Worst Best Picture Nominees Since 2010

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Getting nominated for Best Picture is the ultimate stamp of approval for a film. It shines on the resume of every cast and crew member involved and goes a long way in future jobs and opportunities. In most cases, these films are darlings with critics and boast scores in the 80-99 percent range on Rotten Tomatoes. Even with the increase in nominees over the last decade, it’s a rarity when a film gets an Oscar nod and didn’t kill with the experts.

Since 2010, 88 different films have been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Of the 88 films getting the nod, only four currently hold Rotten Tomatoes scores below 70 percent. I’m sure they would prefer higher scores, but getting a nod despite clear-cut critical success is quite the accomplishment.

Worst Best Picture Nominees Since 2010

Les Misérables
Year: 2012
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

What They Said: “Like being trapped in Disney jail with the kids from Fame. For five consecutive life sentences.” – David Jenkins (via RT)

Worth Watching?: If you’re looking for a spectacle of sorts, I’d say yes. Les Miz killed at the box office and some tunes will definitely stick in your brain.

Joker
Year: 2019
Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert DeNiro
Rotten Tomatoes: 68%

What They Said: “Cinema is dead. Here is your proof.” – Cole Smithey (via RT)

Worth Watching?: This film is worth watching because it passes the time and is mildly entertaining. Film buffs can’t help but notice how badly some of the scenes and themes were ripped from Marty, however.

Bohemian Rhapsody 
Year: 2018
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek
Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

What They Said: “The only redeeming value of Bohemian Rhapsody is it’s so bad, there’s plenty of room left for a much better biopic about the one and only Freddie Mercury.” – Richard Roeper (via RT)

Worth Watching?: My favorite of the four films. Queen has the jams, first of all, and Malek turns in a killer performance. If you lived through it, maybe some things don’t jive with you, but for viewers parachuting in with minimal knowledge, it’s fantastic.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Year: 2011
Director: Stephen Daldry
Starring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock
Rotten Tomatoes: 46%

What They Said: “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close just doesn’t seen to have any point, and is sentimental and banal as well as very, very long.” – Deborah Ross (via RT)

Worth Watching?: This film should have been good…but it was not, like at all. Skip, skip, skip. It will only make you think less of Tom Hanks’ career. The nomination was a joke, flat-out.