Since 1929, 80 movies have been awarded the Best Picture Academy Award. Some of these have stood the test of time and critical and popular acclaim. Others – well – haven’t. For every Godfather there is a Terms of Endearment. With the help of IMDB (for rankings), this list contains the 15 least popular Best Pictures ever. If there are any “best of” movies you think deserve to be on the list, be sure to tell us in the comments. Here, they are from best to worst.
IMDb rating: 7.3
Producer/Director: James L Brooks
Stars: Shirley McLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson
Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma’s marriage, Aurora shows how difficult and loving she can be. The movie covers several years of their lives as each finds different reasons to go on living and find joy. Aurora’s interludes with Garrett Breedlove, retired astronaut and next door neighbor are quite striking. In the end, different people show their love in very different ways.
Films it beat: (other Best Picture nominees): The Big Chill; The Dresser; The Right Stuff; Tender Mercies
IMDb rating: 7.3
Producer/Director: David Puttnam, Hugh Hudson
Stars: Ian Charleson, Ben Cross
The story, told in flashback, of two young British sprinters competing for fame in the 1924 Olympics. Eric, a devout Scottish missionary runs because he knows it must please God. Harold, the son of a newly rich Jew runs to prove his place in Cambridge society. In a warmup 100 meter race, Eric defeats Harold, who hires a pro trainer to prepare him. Eric, whose qualifying heat is scheduled for a Sunday, refuses to run despite pressure from the Olympic committee. A compromise is reached when a nobleman allows Eric to compete in his 400 meter slot.
Films it beat: Atlantic City; On Golden Pond; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Reds
IMDb rating: 7.3
Producer/Director: Arthur Freed, Vincente Minnelli
Stars: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron
Jerry Mulligan, a struggling American painter in Paris, is “discovered” by an influential heiress with an interest in more than Jerry’s art. Jerry in turn falls for Lise, a young French girl already engaged to a cabaret singer. Jerry jokes, sings and dances with his best friend, an acerbic would-be concert pianist, while romantic complications abound.
Films it beat: Decision Before Dawn; A Place in the Sun; Quo Vadis; A Streetcar Named Desire
IMDb rating: 7.3
Producer/Director: Darryl F Zanuck, Elia Kazan
Stars: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire
A well-known writer at a progressive New York magazine decides to tackle anti-Semitism in a unique way as his first assignment. Gregory Peck’s character, Philip Green, pretends to be Jewish in order to write about the effects of bigotry. From being refused a job and access to public accommodations, to his son being verbally attacked and his fiancée expressing concern over his assumed identity, Green soon learns what it means to be the object of sectarian prejudice.
Films it beat: The Bishop’s Wife; Crossfire; Great Expectations; Miracle on 34th Street
IMDb rating: 7.2
Producer/Director: James Cameron, Jon Landau
Stars: Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate Winslet
The ship sinks.
Films it beat: As Good as It Gets; The Full Monty; Good Will Hunting; L A Confidential
IMDb rating: 7.2
Producer/Director: Saul Zaentz, Anthony Minghella
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas
A burn victim, a nurse, a thief, and a sapper find themselves in each other’s company in an old Italian villa close to the end of World War II. Through flashbacks, we see the life of the burn victim, whose passionate love of a woman and choices he made for her ultimately change the lives of one other person in the villa. Not only is this film a search for the identity of the English patient, but a search for the identities of all the people in the quiet old villa.
Films it beat: Fargo; Jerry Maguire; Secrets & Lies; Shine
IMDb rating: 7.1
Producer/Director: Tony Richardson
Stars: Albert Finney, Susannah York
Squire Allworthy brings up Tom Jones, abandoned as a baby in mysterious circumstances. Resented by Allworthy’s legitimate heir Blifil, Tom grows into an amiable rascal, fond of the fair sex. He loves Squire Western’s daughter Sophie, but when discovered by his tutors with a local girl Molly, he is banished by his benefactor. After numerous adventures he reaches London and embarks on an affair with the wealthy Lady Bellaston while Squire Western’s sister has arranged a marriage between Sophie and Blifil.
