10 Oscar Mistakes That Aged Like Milk

From Mickey Rourke losing Best Actor for The Wrestler to Toni Collette's snub for Hereditary, these Oscar mistakes have aged like milk in the desert.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:10pm

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Tomorrow, we will be celebrating the best movies of 2025 as the 98th Academy Awards take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Ahead of this year's Oscars, thoughts turn to those movies of the past that cemented their names in cinema history with Academy Award victories. However, for every iconic winner, others have found notoriety for all the wrong reasons, as they take the place of another movie or performer widely considered the more deserving nominee or winner.

Why it matters

These Oscar snubs and mistakes have become a source of controversy and debate among film fans and critics, highlighting the Academy's biases and oversights over the years. Recognizing these missteps is important for understanding the evolving nature of the Oscars and the film industry's changing attitudes.

The details

The article covers 10 specific Oscar mistakes, including Mickey Rourke's loss for Best Actor for The Wrestler, Toni Collette's snub for Hereditary, the omission of Singin' in the Rain from the Best Picture category in 1952, the controversial win of Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan in 1998, Ralph Fiennes' lack of an Oscar win despite his acclaimed performance in Schindler's List, Citizen Kane's loss for Best Picture in 1941, Brokeback Mountain's loss to Crash in 2005, Alfred Hitchcock's lack of a Best Director win, 2001: A Space Odyssey's absence from the Best Picture nominees in 1968, and Do the Right Thing's snub from the Best Picture category in 1989.

  • The 98th Academy Awards will take place tomorrow at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
  • The article discusses Oscar mistakes and snubs from various years, including 1952, 1993, 1998, 2005, 1941, 1968, and 1989.

The players

Mickey Rourke

An actor who delivered a career-defining performance in The Wrestler, but lost the Best Actor Oscar to Sean Penn for Milk.

Toni Collette

An actress who gave a visceral, ground-shaking performance in the horror film Hereditary, but was snubbed for a Best Actress nomination.

Alfred Hitchcock

The iconic director who never won a Best Director Oscar, despite his immense impact on cinema.

Spike Lee

The director of the groundbreaking film Do the Right Thing, which was not even nominated for Best Picture in 1989.

Stanley Kubrick

The acclaimed director of the genre-defining 2001: A Space Odyssey, which did not receive a Best Picture nomination in 1968.

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The takeaway

Recognizing these high-profile Oscar mistakes is important for understanding the evolving nature of the awards and the film industry's changing attitudes. These snubs and controversial wins have become a part of the Oscars' legacy, sparking ongoing discussions about the Academy's decision-making and the need for more inclusive and representative recognition of cinematic excellence.