or what Barry Lyndon was, but overall, this is a fantastic group of movies! Jaws put Steven Spielberg on the map as one of the world’s most famous directors. The iconic soundtrack, legendary dialogue, and rampant tension have made Jaws a pop culture touchstone.

Although it fell short of capturing the top award, it’s still one of the top Oscar nominated horror movies. Jaws earned Oscars for Best Sound, Best Original Score, and Best Editing.

What it was up against: Nashville, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dog Day Afternoon, Barry Lyndon*

Outcome:  Lost to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 

What I Would Have Picked: This is a REALLY tough one, but Dog Day Afternoon, which features iconic performances by Al Pacino and John Cazale as bumbling bank robbers, narrowly edges Jaws and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

It took 62 years, but the Academy finally bestowed its top award on a horror movie for the first (and so far only) time. Like Jaws and The Exorcist, The Silence of the Lambs has made an enduring impact on pop culture.

Featuring star-making performances from Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, Lambs crushed the competition in an era where horror movies were generally in a commercial slump. It’s the king of Oscar nominated horror movies, capturing Best Director for Jonathan Demme (the only horror movie to ever win this), Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay, along with Best Picture.

What it was up against: Bugsy, Beauty and the Beast, The Prince of the Tides*, and JFK. 

Outcome: Winner!

What I Would Have Picked: Silence of the Lambs, of course! It may have benefited from a relatively weak year for movies. Beauty and the Beast is the only competitor that remains famous today.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

M. Night Shyamalan’s first and best film features plenty of suspense and chills, plus a famous twist ending. Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis are awesome together. The Sixth Sense was nominated for six awards, but didn’t win a single trophy.

What it was up against: The Insider*, The Green Mile, American Beauty, The Cider House Rules. 

Outcome: Lost to American Beauty

What I Would Have Picked: I like American Beauty, but in retrospect, I think The Green Mile, the adaption of Stephen King’s tragic tale of misjustice, would have been the most suitable winner.

Black Swan (2011)

Darren Arofnosky’s dark tale of psychological terror is one of the creepiest movies of its era. Natalie Portman gives the performance of her career as a deeply disturbed, emotionally stunted ballerina who believes that her rival is plotting her demise.

Black Swan was awarded five nominations, including Best Director. Its only win was Portman for Best Actress. She joined Foster as the only women to win this award for a horror movie.

What it was up against: The King’s Speech, The Fighter*, Inception, The Kids Are All Right*, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, Winter’s Bone, 127 Hours, True Grit*. 

Outcome: Lost to The King’s Speech

What I Would Have Picked: The competition is steep between four fantastic movies: Black Swan, Inception, Toy Story 3, and Winter’s Bone. I’m gonna give Christopher Nolan the nod and pick Inception.

Get Out (2017)

Get Out is a hard-hitting, relentless ride into the heart of racism in modern America. Critics adored the film, but it was mostly passed over by the Academy, winning only the Best Original Screenplay award. Director Jordan Peele was nominated for Best Director.

What it was up against: Call Me by Your Name*, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Lady Bird, Phantom Thread*, The Post*, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, The Shape of Water*. 

Outcome: Lost to The Shape of Water.

What I Would Have Picked: Get Out. I’m a sucker for a good historical drama, and I enjoyed Dunkirk and Darkest Hour. But this feels like a major missed opportunity by the Academy. But I will admit that it’s cool to see a fantasy movie get Best Picture. That’s almost as rare as horror winning it!

The Substance (2024)

The Substance is the first body horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture. It features one of Demi Moore’s most memorable performances and lots of gooey, grotesque effects. It’s been somewhat polarizing, but many major critics love it.

If The Substance wins, Coralie Fargeat will be only the second female director to have helmed a Best Picture Oscar winner. She’s also in the running for Best Director. The Substance is additionally nominated for Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Makeup.

What it is up against: Anora*, The Brutalist*, A Complete Unknown*, Emilia Perez*, Dune: Part Two*, I’m Still Here*, Nickel Boys*, and Wicked*.

Outcome: TBA

What I Would Have Picked: No idea, because I haven’t seen any of the movies it’s competing against.

More Oscars in the Future?

The Academy has been prescient in nominating horror movies that have remained famous long after their release. Some movies burn bright for a short time and are forgotten, but not this group.

Long gone are the days when horror was derided as just one step above porn in the hierarchy of film genres. There have been numerous critically acclaimed genre films in recent years. By and large, film critics have stopped punishing these movies for being gory and disgusting, as long as there is a purpose behind the carnage. Hopefully, this will lead to more award winning horror movies in the future.