Films it beat: America, America; Cleopatra; How the West Was Won; Lilies of the Field
IMDb rating: 7.0
Producer/Director: Hunt Stromberg, Robert Z Leonard
Stars: William Powell, Myra Loy
At the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, sideshow barker Flo Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more successful neighbor Billings, and steals his girlfriend to boot. This pattern is repeated throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever bigger, more spectacular shows (sections of which appear in the film). French revue star Anna Held becomes his first wife, but its not easy being married to the man who “glorified the American girl.” Late in life, now married to Billie Burke, he seems to be all washed up, but…
Films it beat: Anthony Adverse; Dodsworth; Libeled Lady; Mr. Deeds Goes to Town; Romeo and Juliet; San Francisco; The Story of Louis Pasteur; A Tale of Two Cities; Three Smart Girls
IMDb rating: 6.9
Producer/Director: Sydney Pollack
Stars: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford
A study of the life of Danish noblewoman and storyteller Karen (‘Isak’) Dinesen Blixen, from her marriage and departure for Kenya in 1913 until her return to Denmark in 1931. As she tries to maintain a coffee farm through various struggles and disasters, and strives to improve relations with the local natives, her marriage of convenience to a titled aristocrat gradually gives way to an enduring romance with the noted hunter and adventurer Denys Finch Hatton.
Films it beat: The Color Purple; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Prizzi’s Honor; Witness
IMDb rating: 6.9
Producer/Director: Arthur Freed, Vincente Minnelli
Stars: Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan
Gaston (Jordan), the scion of a wealthy Parisian family finds emotional refuge from the superficial lifestyle of upper class Parisian 1900s society with the former mistress (Gingold) of his uncle (Chevalier) and her outgoing, tomboy granddaughter, Gigi (Caron). When Gaston becomes aware that Gigi has matured into a woman, her grandmother and aunt (Jeans), who have educated Gigi to be a wealthy man’s mistress, enjoin on him to become her provider and on her to accept such a golden opportunity. However, love adds a surprise twist to this delightful turn-of-the 20th century Cinderella story.
Films it beat: Auntie Mame; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; The Defiant Ones; Separate Tables
IMDb rating: 6.8
Producer/Director: Michael Todd, Michael Anderson
Stars: David Niven, Cantinflas
When Phileas Fogg is challenged to prove his contention that a man can go around the world in 80 days, he bets his entire fortune and leaves with a new butler on a world tour. This Victorian adventure has a kicker; the bank of England has been robbed. Is this Fogg’s way of avoiding arrest? The detective following him believes so, and his butler is becoming unsure.
Films it beat: Friendly Persuasion; Giant; The King and I; The Ten Commandments
IMDb rating: 6.7
Producer/Director: Cecil B deMille
Stars: Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour
To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground. Subplots involve the secret past of Buttons the Clown and the efforts of racketeers to move in on the game concessions.
Films it beat: High Noon; Ivanhoe; Moulin Rouge; The Quiet Man
IMDb rating: 6.6
Producer/Director: Frank Lloyd, Winfield R Sheehan, Frank Lloyd
Stars: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook
A cavalcade of English life from New Year’s Eve 1899 until 1933 seen through the eyes of well-to-do Londoners Jane and Robert Marryot. Amongst events touching their family are the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, the sinking of the Titanic and the Great War.
Films it beat: 42nd Street; A Farewell to Arms; I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang; Lady for a Day; Little Women; The Private Life of Henry VIII; She Done Him Wrong; Smilin’ Through; State Fair
IMDb rating: 6.5
Producer/Director: Irving Thalberg and Lawrence Weingarten, Harry Beaumont
Stars: Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love, Kenneth Thomson
Harriet and Queenie Mahoney, a vaudeville act, come to Broadway, where their friend Eddie Kerns needs them for his number in one of Francis Zanfield’s shows. Eddie was in love with Harriet, but when he meets Queenie, he falls in love to her, but Jock Warriner, a member of the New Yorker high society, courts her.
Films it beat: (unofficially – there were no official nominations that year): Alibi; The Hollywood Revue of 1929; In Old Arizona; The Patriot
IMDb rating: 6.2
Stars: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne
Forty years of social and urban progress in American life from 1889-1929 are seen through the life of a progressive newspaper editor/lawyer in Oklahoma, and the wife who resents his longing for the excitement of the frontier in the years after the Oklahoma land rush.
