# The biggest Oscar snubs: 8 great films that lost the top prize

> Eight great films often called Oscar snubs, from Citizen Kane, Raging Bull and Do the Right Thing to Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Saving Private Ryan, Brokeback Mountain and The Social Network.

Source: https://rankiew.app/blog/biggest-oscar-snubs
Published: 2026-07-10
Author: Rankiew
Tags: lists, oscars, debate

Winning the Oscar does not always mean making the best film. This list gathers eight films often called Oscar snubs, in release order, with posters, the directors and which film took Best Picture.

# How we chose

We chose acclaimed films that lost, or were not nominated for, Best Picture to a film many consider less influential today. This is a matter of opinion, so it is not a numbered ranking, and the winners are respected too.

## Citizen Kane (1941)

::film[Citizen Kane|1941]

Directed by Orson Welles. Best Picture went to How Green Was My Valley (1941).

## Raging Bull (1980)

::film[Raging Bull|1980]

Directed by Martin Scorsese. Best Picture went to Ordinary People (1980).

## Do the Right Thing (1989)

::film[Do the Right Thing|1989]

Directed by Spike Lee. Best Picture went to Driving Miss Daisy (1989).

## Goodfellas (1990)

::film[Goodfellas|1990]

Directed by Martin Scorsese. Best Picture went to Dances with Wolves (1990).

## Pulp Fiction (1994)

::film[Pulp Fiction|1994]

Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Best Picture went to Forrest Gump (1994).

## Saving Private Ryan (1998)

::film[Saving Private Ryan|1998]

Directed by Steven Spielberg. Best Picture went to Shakespeare in Love (1998).

## Brokeback Mountain (2005)

::film[Brokeback Mountain|2005]

Directed by Ang Lee. Best Picture went to Crash (2005).

## The Social Network (2010)

::film[The Social Network|2010]

Directed by David Fincher. Best Picture went to The King's Speech (2010).

Use the posters above to decide what to watch first, and come back to rate the ones you have already seen. Share this list with friends and compare which films each of you would put first.

# Frequently asked questions

## What are the biggest Oscar snubs?

Frequently cited are Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, Do the Right Thing, Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Saving Private Ryan and Brokeback Mountain.

## Why do great films lose at the Oscars?

Voters have different tastes, campaigns and moods each year, and a film that later becomes a classic may not match the favorite of its moment.

## Did Do the Right Thing get nominated for Best Picture?

No. It was not nominated for Best Picture, and Driving Miss Daisy won that year.

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*Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.*