Top 10 Worst Best Picture Winners Fan Rank
#10: “How Green Was My Valley” (1941)
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These days, John Ford’s “How Green Was My Valley” rarely gets mentioned outside of the same breath as “Citizen Kane,” the movie most people feel was snubbed. But even based on its own merits, this one has otherwise been lost to time. The story takes place in a Welsh mining town in the late Victorian era, as a strike impacts the lives of the Morgan family and the other townsfolk. This kind of interconnected tale of lower-class hardship is something the Academy loves to recognize, but many feel like it’s one that’s been done better multiple times, including in Ford’s adaptation of “The Grapes of Wrath” that came out the previous year. How green is this proverbial valley? Mildly.
#9: “Green Book” (2018)
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We’re starting to sense a color theme with this list so far… “Green Book” has garnered condemnation pretty much since its upset win at the 91st ceremony. To say nothing of the films it beat out, this one feels largely antiquated in regard to its depiction of race relations, almost like something the Academy would’ve awarded thirty years earlier. Sure, there are good things about it, like Mahershala Ali’s performance, which was more than worthy of getting the actor his second Oscar. But its inherent flaws from a storytelling perspective make it difficult to laud as the best of anything. Kudos though to the fans who put this one here over other contenders like “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Ordinary People” in our live poll.
#8: “Cavalcade” (1933)
You’re probably wondering to yourself, “What the heck is ‘Cavalcade?’” Exactly. Just the sixth film to win the coveted prize, Frank Lloyd’s “Cavalcade” follows a well-to-do London family from 1899 to 1933. In that time they’re affected by some of the most notable world events, like the sinking of the Titanic and World War I. This admittedly does beget some interesting montages of early 20th-century life, as pointed out by WatchMojo member Robert Amaden, but we still find it difficult to connect with the family. Another controversial winner like “Forrest Gump” arguably does it better, as the title character influences major events rather than the other way around. In the end, we’re more interested in the history in this movie rather than the fiction.
#7: “The English Patient” (1996)
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We could’ve put more than a couple Best Picture winners from the ‘90s on here - in fact, we did put exactly a couple. But you let us know that you’d rather spare films like “Dances with Wolves” over something like “The English Patient.” An epic period romance, “The English Patient” definitely feels its length, which can probably be attributed to its multi-narrative structure. Sure, the cinematography is gorgeous, but that means little when we’re trying to get invested in decade-spanning character development and story. Honestly, we’d be more liable to take a nap during this one than watch it all the way through, which is surprising considering the competition it went up against in 1996.
#6: “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989)
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Remember when we said “Green Book” was like an Oscar movie made thirty years earlier? Enter “Driving Miss Daisy.” Seriously, if you thought the more recent Best Picture winner was a little misguided, this one will have you questioning the Academy’s judgment circa 1989. The story being about an elderly southern woman befriending her black driver, we can see how some might find very certain characterizations endearing. But it’s often at the expense of well thought out sociological commentary that would’ve made the whole thing a heartier meal. And not to belabor the issue, but the movie did edge out more worthy fare like “Dead Poets Society” and “Field of Dreams.” Just sayin.
#5: “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952)
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Ah, irony, thou art a cruel mistress. While “The Greatest Show on Earth” might’ve come off that way back in 1952, time has not been kind to this would-be classic. Granted, much like its circus setting, the movie’s production design and special effects are ahead of their time. But they’re stuck in the middle of a love triangle that doesn’t have enough traction to support the film’s two-and-a-half hour runtime. Sure, a lot of movies back then were of the impression that more is more, but this one doesn’t have much there there to have us demanding an encore. Maybe just watch “High Noon” instead, the movie most people will tell you should’ve won.
#4: “Out of Africa” (1985)
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If you thought “The English Patient’s” desert romance was boring, just wait. At first glance, you’d think an epic romantic drama starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep would make for one of the greatest cinematic love stories. And the absolutely stunning scenery would only serve to drive home this expectation. But instead, “Out of Africa” wears the viewer down with slow pacing and aloof characterizations. The real-life story of a Danish woman operating a coffee farm in Kenya could’ve been an illuminating commentary on African colonization and the like, but the movie’s inability to really explore those themes is a missed opportunity.
#3: “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956)
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No, not the one with Jackie Chan, though we would probably watch that one sooner than this. This one isn’t that much better, not to mention you get another hour of it. On top of that, the film is rife with outdated and offensive racial stereotypes in virtually every international setting it features. While we’re glad American actor Shirley MacLaine has had an illustrious career after strangely playing an Indian princess in this one, there’s not many upsides to be found here. We imagine the film’s globetrotting sense of wonder and adventure spoke to western audiences at the time, but its old-fashioned brand of comedy doesn’t have enough energy to hoist this movie along.
#2: “Shakespeare in Love” (1998)
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There’s a lot that went into “Shakespeare in Love” winning Best Picture in the late ‘90s that we can’t go in-depth with here. But judging the movie by its inherent merits, it’s still a little tough to see why this deserved the top prize. While the costuming, makeup and overall production design may be top notch, there’s something about the story that has made audiences distance themselves from it in later years. Maybe it’s the historical contrivances, or the movie’s desire to feel a bit too modern, but at the end of the day it adds up to a somewhat underwhelming experience that shouldn’t have beaten out the likes of “Saving Private Ryan” or “Life Is Beautiful.”
#1: “Crash” (2004)
It was our #1 on our last list, and you let us know that “Crash” is still the worst Best Picture winner of all time. In fact, WatchMojo member Sunnny Singh even went so far as to say “crash means trash,” and we’re definitely not ones to disagree. The movie takes a big swing with its interweaving narratives, but it still manages to come off as simplistic regarding its racial and xenophobic overtones. Beyond that, the screenwriting itself is questionable, bordering the line of pretentiousness and over-sentimentality. It’s fine to have deeply flawed characters at the forefront, but a movie needs to be able to properly frame and convey its important issues, and “Crash” unfortunately comes up short.