Films it beat: East Lynne; The Front Page; Skippy; Trader Horn
Some synopses courtesy of IMDB, the Internet Movie Database
Contributor: astraya
One of the best films I’ve ever seen in my life is Cloverfield. The special effects of that movie were awesome and spectacular! It’s like the 1998 remake of Godzilla only this time the monster in Cloverfield remained a mystery to the public until the grand opening. After the ends credits of Cloverfield have passed in the very end, you will hear a transmission that sounds like “Help us!” But if you put that transmission in reverse, it says “It’s still alive!” It is very likely that there will be a Cloverfield sequel.
111. Randall -Good lord… we need to talk.
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Especially when I tell you that after I left the script supervising job, I went to work for a novelist in Hollywood, that expanded into publicity/setting up events and doing first line edits for a number of the members of the Southern California Mystery Writers of America.
I’m not just a pretty face, Randall. I know my way around.
Randall (68): I think the Color Purple should absolutely have beaten Out of Africa – it is an absolutely incredible movie with some stunning acting – particularly from Oprah and Woopie Goldberg.
YogiBarrister: if you put more than one link in a comment it goes to moderation and cyn or I have to approve it – I just got up and there is nothing in moderation – did your comment show up in the end?
segue:
“I’m not just a pretty face, Randall. I know my way around.”
I’m sure… well we DO have to talk…
would you….. care to read a chapter?
jfrater:
re: The Color Purple. To each his own. It’s known how I feel about Spielberg. But yes, it’s a good movie. I just think, you know… three good movies, roughly the same quality…
As I recall though, the talk about that back then was because Spielberg was still viewed as the kiddie action film guy. Thus he didn’t win.
re: the comment thing with YogiBarrister–I had the same problem yesterday on the Animal Testing thread–I submitted a comment OVER and OVER again with ONE link in it, and it would not take it, no matter how many times I tried.
Randall, YES!
How do you want to handle getting it to me?
email or snailmail?
…meh, this list is okay. You kind of turned me off of this list when I saw that Titanic was on it. It’s not my number one favorite film,but it is in my top twenty, so…yeah.
How “Terms of Endearment” beat “The Right Stuff” to me, ranks #1 as the biggest Oscar ‘Best Movie’ blunder ever. That movie was a masterpiece. “The Sand Pebbles” is another great movie that was robbed of an Oscar by an inferior movie.
segue:
Definitely email.
what you could do is email ME at [email address removed] (NO that is NOT my real name, by the way) and send me your email address if you like—that way you don’t have to post it here… how’s that? Then I’ll email you back.
why is titanic on tis list? its a good movie.
The oscars are a complete farce. the studios control who wins. Titanic for example cost a LOAD of money to make. How to make that money back? DVD sales. And what sells DVDs more than a header above the title that says “Winner: Best picture”. This is the way it always has been with the “big” awards like best director/picture/actor/actress. You’ll never see a film that truly deserves an Oscar based on originality and talent. last years Best Picture was the only one that truly deserved the honour in years. (“No country for old men”… just try to find a movie that deserves best picture more than that film.) The studios decide who wins, it’s all about money. Sad really, but when you think about it long enough it shouldn’t be too big of a surprise.
Jamie, the comment and links now appear. It just occurred to me that checking out the links before you post them isn’t such a bad idea. I was guilty of linking to a disgusting clip from PINK FLAMINGOES myself, and then yesterday, that split penis link was too much. I’ll never masturbate again, until that awful image is deleted from my memory.
Might want to check for more plagiarism. Another crappy list that reeks of “borrowed” writing.
Yogi: hahaha
Cdavis: some synopses are from IMDB – it says so at the bottom of the list.
Titanic is flippin’ amazing! How did it win 11 Academy Awards? I haven’t seen any of the other ones though, so I won’t say anything.
Jfrater, I agree with you about The Color Purple. I’m not a huge Speilberg fan but the actors’ performances in that film certainly made a more lasting impression than anything I witnessed in Out Of Africa.
Also, I can’t believe Gigi won over Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Cat is one of my personal faves.
I do have to disagree with #15 though. I think Terms is a great film and has stood the test of time.
