The Oscars have a long history of shocking upsets and jaw-dropping upsets.
The 96-year-old organization has seen its fair share of moments that put them in a position of awkwardness, or aging very poorly. While some victories were expected by few, others left fans and critics alike scratching their heads in disbelief. From “How Green Was My Valley” (1941) which topped “Citizen Kane”, which many film historians consider the greatest film of all time, to the more recent “Parasite” (2019) which succeeded in besting the major union sweeper “1917”. “. “There have been many amazing moments preserved in history.
In honor of the Oscars, diverse Ranks 12 of the most shocking disorders in history.
It may seem like there have been fewer unpredictable twists and turns since the advent of Oscar critics and predictions. However, the academy can still offer something that will really impress you.
Regardless of whether you love watching the Oscars or hate watching the annual ceremony, it is a cultural staple that even casual entertainment consumers are familiar with.
However, this list is extensive and ever-changing. Read below.
Honorable mentions: “Green Book” wins Best Picture and Original Screenplay for “Roma” and “The Favorite” (2018); “Dances with Wolves” wins Best Picture over “Goodfellas” (1990); “Skyfall” and “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012) are linked by sound.
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Beatrice Street only takes five minutes to get online.
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Beatrice Street’s Oscar win for her outstanding role in “Network” is one of the most notable achievements in Academy Awards history. In the 1976 film directed by Sidney Lumet, Straight portrayed Louise Schumacher, the wife of a network executive. What’s truly amazing is that Straight delivers such a powerful performance with only five minutes of screen time.
It’s worth noting that Straight’s win came amidst stiff competition from popular performances such as Jodie Foster’s portrayal in the tense crime drama “Taxi Driver” and Piper Laurie’s role in the horror classic “Carrie.”
Straight’s win, along with acting wins for Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway in the actor and actress categories, cemented “Network” as one of three films to take home three acting awards. Despite its success in the acting races, the film lost the Best Picture award to the sports drama “Rocky.”
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Adrien Brody defeats four previous winners
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Best Actor’s Adrien Brody beats out previous Oscar winners: Jack Nicholson (for Schmidt), Michael Caine (The Quiet American), Nicolas Cage (Adaptation), and heavy favorite Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York). “) stunned audiences. He became (and remains in 2024) the youngest actor to win the award at 29. “The Pianist” also shocked that night with wins for director Roman Polanski (over Rob Marshall and Martin Scorsese) and adapted screenplay (over ” Hours” and “adaptation”.
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‘The English Patient’ picks up Juliette Binoche, but loses the script to ‘Sling Blade’
Veteran actress Lauren Bacall was poised to win in the supporting actress category for her role in the romantic comedy “The Mirror Has Two Faces.” On a night similar to this year’s Oscars with “Oppenheimer,” expectations were high for Anthony Minghella’s sweeping drama “The English Patient” to dominate the awards. However, the evening took an unexpected turn.
In a surprising twist, “The English Patient” traded one of its expected wins for a supporting role for Juliette Binoche and, more surprisingly, lost the adapted screenplay award to Billy Bob Thornton’s “Sling Blade,” a film that wasn’t even nominated for best screenplay. Best picture.
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Marcia Gay Harden doesn’t need a precursor to win ‘Bullock’
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In the history of major televised awards ceremonies — including the Golden Globes, BAFTA, SAG and Critics’ Choice Awards — there is a unique anomaly: Marcia Gay Harden’s win for her portrayal of entertainer Lee Krasner in Ed Harris’ directorial debut, “Pollock.” . 2000), is the only example in which an actor received an Academy Award without prior recognition from any of these groups.
Harden’s nomination itself was a surprising accomplishment, as she bested formidable competitors like Ziyi Zhang (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Traffic”), and Kate Winslet (“Quils”). Many expected Kate Hudson’s endearing turn as Penny Lane’s groupie in “Almost Famous” or perhaps Judi Dench’s back-to-back Oscar wins in “Chocolat” to secure the nomination. However, it was Harden who emerged as an unexpected candidate.
When announcer Nicolas Cage announced her win, it not only marked a major accomplishment for Harden, but also sparked speculation that Harris, nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jackson Pollock, might follow suit. However, these hopes were eventually dashed.
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Marisa Tomei’s hilarious work in “My Cousin Vinny” triumphs
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Once upon a time, the Academy did the coolest thing they’ve ever conjured, awarding an Oscar to Marisa Tomei’s comedic brilliance in My Cousin Vinny.
