It's common knowledge by now that some of the greatest filmmakers of all time never won the elusive Academy Award. That includes Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock, among many other greats whose films' legacies still stand strong today. Most recently, several excellent films from 2019 were snubbed at this year's Oscars, including Ari Aster's most recent masterpiece, Uncut Gems.
This past decade has presented some great, unforgettable films, but even the most iconic sometimes don't get the recognition they deserve. Let's take a look at some of the most unjust Oscar snubs of the decade.
Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese's notably bleak adaptation of the 2003 novel of the same name, was released in 2010 to critical and commercial success. Though Shutter Island has many horror elements, it's not a straight-up horror movie and is more prominently known as a psychological thriller. The film also starred Leonardo DiCaprio as its lead, so the Academy's snub of Shutter Island was quite surprising.
It may not have received any recognition at prestigious award shows, but that did not wan this controversial film's unforgettable legacy, as it is still talked about today.
Super 8 (2011)
J.J. Abrams was already a well-known director and writer by the time Star Trek (2009) and Mission Impossible III (2006).
Nevertheless, Super 8 is often regarded as the writer/director's best film, and definitely his most original and unique. Unfortunately, the sci-fi thriller did not receive some arguably much-deserved recognition from the Academy.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower seems like it might be the perfect film to garner attention from the Academy, but no such luck for this 2012 coming-of-age drama. Based on Stephen Chbosky's 1999 novel of the same name, the film adaptation was written and directed by Chbosky himself.
Despite its all-star cast, witty humor, and gritty, realistic portrayal of adolescence, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower was snubbed by the Academy but remains to be a timeless, iconic film and story to this day.
The Way Way Back (2013)
With an all-star cast that included Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Toni Collette, and Alison Janney, coupled with this coming-of-age drama's charm and clever humor, one might think that The Way Way Back had many of the staples that the Academy often looked for.
Sadly, The Way Way Back was snubbed completely by the Oscars, however, it is still recognized today as being one of the best, most underrated comedies to come out of 2013.
Gone Girl (2014)
Based on Gillian Flynn's hit 2012 novel of the same name, Gone Girl took audiences and critics by storm when it hit the big screen in 2014. With a screenplay written by Flynn herself, this psychological thriller boasted several unforgettable aspects. That includes an amazing cast that included Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, and Neil Patrick Harris.
Unfortunately, the only recognition that Gone Girl received from the Academy was the Best Performance by an Actress In A Leading Role nomination for Rosamund Pike, but many believed that the film deserved more attention.
Crimson Peak (2015)
Crimson Peak was released in 2015, and although it has gained a more prominent following today, the film remains to be one of acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro's least recognized. It received no attention at the Oscars that year, despite many of Del Toro's other films catching the attention of the Academy.
Crimson Peak is very different from other well-known Del Toro films, as it takes gothic horror to a whole new level. Aesthetically pleasing, dark, and memorably poignant, it's arguable that Crimson Peak did not receive the appreciation it deserved.
Deadpool (2016)
The first Deadpool film quickly became a fan-favorite upon its theatrical release in 2016. Marvel films often garner some amount of recognition from the Academy and other award ceremonies alike, so the complete snubbing of Deadpool - one of the most successful and popular films to come out of 2016 - came as a surprise.
On another note, this quirky superhero film did receive some recognition at the Golden Globes; it was nominated in the Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy category, as well as receiving a Best Lead Actor nomination for Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds.
Okja (2017)
Okja is one of writer/director Bong Joon-ho's lesser-known works, but it's nonetheless unforgettable and captivating. Okja had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017, in which it received critical acclaim.
This adorably quirky, notably moving film should have received more recognition than it got, being a perfect candidate for any number of nominations at the Academy Awards. Yet today, it remains sadly underrated.
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is widely known as one of the best films to come out of 2018, and easily the best horror film of the year. However, Ari Aster's debut feature film being pegged in the somewhat blacklisted horror genre was most likely what held it back from receiving any nominations at the Oscars that year.
Most of all, the snubbing of Toni Collette's heartstopping performance was strongly debated in 2018, and many felt that the actress was robbed.
The Farewell (2019)
The Farewell was writer/director Lulu Wang's second feature film, and upon its release at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, it captivated audiences and critics alike. The Farewell is easily one of the most underrated films to come out of 2019, surprisingly getting completely snubbed at the Academy Awards that year.
However, this unique drama-comedy did receive some much-deserved recognition at the Golden Globes, with actress Awkwafina coining a Best Actress - Musical or Comedy award. Additionally, the film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film but lost to Bong Joon-ho's genre-bending hit, Parasite.