MzFly: you are right about Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – it is amazing as well. I have a copy on DVD.
CRASH anyone?
Randall, (111),
Surely during your time and experiencce in LV and other sites you must have culled ideas for characters? Perhaps we’d all better be on the qui vive!
I wonder how many more of us here are actual or aspiring writers of some kind or other?
Sounds as though your ambition over-arches any other possibility though.
Writing *well* can be a soul-wrenching business (not for nothing do such creations get referred to as the author’s *children*), and even to get a minor piece or marginal scientific paper rejected tears at the heart.
Sincerely, and truly sincerely, the very, very best of luck.
Perhaps the sad thing is we shall never know it’s *one of our own*. Or alternatively, every time a new star blazes across the literary or cinametic firmament, we shall all be wondering. Randall? Our Randall???? (Well, we DO know your age.)
Randall, you might get several emails from having published that link. Mine will be the one with the two names separated by a dot; the first name starts with the same letter as segue, the second name starts with d and has a z in the middle.
I have removed your email addy Randall – to prevent spam. I think segue obviously has it noted down now. If not I will forward it.
Nice list! I have so many things to say about this, and I’m sorry that I came in so late in the comments.
First: To all those saying that they don’t get that the list is called “Top 15 least popular” films, yet it has things like Titanic which is the highest-grossing movie ever:
PLEASE read the intro. It explains how it considered these particular films to be the “least popular” even though they’re box office hits:
“Some of these have stood the test of time and critical and popular acclaim. Others – well – haven’t.”
That’s it. In other words, these are films that were so incredibly popular by the time of their release that they broke box office records and even won the Oscar. But, in retrospective, it was just the heat of the moment and they weren’t really all that great, and probably didn’t deserve to win the Oscar at all, over other nominees which were better but overlooked amid the zany popularity.
Also,
Neeeeeeeah
fahhhhhhhhr
wherEEEEEeeever you aaare
I believe
that
the heart does
go oooooo-oooon…
Once
more
you oOOOOpen the dooor
And you’re here
in
my heart and
my heart will
go oooon and oooooooooooooon…
Some of the most egregious wins on this list, in comparison with the losing nominees are An American in Paris over either Streetcar or A Place in the Sun; Terms of Endearment over The Big Chill; and The Greatest Show on Earth over High Noon. I’d probably include The English Patient over Fargo, except that I’ve always thought of Fargo as more of a clever movie than a great one. Off the list, of course, was How Green Was My Valley (1941) over Citizen Kane or The Maltese Falcon, and Forrest Gump over either The Shawshank Redemption or Pulp Fiction. In all of these cases, IMO, the losers I mentioned have simply stood up much better over the years.
#144. jfrater
I have removed your email addy Randall – to prevent spam.
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Jamie, thanks.
I emailed Randall immediately, but the thought of spam was in my mind as well. Hence my sort of wacky explanation of how he’d be able to identify mine. Still, if he does get in touch with you, you have my permission to give Randall my email address.
The ship sinks?? Shut up!!
Now, no one tell me the ending of Passion of the Christ!
Great list as always
segue:
Thanks, I’m checking.
jfrater:
Thanks Jamie… stupid me, spam never occurred to me. I don’t use that address very often.
Anon:
When the thing is published… I will, I think, probably reveal myself here. Mainly because I’ll expect all of you to BUY it. Can’t do that if you don’t know what to buy.
Sadly, once my cover is blown… well… maybe I’ll just change nom de plumes and personas.
Okay, I’ll keep going:
I don’t consider myself a film expert, but I do consider myself a fan. So when I watched the 80th Academy Awards show, and paid close attention to the segment showcasing every single Best Picture Oscar-winning movie by year (awesome stuff), there were indeed many films which made me raise an eyebrow, not only because I hadn’t even heard of a few, but also because I didn’t expect some of those to actually be winners of the Best Picture award.
Here’s a clip similar to what was shown on the Oscars broadcast (sorry, couldn’t find a clip of the original):
80 years of Best Picture Oscars clip
kreachure: you might want to read this topic on the forums.
Yes, I’m in Korea, so I’ve been asleep during all this. I am now vertical but only just awake, so what follows may be slightly disconnected.
