As viewers gear up for awards season, the "Oscar bait" movies are always around. Studios want their films to win Oscars, and it shows during awards season with massive PR pushes and press junkets for Oscar-hopeful films. Some of the best films ever made were designed specifically to win Oscars.
While there have been some great Oscar films over the years, there have been some notable duds as well. Generally, these films are meant to contend for awards, but the final result doesn't come close. Critics can be very unforgiving, and there is nothing worse than an Oscar bait film bombing.
15 All The King's Men Wasn't Even Close To The Success Of The 1949 Original
All the King’s Men is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and follows the rise and fall of Governor Willie Stark. The film was previously adapted in 1949 when it won Best Picture at the Oscars. The 2006 adaptation starred Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Anthony Hopkins.
Unfortunately, this adaptation of the novel was a critical and commercial failure. All the King’s Men (2006) holds a dismal 11% on Rotten Tomatoes and nearly all facets of the film were criticized. It doesn’t get any more “Oscar bait” than trying to remake a film that won Best Picture and failing miserably.
14 Cats Was A Flop
Released in December 2019, Cats was an adaptation of the famous Broadway musical of the same name. The film was directed by Tom Hooper and featured an impressive cast, including Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, and even Taylor Swift.
Cats was universally panned upon release. Critics came after everything, from its visuals to its cast to its direction. Given how much talent was behind the film, it was shocking that it bombed so bad. There was even an infamous cut where several of the cats' rears were visible before it was quickly changed.
13 Seven Pounds' Narrative Divided Critics
Seven Pounds stars Will Smith as Ben Thomas, a man who sets out to change the lives of seven different people because he's seeking redemption. The film costars Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Michael Ealy. While it was a box office success, the reviews from critics were a different story.
Critics found Seven Pounds overly grim and its plot to be illogical. The film's twist ending proved to be divisive among viewers and critics, which doomed any awards season hopes the film had. To Seven Pounds' credit, it was more well-received by audiences than it was by critics.
12 Don't Look Up Was A Little Too On-The-Nose
Don't Look Up follows two astronomers (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) who desperately try to warn the world of its impending doom, aware a meteor is heading straight to Earth. The satire film focuses on the current political climate in the United States and the important subject of climate change.
While it was satire, Don't Look Up was shamelessly an Oscar bait movie. For example, Meryl Streep's President Orlean is quite obviously based on former President Trump, and several of his cabinet members serve as the inspiration for other characters. Critics found the satire heavy-handed. Despite not being a favorite among critics nor viewers, Don't Look Up surprisingly landed a nomination for Best Picture.
11 Australia Will Find New Life On Hulu As A Limited Series
The Baz Luhrmann-directed Australia follows an Englishwoman who inherits a ranch in Australia. Being there brought her into contact with a cattle drover and a young Aboriginal boy. The epic starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and was meant to be a sure-fire Awards contender.
Unfortunately, Australia only received one nomination for Best Costume Design. Critics didn't love the film, with many citing its long runtime (165 minutes) and its narrative being all over the place. However, in June 2022, it was announced that the film would be re-released as a six-part limited series entitled Faraway Downs, which will incorporate unused footage from the film. It is due to be released on Hulu.
10 J. Edgar Was Praised For Leonardo DiCaprio's Performance And Not Much Else
J. Edgar focuses on the life of former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film follows Hoover's life and career, from founding the FBI to his personal struggles. It was directed by Clint Eastwood, who was coming off the success of Invictus at the Oscars just two years before.
Most critics agreed DiCaprio gave a powerhouse performance, but the rest of the film was a letdown. It was clear that J. Edgar was meant to be an Oscar movie, but it didn't land. DiCaprio, on the other hand, landed nominations for a SAG and Golden Globe but didn't receive a coveted Oscar nomination.
9 Amelia Was A Forgettable Biopic
Amelia stars Hilary Swank as famed aviator Amelia Earhart, the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart tragically disappeared in 1937 while flying over the Pacific Ocean. The unpopular biopic covers Earhart's early life and aviation career all the way up to her disappearance.
Critics were overwhelmingly negative in their reviews of Amelia, and it didn't fare better with audiences. The film was labeled flat, dull, and random. Swank, a two-time Oscar winner, didn't receive high praise for her performance as Earhart.