Tommy’s performance in a relatively light-hearted film beat out veterans like Judy Davis from “Husbands and Wives” and Vanessa Redgrave from “Howards End.” The shock led to decades-long speculation about a voting error or presenter Jack Palance reading the wrong name. Everything has been exposed.
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Driving Miss Daisy spans four dramatic acts
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Picture this: A comedy that was snubbed in the Best Director category, yet wins Best Picture over a list of strong contenders, including a Vietnam War drama, a coming-of-age story, a feel-good sports movie, and a biopic based on a famous memoir. Such was the case with Bruce Beresford’s Driving Miss Daisy (1989), a seemingly simplistic tale that chronicles the journey of a chauffeur-driven woman over 25 years.
Despite its modest premise, “Driving Miss Daisy” defied expectations, taking home not only Best Picture but three additional wins, including Best Actress for Jessica Tandy. Notably, it remains the latest PG-rated film to receive the highest honor at the Academy Awards.
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Art Carney directs Godfather II
At the 47th Academy Awards in 1975, Art Carney won the Best Actor award for his performance in Harry and Tonto, a poignant road movie in which he portrayed an elderly man embarking on a journey with his cat.
Carney bested heavyweights like Al Pacino, who gave a powerful performance as Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Pacino’s portrayal of the conflicted mob heir received widespread praise, and many expected him to win the award.
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Olivia Colman becomes Glenn Close’s ‘favourite’
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Olivia Colman’s victory over front-runner Glenn Close (“The Wife”) at the Oscars was a pleasant surprise to many, though many industry insiders predicted that the six-time nominated veteran actress would finally secure her long-awaited award. Although Colman won both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, some critics remained skeptical. However, Colman’s heartfelt and eccentric portrayal of Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’s black comedy “The Favorite” captivated voters and audiences alike.
What makes Colman’s win even more impressive is that “The Favourite” lost out on all nine of its other nominations, with many assuming that awards for production design and costumes, at the very least, would be up for grabs.
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“How Green Was My Valley” beats the greatest movie ever made
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Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” is considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, however, it is not a Best Picture winner.
How Green Was My Valley, a poignant family drama set in a Welsh mining community, captivated audiences with its emotional stories and brilliant performances. The film, directed by John Ford, struck a chord with viewers, deeply resonating with its themes of tradition, sacrifice and resilience, set months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Regardless of differing opinions, the outcome of the 1942 Academy Awards serves as a reminder of the lasting legacy of an iconic film, regardless of whether the Academy chose it or not.
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Shakespeare wins the war against Ryan.
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Many expected Steven Spielberg’s epic war drama Saving Private Ryan, which features a star-studded cast led by Tom Hanks, to take home the top prize. It all seemed inevitable when Spielberg received his second directing award. However, John Madden’s romantic drama “Shakespeare in Love” produced a major upset that brought Judi Dench a shock win of just eight minutes of screen time over favorite Lynn Redgrave in “Gods and Monsters.”
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“Moonlight” wins by 2 minutes and 23 seconds after “La La Land” wins
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In 2017, the Oscars stage witnessed an unforgettable encounter, as “Bonnie and Clyde” stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway came together to present the Best Picture award. The prevailing expectations were that the charming musical “La La Land” directed by Damien Chazelle would win the award, especially after his previous win for directing and acting for Emma Stone.
However, what happened was an unexpected development. Amid what Dunaway described as a “dramatic pause,” she hastily declared “La La Land” the winner after spotting the card, unaware that it was actually the Best Actress cover. The ensuing confusion was quickly resolved, as “La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz revealed the correct ticket, confirming that Barry Jenkins’ poignant LGBTQ drama “Moonlight” had in fact triumphed over the front-runner.
Beyond this mingling, discussions surrounding the win delved into its broader implications, particularly regarding the political climate in the wake of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential election. Some critics and enthusiasts speculate that if Hillary Clinton had been president on February 26, 2017, Chazelle’s poem might have been For “fools who dream” you will achieve victory. On the contrary, Jenkins’s highly poignant portrayal offered a stark contrast, echoing the sentiments of many who have turned to narratives of inclusivity and resilience.
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Crash drives over Brokeback Mountain
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In the world of LGBTQ cinema, “Brokeback Mountain” blazed a trail, paving the way for Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” to eventually make its mark.
The travails of Ang Lee’s poignant cowboy love story, which narrowly missed out on the Best Picture category, are still evident nearly two decades later. Far from an unexpected defeat, the result highlighted the persistent biases held by many conservative members of the Academy, who publicly expressed a reluctance to vote for Focus Features’ groundbreaking drama because of its thematic elements.