Randall, I’m flattered. Two weeks ago the rockers list was the worst ever on this site. In your opinion. A non-expert may not be able to offer his own opinion (and maybe should not), but can still contribute by searching for and summarising others’. And it broadens my knowledge, and also, judging by some of the comments above, that of others.
I fully acknowledge the shortcomings of the Academy Award system and of the IMDB. Anyone with any sort of knowledge about those two entities does.
I can’t explain it any better than Kreachure in 145. See also Sedulous at 70. (Thanks!)
I was stunned that Titanic was voted so low, but once I’d decided to base the list on the IMBD ratings, I had to include it. The only explanation I can offer is that different sorts of people vote on IMDB than saw Titanic in such great numbers. That might also explain the current (?too) high rating for Dark Knight – that movie appeals to the sort of people who are likely to vote on the site.
Thanks to anyone who said “great list”.
One point of clarification: all the synopses except Titanic are taken from IMDB.
I’m always fascinated by the hints commenters drop about their real lives and the things that people discover that they have in common.
astraya:
You know I like you, man, but sorry… I just couldn’t get the list. I think it was the title, which I found hugely confusing… and then I disagreed with some of the choices–severely disagreed–but that’s something else again… except that some of those choices furthered my confusion.
I just would never have relied on the IMDB rating, that’s just me. If anyone can chime in on IMDB… then it kind of doesn’t follow that it’s a worthy rating system for what is “quality” in terms of cinema and what ain’t. I mean, it’s not like cinema is Angie’s List. If you’ve got 5 million teenagers who know only what came out within the last five years and what the latest video games are… and 100,000 adults who know a *little* better… and both groups are voting on, say, “Gigi,” you can bet “Gigi” is going down. Badly.
But to say that’s some comment on the popularity of “Gigi” is silly. As movies go it’s a classic, a huge one, and it’s got a pretty large devoted following, relatively speaking, and was, I believe, a huge box office hit at the time. AND as I’ve said, I know of no film scholars who say it shouldn’t have won the Oscar that year, in favor of some other film in particular.
Sorry dude, not trying to be super-critical, I just found the idea behind the list to be okay, but the execution badly flawed.
No offense. At least you didn’t write that Rockers list.
segue:
The chapter has been sent.
The number one movie that will not stand the “test of time” in 15-20 years from now is Forrest Gump. What a grossly pathetic, and “pop” culture movie. Certainly maybe it will become more of a comedy.
isn’t Titanic on like number 1 on imdb? how the hell did it make it on this list?
jfrater: Holy crap! Thanks for the heads up…
astraya: Oh no, thank you for the list! And you’re right, it’s fun to see the things you learn about commenters’ lives… I didn’t know you were from the wonderful land of Korea! Ah, I only get to dream of live Starcraft TV broadcast channels, kekeke…
(JK, there are plenty more things I adore about your awesome country!)
Randall: It may seem to you that astraya should have used some aid other than the Imdb ranking for this list… but as it turns out, it’s in fact a fairly accurate portrait of the critical acclaim and popularity of most films. If you don’t believe me at all, and/or want more opinions on the subject, please check out this Wikipedia article (and its footnotes):
Criticism of the Academy Awards
In the end, beauty of the arts is in the eye of the beholder… and the Seventh Art is certainly no exception.
Randall, (150),
Of course we’ll all buy it, how could we fail? We’ll expect autographed copies, needless to say … but don’t expect sales here until it goes out of hardback and into cheapo pulp in the airports (may you be so lucky).
And as you’ll be stinkin rich then, I’ll sell you my Spanner cover-name … for a price.
Although I mentioned my hatred of Titanic earlier in the comments, I’ve had a bit of a change of heart.
The movie was terrible, but I saw it in the theater on my very first date! I distinctly remember my 7th grade girlfriend crying at poor Leo’s death while I awkwardly put my arm around her shoulder. And I even got a kiss before her Mom picked her up!
In conclusion: bad movie, great memory!