8 The Monuments Men Just Didn't Click With Critics
The Monuments Men, starring and directed by George Clooney, takes place during World War II and follows an Allied group who are tasked with finding pieces of art. The film featured an ensemble cast, including Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Cate Blanchett.
The Monuments Men had everything an Oscar movie would have. It had a great cast, Clooney was coming off the success of The Ides of March, and it was a war movie, which the Oscars tend to like. However, The Monuments Men didn't hit well with critics. Quite a few critics brought up its historical inaccuracy, even though the film claimed to be based on true events.
7 The Soloist's Narrative Lets Down Its Strong Lead Performances
The Soloist stars Jamie Foxx as Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless musician who lives with schizophrenia. Robert Downey Jr. costars as a journalist who discovers Ayers and wants to write about him. The Soloist is based on the true story of their friendship.
Despite having strong performances from its leads, the rest of The Soloist wasn't a hit with critics. Many said that the narrative was a disappointment. The Soloist only made just over half of its budget at the box office and received negative reviews.
6 Diana Landed Naomi Watts A Razzie Nomination
Diana, released in 2013, is a character study of Princess Diana’s final two years. Naomi Watts stars as Princess Diana and the film explores her relationship with Hasnat Khan, a heart surgeon played by Naveen Andrews. Generally, biopics about deeply admired people such as Princess Diana are well-received.
However, Diana didn't get much right, according to critics. It currently holds a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and many criticized the narrative of Diana. Watts, unfortunately, landed a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress instead of an Oscar.
5 Vice Is Mostly Remembered For Christian Bale's Impressive Transformation
Vice is a biopic of United States Vice President Dick Cheney, played in the film by Christian Bale. It follows Cheney’s rise to power in politics and how he came to wield impressive power as Vice President, that ultimately changed the country. Directed by Adam McKay, the film costars Amy Adams, Sam Rockwell and Steve Carell.
Vice received a Best Picture nomination, its reception was more divided among critics. Most of its positive reception came in the form of the performances, particularly Bale’s transformation into Cheney, while the narrative structure was criticized. The Academy tends to award biopics, but it only walked away with one award.
4 Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Is One Of The Worst Best Picture Nominees Of All Time
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close tells the story of Oskar Shell, a 9-year-old kid who seeks a lock to a mysterious key his father left behind for him after he dies in the September 11th attacks. The film stars Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, and Max von Sydow.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close had a polarizing reception and holds a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. It caused a lot of controversy after it secured a Best Picture nomination in 2012, with some saying the new rules for Best Picture nominees helped it get a nomination. It remains one of the worst Best Picture nominees in Oscars history.
3 House Of Gucci Only Received One Oscar Nomination
House of Gucci stars Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, whose marriage to Maurizio Gucci led to a power struggle amongst the Gucci family in the 1980s and 1990s. The film costars Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, and Al Pacino. While a lot of the praise went to Lady Gaga's performance, it was primed for a big Oscar night.
When the nominations came around, nothing could have been further from the truth. House of Gucci only landed one Oscar nomination, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, which proved the film did not have the power it wanted with the Academy voters. Shockingly, Lady Gaga did not pick up a nomination for Best Actress despite sweeping nominations in nearly every major award that year.
2 The Butler Was Brought Down By Its Historical Inaccuracy
Lee Daniel's The Butler starred Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, a butler in the White House who serves eight different U.S. Presidents over the course of a 34-year career. The film is based on the life of Eugene Allen, who served in the White House from 1952 to 1986. It features an all-star ensemble cast, including Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Alan Rickman, Robin Williams, and Cuba Gooding Jr. to name a few.
The Butler had all the right pieces to be a sure-fire Oscars hit, but did not end up getting any nominations. Many critics pointed out some historical inaccuracies of the film, especially when it came to former President Ronald Reagan. Reagan is portrayed as indifferent to the civil rights movement, which angered quite a few historians.
1 Babylon Was Too Divisive For Any Major Awards
Babylon takes place during the late 1920s when Hollywood was transitioning from silent films to sound films. Directed by Damien Chazelle, the film is led by an ensemble cast that stars Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, and Tobey Maguire. The Academy tends to love movies about Hollywood, but this was not the case for Babylon.
The reception to the film was very polarizing, with some calling Babylon a masterpiece while others called it a hot mess. It's 3 hour and 10-minute runtime was also near-universally criticized, which had some critics calling the film exhausting. Babylon only garnered 3 Academy Award nominations, but none were in a major category.