The 12 worst Oscar-winning films ranked – Forrest Gump is No. 12 | Films | Entertainment

The Academy Awards’ Best Picture category has celebrated numerous cinematic masterpieces. However, not all winners have maintained their acclaim over time.

Utilizing Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer scores, which aggregate critic reviews, we can identify the Best Picture winners with the lowest ratings.

Here are the 12 Best Picture winners that have been ranked the lowest among all of the 97 winners, ranked:

12. Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump tells the tale of a slow-witted yet kind-hearted man from Alabama who unwittingly influences several historical events in the 20th century United States. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks in the titular role, the film beat out Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption to the Best Picture award. Despite its box office success and cultural impact, some critics view the film as overly sentimental, with a somewhat problematic message. Nevertheless, Hanks’ earnest performance has been widely praised. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads: “Tom Hanks’ rigorously earnest performance keeps Forrest Gump sincere even when it gets glib with American history, making for a whimsical odyssey of debatable wisdom but undeniable heart.”

11. Braveheart (1995)

Directed by and starring Mel Gibson, Braveheart is a historical epic that portrays the life of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. The film is noted for its intense battle scenes and sweeping landscapes. However, it has been criticized for historical inaccuracies and excessive violence. Despite these critiques, it remains a popular film among audiences.

10. Crash (2004)

Crash, directed by Paul Haggis, is a drama that explores racial and social tensions in Los Angeles through interconnected stories. The ensemble cast includes Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Matt Dillon. The film aims to challenge audiences’ perceptions of race and prejudice. While it received praise for its ambitious narrative, some critics found its approach heavy-handed and contrived. To this day, its Best Picture win over Brokeback Mountain remains one of the most controversial in Oscar history.

9. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind is a biographical drama about John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who struggles with schizophrenia. Russell Crowe delivers a compelling performance as Nash, with Jennifer Connelly co-starring as his supportive wife, Alicia. The film delves into themes of genius, mental illness, and personal triumph. Despite its accolades, some critics pointed out deviations from the true story and an oversimplified portrayal of mental illness.

8. Going My Way (1944)

A classic feel-good movie of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Going My Way stars Bing Crosby as Father O’Malley, a young, unconventional priest who revitalizes a struggling church. The film was immensely popular upon release and even spawned a sequel, The Bells of St. Mary’s. However, modern audiences and critics find its sweetness excessive, and its pacing slow by contemporary standards. While it remains a charming relic of its era, Going My Way is one of the more forgotten Best Picture winners.

7. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

An ambitious adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel, this adventure film was a massive production with locations spanning the globe and a cast filled with celebrity cameos. However, beneath the spectacle, the film lacks real substance. At nearly three hours long, its lighthearted tone starts to wear thin, and its outdated depictions of various cultures have aged poorly. “It’s undeniably shallow, but its cheerful lack of pretense — as well as its grand scale and star-stuffed cast — help make Around the World in 80 Days charmingly light-hearted entertainment”, says the website’s Critics’s Consensus.

6. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

A lavish tribute to Broadway showman Florenz Ziegfeld, this film is filled with extravagant musical numbers and elaborate sets. Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, it was a hit in its time, capturing the glitz and glamour of early 20th-century show business. However, like many lengthy biopics from Hollywood’s early years, it struggles to maintain engagement for modern viewers. The runtime is excessive, and historical inaccuracies abound, making it more of a dated curiosity than an enduring classic.

5. Cavalcade (1933)

Based on the play by Noël Coward, Cavalcade chronicles the lives of an upper-class British family and their servants through major historical events. While an ambitious film for its time, it has not aged well. Critics today find that it “lacks cohesion, and sacrifices true emotion for mawkishness”, with characters that feel more like historical placeholders than fully developed people – making it one of the least revisited Best Picture winners.

4. Out of Africa (1985)

This romance starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford is visually stunning, but its “glacial” pacing and indulgent runtime make it a tough watch for some. Based on the memoir of Karen Blixen, the film tells the story of a Danish baroness’s experiences in Kenya. While praised for cinematography and performances, its colonialist perspective and lack of narrative drive have led to more critical reevaluations over the years.

3. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, The Greatest Show on Earth “is melodramatic, short on plot, excessively lengthy and bogged down with clichés, but not without a certain innocent charm”, according to critics. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and the ensemble cast includes Charlton Heston and James Stewart. The film features grand circus performances and dramatic subplots.

2. Cimarron (1931) 

Based on Edna Ferber’s novel, Cimarron follows Yancey Cravat, portrayed by Richard Dix, and his wife, Sabra, played by Irene Dunne, as they settle in Oklahoma during the land rush. While praised for its large-scale production and strong performance from Irene Dunne, it suffers from a meandering plot, outdated racial depictions, and characters that fail to resonate today. Once considered a landmark film, Cimarron has aged poorly, making it one of the least-regarded Best Picture winners.

1. The Broadway Melody (1929)

The first talking musical to win Best Picture is also first place in this list. The Broadway Melody holds historical significance but little else, according to critics, who brand it “interesting as an example of an early Hollywood musical, but otherwise, essentially bereft of appeal for modern audiences”. The story of two sisters navigating the showbiz world feels basic, the performances are stiff, and the filmmaking techniques are primitive by today’s standards. While it was revolutionary in 1929, it’s a tough watch for modern audiences, making it the lowest-rated Best Picture winner on Rotten Tomatoes.