# Worst Movies to ever win Best Picture Oscar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878 "2002-03-24T19:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jmpride62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@jmpride62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmpride62)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/1 "2002-03-24T19:06:21Z")
I know that this has been done to death, but what they hey? My votes - Dances With Wolves - that was embarrassing Forrest Gump - quite possibly the most annoying movie ever made Gladiator - just didn’t like it Titanic - Harlequin romance at sea - Fortunately DeCaprio’s career has taken quite the nose dive since 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/2 "2002-03-24T19:10:57Z")
There is a story in the NY Times on this very topic. I haven’t seen any of these but some of the candidates include “Cimarron”, “Cavalcade”, and “Around the World in 80 Days”. Actually I have seen “Around the World …” It’s not that great. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mike\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_H)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/3 "2002-03-24T19:17:43Z")
My pet peeve has always been _Rocky_. Condider the other nominees that year (1976): _Network_, _All the President’s Men_, _Taxi Driver_ ! I mean the original Rocky was OK, but come on! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/4 "2002-03-24T19:36:02Z")
Gladiator Greatest Show on Earth Rocky Titanic ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/5 "2002-03-24T19:38:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mike H \* > \*\*My pet peeve has always been _Rocky_. Condider the other nominees that year (1976): _Network_, _All the President’s Men_, _Taxi Driver_ ! I mean the original Rocky was OK, but come on! \*\* [I agree with you](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=85220&highlight=oscar) ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/6 "2002-03-24T19:53:08Z")
The Washington Post also did an [article on this same topic](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33955-2002Mar15.html). One writer’s choices included Titanic, Deer Hunter, My Fair Lady, Around the World in 80 Days, and (at the top of his list!) Gone With the Wind. The other writer proffers The Greatest Show on Earth, Cimarron, Gladiator, Going My Way, and Forrest Gump. I’d have to agree with Titanic or My Fair Lady. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/7 "2002-03-24T19:54:59Z")
There may be worse Best Pictures that I haven’t seen. But of the ones I HAVE seen, theworst are: 1. “Out of Africa” 2. “The Last Emperor” 3. “American Beauty” 4 “Going My Way” (Look, I’m a sentimental Irish Catholic, but still…) 4. “The Apartment” 5. “Gladiator” (I actually enjoyed it as a funny, campy action/adventure flick… but BEST PICTURE???) 6. “Gentleman’s Agreement” (proof positive that good intentions are not enough to make a good movie) ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/8 "2002-03-24T20:11:05Z")
Of the films I’ve seen: **Gladiator** - Not impressed. Standard action fare, good summer movie, not Best Picture. **American Beauty** - This one will get me yelled at, I’m sure, but no matter how many times I’m told this is a good film, I cannot see what was so good about it. It was a cliche-fest with the acting being the only redeemable quality, IMO. I think also-rans _The Insider_, _The Cider House Rules_, or even _The Sixth Sense_ would have been better picks. **Titanic** - My dislike of this fillm is well-documented around the boards. By the numbers plot, cardboard characters, at best mediocre dialogue. Personally, I thought _LA Confidential_ was the Best Picture for this year. **Rocky** - This has been covered already. **Tom Jones** - Not impressed in this one at all. I thought it was one of the unfunniest comedies I ever saw. **West Side Story** - Just a personal thing here, but I hate this movie. I hate the music. I hate the concept of the dancing street gangs. I hate it, hate it, hate it. **Around the World in 80 Days** - This beat out _Giant_, _The King and I_, and _The Ten Commandments_? **Marty** - I’m sorry, this one just failed to impress me in any way. On top of which it won although one of my favorite films, _Mr. Roberts_, was also nominated that year so I may just be a little biased here. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/9 "2002-03-24T20:27:44Z")
While I was less than impressed with **Titanic** , a very popular target for the topic, I can sort of understand why it was so well-received by others. **Gladiator** ’s popularity and raves just confuse me. I enjoyed seeing it, sure, but…ah well. Life wouldn’t be life without these kinds of mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/10 "2002-03-24T20:45:27Z")
“Annie Hall” - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/11 "2002-03-24T20:50:02Z")
**Titanic** is on TV here in Ireland as I write. It may be an atrocious movie, but that ship sinking scene is utterly jawdropping (and you get to see Kate Winslet’s babylons). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/12 "2002-03-24T20:51:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\ ***Titanic** is on TV here in Ireland as I write. It may be an atrocious movie, but that ship sinking scene is utterly jawdropping (and you get to see Kate Winslet’s babylons). \*\* …and the added bonus of Leo dying a cold, painful death! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/13 "2002-03-24T20:55:00Z")
_Out of Africa_ was astoundingly dull. How it won, I have no idea. But the winner I’ve seen that mystifies me most is _Gigi_. I mean, the songs were good, but the movie as a whole was just “eh”. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/14 "2002-03-24T21:22:55Z")
**Gladiator** : There’s no reason this should have gotten BP considering what it was up against. **Titanic** : Feh. **Shakespeare In Love** : I say again: Feh. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/15 "2002-03-24T21:56:48Z")
Nobody’s yet mentioned _The English Patient_? Put me to sleep. Let’s not forget _Oliver!_. Hate, hate, hate musicals. BTW, a list of Best Picture winners is [here.](http://www.filmsite.org/bestpics2.html) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/16 "2002-03-24T22:03:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Nobody’s yet mentioned _The English Patient_? Put me to sleep. My reaction to the film: “Jesus, dude! Will you _die_ already???” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/17 "2002-03-24T22:05:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Hate, hate, hate musicals. What about _The Forbidden Zone_ with Danny Elfman and Herve Villachiez? 😃 (Okay, it didn’t win an Oscar, but I loved it!) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/18 "2002-03-24T22:48:42Z")
Midnight Cowboy ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/19 "2002-03-24T23:31:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > \*\*Midnight Cowboy \*\* I agree. I rented this a couple of years ago to see what the big deal was. After all, it originally had an X rating! Egads, did it suck! It IS a good example to see method acting acting at its worst. Dustin, I’m looking right at you! ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878/20 "2002-03-25T00:26:17Z")
**Out of Africa**. I’ve seen other ‘White man tames Africa’ films better than this tripe, such as **Tarzan**. And I really hate Tarzan and the concept itself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-movies-to-ever-win-best-picture-oscar/99878.md?page=2)