I actually enjoyed Titanic the first time I saw it, but it wasn’t so enjoyable that I wanted to see it again. It’s one of those movies that is alright to see, but I would never want to own it. I wasn’t that impressed with the acting and it was kind of cheezy to me. I mean besides the fact that you know it’s going to end badly, there isn’t much to add to the excitement of it. Although, I did cry at the end, and to my amusement the whole theater sounded like one big sob. lol
Titanic really shouldn’t be on the list, I think it would be more appropriate to put it on a list of movies that got so popular people began to hate them. Severe over exposure caused a serious backlash for that movie, even though the only particularly valid complaints I hear are that it was too long and the script was repetitive. As for knowing that the ship sinks, it’s not a mystery movie. What makes a story good is how is portrayed, rather than what happens at the end.
Titanic used to be an overrated movie, but now it really is an over-bashed movie.
#155. Randall
segue:
The chapter has been sent.
****
Got it, Randall. I’ll download and print tomorrow.
Sounds interesting.
Astraya: I think a better gauge for this list, if one was to go on ratings, would have been to check a site like Rotten Tomatoes. It lists the general critical consensus (as well as a people’s consensus on the films) and the box office numbers. This might have made for a more detailed list and perhaps might have elucidated your purpose of this list to members such as Randall.
A Streetcar Named Desire lost out to some Gene Kelly musical? Oh, no.
Good list, I noticed the top 6 were out before 1960. It makes sense that they wouldn’t have the greatest rank as they are ranked well outside of the era which created them, well before easily accessed archived criticisms online. The trend I notice for sites like IMDb is that movies are ranked high and over time fall to a lower value. I haven’t noticed it the other way around.
It’s kind of like trying to rank Olympians based on their best times, the worst ones will tend to be the oldest and that wouldn’t be fair either. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s not a level ‘playing’ field.
Another good list idea might be to rank the worst movies that won over movies that clearly deserved it. The movies above are above average ranked, but I don’t know how the field ranked because I haven’t heard of the majority of those movies.
That being said ‘Titanic’ was/is a terrible movie. I’m just glad I didn’t see it until it played at the $1 dollar theater.
Randall: We disagree? Fine, we disagree. You like me?? God, what do you do to the people you don’t like?
Jenova: I did think about consulting Rotten Tomatoes and MetaCritic as well as IMDB, but their ratings systems are too different to make any easy comparison and calculation of a single list.
In all areas of life, there is a tension between immediate popularity, lasting popularity, critical acclaim and awards, and also between how those things are measured. This site shows that on a regular basis.
BTW, at the end of the Passion of the Christ, Jesus dies.
What SHOULDA won those years, IMHO:
15 Right Stuff (a fine film)
14 Raiders or the Lost Ark (Chariots didn’t have a satisfying conclusion, it just – stopped. Tho I do like the scene where they race around the Oxford U courtyard)
13 Streetcar (American in Paris is a hackneyed & schmaltzy love story set to recycled Gershwin songs – Gene Kelly falls in love with his best friend’s fiancee or girlfriend. The only 2 good dance/musical numbers are “I Got Rhythm” with those street urchins & that grand finale ballet)
12 Miracle on 34th Street (Gent’s Agreement is slow & preachy. BTW, Gypsy Rose Lee’s sister “Dainty” June Havoc co-starred)
11 Full Monty
10 Fargo (the Coen Brothers’ best)
9 America America
8 ?????
7 Witness (Out of Africa too long & dull)
6 Kitty on the Warm Aluminum Roof (Gigi is underwhelming for a grand MGM musical)
5 Giant (Around the World in Less Than 3 Months is too whimsical & too full of “spot the cameo”)
4 High Noon OR Quiet Man (tho I hate John Wayne)
3 42nd Street
2 ???
1 The Front Page
“That’s all, folks!”
I am in the minority here, but I LOVED The English Patient. He came back for her. He said he would, and he did. He came back for her. I cried and cried.
Never saw Titanic.
Love Gene Kelly,but…
Any list that can generate this kind of response is a good one. Thank you Astraya!
rushfan (66) Bart Simpson (Im not a fan, but I catch a few random episodes here and there) said, “That sucks and blows. I didn’t even know that was possible.” I laughed at that. Sucks and blows. Opposite.
