Top 20 Failed Oscar Bait Movies

Studios roll out polished dramas every awards season, but not every prestige play lands with the Academy. These films had the trappings of contenders with big stars, serious subjects, and release plans aimed at gold. Many premiered at major festivals or arrived in late fall only to fade when nominations were announced. Here are notable examples that chased glory and came up short.

‘The Goldfinch’ (2019)

Adapted from Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize novel, this drama paired director John Crowley with Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman. It premiered at the Toronto festival in September and moved quickly into a wide release. Reviews were weak and the box office collapsed in its opening weekend. It finished awards season without any Oscar nominations.

‘Collateral Beauty’ (2016)

Will Smith headlined an ensemble that included Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, and Edward Norton in a grief centered holiday drama. The film opened in December with a campaign built around its cast and sentiment heavy premise. Critics rejected the story and word of mouth trended negative. It received no Oscar nominations despite the pedigree.

‘Amelia’ (2009)

Hilary Swank and Richard Gere brought the life of Amelia Earhart to the screen under director Mira Nair. The biopic arrived in late October with expectations built around its historical subject and period craft. Reviews cited a conventional approach and soft character work. It did not earn a single Oscar nomination.

‘The Book of Henry’ (2017)

Director Colin Trevorrow followed a blockbuster success with this small town melodrama starring Naomi Watts and Jacob Tremblay. The film opened in June after low key festival play and heavy curiosity. Its twisty plotting drew harsh reviews and audiences stayed away. It never entered the Oscar conversation and finished with zero nominations.

‘The Butler’ (2013)

Forest Whitaker starred as a longtime White House butler opposite Oprah Winfrey in a multidecade civil rights story. The Weinstein Company launched it in August to strong ticket sales and talk of acting nods. Guild recognition was limited and momentum cooled through the fall. The film ultimately received no Oscar nominations.

‘J. Edgar’ (2011)

Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed FBI director J. Edgar Hoover for Clint Eastwood with Armie Hammer in support. The film opened in November with a traditional prestige rollout. Reviews were mixed and industry awards bodies focused elsewhere that year. The Academy did not nominate it in any category.

‘The Current War’ (2017)

This drama about Edison and Westinghouse starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon and premiered at Toronto. Complications tied to its original distributor delayed release and led to a later director’s cut in 2019. The disrupted awards campaign hurt visibility with voters. It ended its run without Oscar recognition.

‘Mary Magdalene’ (2018)

Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix led this biblical drama from director Garth Davis. Distribution setbacks pushed the release outside an ideal awards window in the United States. The film had limited marketing and a muted critical response. It secured no nominations from the Academy.

‘Genius’ (2016)

Colin Firth played editor Maxwell Perkins opposite Jude Law as Thomas Wolfe with Nicole Kidman and Laura Linney in support. The film premiered at Berlin and moved into summer release. Reviews cited a restrained approach that failed to ignite awards chatter. No Oscar nominations followed.

‘Life Itself’ (2018)

Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde anchored an interwoven life story from creator Dan Fogelman. It bowed at Toronto and opened theatrically in September. Critical reception was poor and the domestic box office was minimal. The campaign did not convert to Oscar traction and the film earned no nominations.

‘Lions for Lambs’ (2007)

Robert Redford directed and co starred with Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep in a topical drama about war and media. The film launched in November with a compact awards window. Reviews were divided and the conversation shifted quickly to other contenders. It received no nominations.

‘The Road’ (2009)

Viggo Mortensen headlined this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s post apocalyptic novel. After a festival debut the film opened late in the year with hopes for craft and acting recognition. Its bleak tone and modest campaign could not break through crowded fields. The Academy passed on nominations.

‘Serena’ (2014)

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper reunited for this Depression era drama directed by Susanne Bier. Post production delays led to a quiet release pattern that undercut awards positioning. Reviews were weak and theatrical play was minimal in key markets. The film ended with no Oscar presence.

‘All the King’s Men’ (2006)

Sean Penn led a star packed remake of the 1949 Best Picture winner with Jude Law and Kate Winslet in support. It opened in September after delays and significant reshoots. Critics compared it unfavorably to the earlier film and the campaign never caught fire. It came away with no nominations.

‘The Counselor’ (2013)

Ridley Scott directed an original script by Cormac McCarthy with Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, and Javier Bardem. The film arrived in late October amid expectations for adult crime drama prestige. Its reception was polarized and awards groups did not embrace it. There were no Oscar nominations.

‘The Promise’ (2016)

Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale starred in a historical drama set during the Armenian genocide directed by Terry George. It premiered at Toronto and released the following spring with a humanitarian themed campaign. Box office returns were low and critics were mixed. The film did not register with the Academy.

‘Breathe’ (2017)

Andrew Garfield portrayed disability advocate Robin Cavendish with Claire Foy under director Andy Serkis. The film premiered at Toronto and opened in October in a typical awards corridor. Praise centered on performances yet buzz remained modest across guilds. No Oscar nominations were secured.

‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ (2016)

Ang Lee employed high frame rate technology for this adaptation starring Joe Alwyn with Kristen Stewart and Steve Martin. It premiered at the New York festival and rolled out in November in a limited pattern. Technical choices drew attention but audience interest remained limited. The Academy did not nominate it.

‘The Good Nurse’ (2022)

Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne led this hospital true crime drama directed by Tobias Lindholm. The film premiered at festivals and then launched on streaming with a targeted awards push. Acting campaigns drew some talk yet precursor support was light. It ended the season without Oscar nominations.

‘Welcome to Marwen’ (2018)

Steve Carell starred in Robert Zemeckis’s blend of live action and animation based on the story of Mark Hogancamp. The film opened in December with a wide release and a campaign highlighting visual innovation. Reviews were poor and box office returns were weak through the holidays. It received no nominations from the Academy.

Share the failed Oscar bait titles you think deserved a different fate in the comments.