I have been asked repeatedly by many readers and students to name the worst films that have won Oscar gold, the Best Picture Award.
If you want t know more about the history and politics of the Academy Awards, please read my book, All About Oscar (now in its 11th edition).
I have been reluctant to do it–I’d rather praise good movies that have won the Oscar, such as David Lean’s The Bridge on the River Kwai in 1957 or Lawrence of Arabia in 1962.
But readers kept asking… So here is a list of 15 bad (C and C+) or below-mediocre (B-) films that have won the Best Picture Oscar in their respective year. Many more Best Picture winners are just mediocre.
My list of bad Oscar-winning films is arranged chronologically.
The Broadway Melody, 1928-1929
Cimarron, 1930-1931
Cavalcade, 1932-1933
The Great Ziegfeld, 1936
Mrs. Miniver, 1942
The Greatest Show on Earth, 1952
Around the World in 80 Days, 1956
My Fair Lady, 1964
Oliver! 1968
Driving Miss Daisy, 1989
Braveheart, 1995
American Beauty, 1999
Gladiator, 2000
Chicago, 2002
Crash, 2005
Notes:
Half of the bad Oscar winners have been musicals.
More than half have been made by MGM.
Now don’t ask me to name the very worst film to have won the Best Picture–or, for that matter, the best film that has won the top award.