The following comparative concensus opinion by some more critics and public is drawn from:
Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide = M (Top rating, 4 stars)
Halliwell’s Video & DVD Guide = H (Top rating, 4 stars)
Amazon public rating = A (Top rating, 5 stars)
A place in ‘1000 films to see before you die’ is noted as * (no placement is -)
I didn’t set out to prove anything or make any point by this study, merely out of interest to provide a wider perspective, since the claim is that apart from being unworthy Oscar winners, these films are not (or no longer) supported critically.
I’m well aware that Maltin is a much softer critic than Halliwell, and that Amazon films are, by and large, reviewed by a sector of the public interested in the particular genre in question. Also a glance at the very first entries of ‘1000 films to see … will reveal that ‘Ace Ventura’ is included, while ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ is not. Bizarre! Even so, most of the all time greats do find their way into its fold. It also seemed possible that having been accoladed with an Oscar might have coloured criticisms, but apparently not, or not unduly.
It seems to me though that the additional information brought to bear here suggests there are at least a couple of pretty doubtful entries, including one I would never have included (‘Tom Jones’), but many others are indeed true bummers that merit a big raspberry in the given context.
POINT OF REFERENCE
M4 H4 A5 *is top possible score *13 (as achieved by e.g. ‘Brief Encounter’)
The number following the title is the aggregate rating
LIST
M2 H2 A4 -‘Terms of Endearment’ -8
M3.5 H3 A4 *‘Chariots of Fire’ *10.5
M3.5 H4 A4 *‘An American in Paris *11.5
M3 H2 A4 -‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ -9
M3.5 H2 A3.5 *‘Titanic’ *9
M3.5 H2 A3.5 *‘The English Patient’ *9
M4 H4 A3.5 *‘Tom Jones’ *11.5
M3.5 H2 A4.5 -‘The Great Ziegfeld’ -10
M3.5 H2 A4.5 -‘Out of Africa’ -10
M4 H3 A4 *‘Gigi’ *11
M3 H3 A4 *‘Around the World in 80 Days’ *10
M3.5 H1 A4 -‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ -8.5
M4 H2 A4 -‘Cavalcade’ -10
M2.5 H1 A4 -‘The Broadway Melody’ -7.5
M2.5 H1 A3 -‘Cimarron’ -6.5
Most highly regarded: *11.5
Lowest score: -6.5
See how they line up with your own assessment
LooLoo, (168),
I picked one of your films to see how it lined up by the same criteria used for the *clay pigeons* in my (171).
Sure as hell you’ll find this irritating (I would in your place), but believe me it’s only intended out of interest, although I will admit I wanted to compare with a film I enjoyed.
M4 H1 A5 -’America America’ -10
Don’t ask me why Halliwell virtually pulls the plug on it, or whether it was even considered for ’1000 to see …, but I think it does prove how difficult it can be to get universal consensus in these sort of areas.
“Crash”, That sucked
Titanic – Least Popular? Its the highest selling movie ever! You cannot just put titles in the list juz because you hated it. It’s so biased. You should’ve titled it “Top 15 Crappy Oscar Winning Films” or something like that.
*I thought Titanic was a great film.
A good list overall, but I have to disagree with the inclusion of Titanic, I first saw that movie when I was 9, and I was entertained throughout. The *****s were an added bonus for me as a 9 year old.
i know this has been said before, but i still for some reason feel compelled to put in my $.02.
i think it’s a fine concept for a list, but IMDb is unreliable for determining actual popularity.
also, i haven’t seen any of these movies, so i can’t really talk about their quality.
astraya:
“We disagree? Fine, we disagree. You like me?? God, what do you do to the people you don’t like?”
They suffer, astraya…. they suffer.
I don’t think this is fair. Sometimes films get low ratings on IMDB ‘cos they’re kinda old and no one is familiar with them. I wasn’t around when “An American in Paris” was released but everyone I know has seen the film. As a film ages, it usually has fewer and fewer fans. I WAS around for “Terms of Endearment” and while I’m not into chick flicks, it was an enormous success when it was released.
I belong to IMDB but it is a place where people can harp on their favs and rip on their hated movies. Hardly a “cross-section” of average folks. I think of it for the movie-obsessed (of which I am one). But that’s a very small percentage of “real folks.”
It’s now late evening here, so I don’t have time to type at length. I’ll be back. (That sounds familiar!)
astraya (167)
Jesus Dies?
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Now you’ve ruined the ending for me.
XD