Top 20 Failed Oscar Bait Movies

Every year, studios release high-quality, dramatic films hoping to win awards, but not all of them succeed with the Academy. These films seemed like strong contenders – they featured famous actors, tackled important issues, and were released strategically to appeal to voters. Despite premieres at major film festivals or late-year releases designed to gain momentum, many ultimately didn’t receive nominations. Here are some notable examples of films that aimed for awards success but fell short.

‘The Goldfinch’ (2019)

This film, based on Donna Tartt’s award-winning novel, reunited director John Crowley with stars Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman. It first screened at the Toronto film festival in September and was quickly released to a wider audience. However, critics weren’t impressed, and the film performed poorly at the box office during its opening weekend. Ultimately, it didn’t receive any nominations for Academy Awards.

‘Collateral Beauty’ (2016)

The holiday drama featured a star-studded cast led by Will Smith, alongside Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, and Edward Norton. While the film launched in December with a marketing push emphasizing its famous actors and emotional story, it was poorly received by critics and audiences. Despite the talent involved, it didn’t receive any Academy Award nominations.

‘Amelia’ (2009)

As a huge fan of historical dramas, I was really looking forward to seeing Hilary Swank and Richard Gere tackle the story of Amelia Earhart in Mira Nair’s film. It came out towards the end of October, and there was a lot of buzz because of the fascinating subject matter and how carefully it recreated the period. Sadly, most critics felt it played things a little too safe, and the characters didn’t quite come alive. It was a disappointment to me, and to many others, that it didn’t receive any Oscar nominations.

‘The Book of Henry’ (2017)

So, Colin Trevorrow, after directing a huge hit, took a real left turn with this smaller, character-driven story featuring Naomi Watts and the incredibly talented Jacob Tremblay. It hit theaters in June, generating some buzz after a quiet festival run, but honestly, it just didn’t connect. The plot, while trying to be clever, felt overly complicated, and critics weren’t impressed. The audience agreed, and it completely disappeared from the awards conversation – not a single Oscar nomination. A real misfire, unfortunately.

‘The Butler’ (2013)

Forest Whitaker played a White House butler who served for many years, with Oprah Winfrey co-starring, in a film about the Civil Rights Movement. Released in August by The Weinstein Company, it initially sold many tickets and generated Oscar buzz. However, the film didn’t receive much recognition from awards groups and its momentum faded as the fall went on, ultimately resulting in no Academy Award nominations.

‘J. Edgar’ (2011)

Leonardo DiCaprio played FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in a film directed by Clint Eastwood, with Armie Hammer also starring. Released in November, the movie aimed for a classic, high-profile launch. However, critics had varying opinions, and awards shows largely overlooked it. It didn’t receive any nominations from the Academy Awards.

‘The Current War’ (2017)

The film about the rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon, first premiered at the Toronto film festival. However, problems with its initial distributor caused delays in its release, and a revised director’s cut appeared in 2019. This disruption negatively impacted its chances with awards voters, and ultimately, the film didn’t receive any Oscar nominations.

‘Mary Magdalene’ (2018)

This biblical drama, directed by Garth Davis and starring Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix, faced challenges with its release. Delays in distribution meant it missed the prime window for awards consideration in the US, and it received limited promotion and mixed reviews. Ultimately, the film didn’t receive any nominations from the Academy Awards.

‘Genius’ (2016)

Colin Firth portrayed editor Maxwell Perkins, while Jude Law played author Thomas Wolfe in the film, with supporting roles from Nicole Kidman and Laura Linney. It debuted at the Berlin Film Festival and was released in the summer. Critics noted a subtle style that didn’t generate much awards buzz, and the film ultimately received no Oscar nominations.

‘Life Itself’ (2018)

Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde starred in a film by creator Dan Fogelman. It premiered at the Toronto film festival and was released in theaters in September. However, critics didn’t like it, and it didn’t make much money in the US. Despite a promotional push, the film didn’t gain any attention from the Academy Awards and received no nominations.

‘Lions for Lambs’ (2007)

Robert Redford directed a timely drama focusing on war and the media, also starring Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. Released in November, the film had a short period to qualify for awards. While reviews were mixed, attention soon turned to other potential award winners, and ultimately, the film didn’t receive any nominations.

‘The Road’ (2009)

Viggo Mortensen starred in this movie based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel about a world after a disaster. It premiered at a film festival and was released later in the year, hoping to be noticed for its artistic quality and the actors’ performances. However, its dark and serious nature, combined with a low-key marketing effort, meant it didn’t stand out amongst many other films. As a result, it didn’t receive any nominations from the Academy Awards.

‘Serena’ (2014)

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper starred together in a drama set during the Great Depression, directed by Susanne Bier. However, the film faced setbacks with delayed editing and a limited release, which hurt its chances at awards recognition. Critics weren’t impressed, and it didn’t perform well in theaters, ultimately receiving no Oscar nominations.

‘All the King’s Men’ (2006)

Sean Penn starred in a remake of the classic 1949 Best Picture winner, with Jude Law and Kate Winslet also featuring in the film. After being delayed and undergoing extensive reshoots, it was released in September. However, critics didn’t think it measured up to the original, and the movie failed to gain momentum. Ultimately, it didn’t receive any award nominations.

‘The Counselor’ (2013)

Ridley Scott’s film, written by Cormac McCarthy and starring Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, and Javier Bardem, came out in late October. While it was expected to be a sophisticated crime drama, audiences and critics had very different reactions. It didn’t receive much awards recognition, and ultimately didn’t earn any Oscar nominations.

‘The Promise’ (2016)

Terry George’s historical drama, starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale, depicted the Armenian genocide. It first screened at the Toronto film festival and was released in theaters the following spring with a focus on its humanitarian message. However, the film didn’t perform well at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics, and it wasn’t nominated for any Academy Awards.

‘Breathe’ (2017)

Andrew Garfield played Robin Cavendish, a disability advocate, alongside Claire Foy in a film directed by Andy Serkis. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in October, hoping to gain momentum during awards season. While the acting received strong reviews, the film didn’t generate much excitement among industry groups and ultimately didn’t receive any Academy Award nominations.

‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ (2016)

Ang Lee’s new film, featuring Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, and Steve Martin, used a special high frame rate technique. It first showed at the New York Film Festival and had a small release in November. While the filmmaking choices were noticed, the movie didn’t attract a large audience and received no Academy Award nominations.

‘The Good Nurse’ (2022)

I recently watched this really intense hospital drama starring Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, directed by Tobias Lindholm. It had a festival run and then dropped on a streaming service with a clear strategy to get awards attention. There was definitely buzz around the performances, and everyone was talking about potential nominations, but it didn’t seem to gain much momentum with the early awards shows. Sadly, it ended up missing out on any Oscar nominations this year, which was a bit of a disappointment.

‘Welcome to Marwen’ (2018)

Steve Carell led the cast of Robert Zemeckis’s movie, which combined live actors with animation and was inspired by the life of Mark Hogancamp. While the film launched in December with a lot of attention on its unique visuals, critics didn’t respond well, and it didn’t perform strongly in theaters over the holiday season. It wasn’t recognized with any Academy Award nominations.

Share the failed Oscar bait titles you think deserved a different fate in the comments.

2025-11-11 17:16