Detractors of the Academy Awards love to say the Oscars only nominate small films that no one knows about or loves. It is indeed true that many Oscar darlings are smaller pictures that might not hold the same mainstream appeal as a major blockbuster. However, to say that the Oscars don't nominate box office hits is an outright lie.
In fact, throughout the 2010s, the Academy nominated numerous films that were also undeniable box office hits. From ambitious and thought-provoking sci-fis to action-packed superhero movies and even heartwarming animated films, these Best Picture nominees were also bonafide commercial successes.
The Revenant (2015) - $533 Million
Alejandro González Iñárritu's The Revenant centers on Hugh Glass, a man who suffers a gruesome attack by a grizzly bear and is left for dead by his men. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, the film was a surprising box office hit, grossing $533 million internationally.
American Sniper (2015) - $547.4 Million
Clint Eastwood's American Sniper is a biographical war movie starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. The plot follows Chris Kyle, the deadliest marksman in US military history and an Iraq war veteran whose experiences at the battlefield took a toll on his personal life.
American Sniper was a major commercial success, grossing $547.4 million at the international box office. The film received mostly positive reviews, with particular praise going to Cooper's haunting performance. American Sniper earned six nominations at the 2016 Oscars, including Best Picture, Director for Eastwood, and Actor for Cooper. However, it only won one trophy for Best Sound Editing.
Life Of Pi (2012) - $609 Million
Based on the 2001 novel of the same name, Life of Pi is a 2012 fantasy-adventure movie. It tells the story of two survivors from an ocean shipwreck, a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi Patel and a ferocious Bengal tiger called Richard Parker. Stranded on a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the two struggle to survive.
Life of Pi grossed $609 million at the international box office. It received critical acclaim, with particular praise going to Ang Lee's direction. The film earned eleven nominations at the 2013 Academy Awards, the second-most of the night, and ultimately won four, including a second Best Director trophy for Lee.
The Martian (2015) - $630.2 Million
Sci-fi maestro Ridley Scott teamed up with Matt Damon for 2015's The Martian, based on the 2011 novel of the same name. The film centers on Mark Watney - a lone astronaut left behind on Mars who struggles to survive in the planet's hostile environment - and NASA's efforts to bring him back.
Opening to critical and commercial success, The Martian eventually grossed one of the most Oscar-nominated movies with no wins.
Gravity (2013) - $723.1 Million
Alfonso Cuarón's ambitious 2013 sci-fi Gravity stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. It tells the story of Ryan Stone, an astronaut stranded in space after her shuttle gets destroyed, who must find a way to return to Earth.
Praised by reviewers and considered one of the best sci-fi films of the 2010s, Gravity was a smashing critical and commercial success. It grossed $723.1 million at the international box office and earned ten nominations at the 2014 Oscars, including Best Picture. It eventually won seven, including Best Director for Cuarón and Best Cinematography for Emmanuel Lubezki.
Inception (2010) - $836.8 Million
Christopher Nolan's follow-up to Inception centers on a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating his targets' subconscious. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio and including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, and Tom Hardy.
Inception was one of 2010's biggest hits. It grossed $836.8 million at the international box office and received near-universal praise from critics for its ambition. Although Nolan was snubbed in the Best Director category, Inception received eight nominations at the 2011 Oscars, eventually winning four: Cinematography, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - $911.1 Million
Bohemian Rhapsody follows the life of Freddie Mercury, centering on Queen's early years up to their iconic performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert. It stars Rami Malek as Mercury, leading an ensemble cast that includes Lucy Boynton, Ben Hardy, and Mike Myers.
Biopics often do well with the Oscars but not at the box office, making Bohemian Rhapsody's success all the more impressive. The film earned a whopping $911.1 million at the worldwide box office, breaking records in the process. At the 2019 Oscars, it received five nominations, including Best Picture, its only loss of the night. However, it claimed trophies for Best Actor, Editing, Sound Mixing, and Sound Editing.
Toy Story 3 (2010) - $1.067 Billion
Eleven years after Toy Story 3 sees Woody, Buzz, and the other toys get accidentally sent to a daycare center as their beloved owner, seventeen-year-old Andy, prepares to leave for college.
Universally acclaimed and widely considered one of the best animated movies of the 2010s, Toy Story 3 was also a massive commercial success. It grossed $1.067 billion at the box office, becoming the first animated film to reach the milestone. It received five Oscar nominations at the 2011 ceremony, including Best Picture, and won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
Joker (2019) - $1.074 Billion
Todd Phillips' psychological thriller Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix as the iconic title character. A new take on a well-known villain, Joker follows Arthur Fleck, a struggling stand-up comedian whose descent into nihilism brings about a social uprising in the decaying Gotham City.
Although divisive, Joker earned numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. The film was also a box office success, grossing $1.074 billion and becoming the first R-rated film to cross the one billion mark. It went on to receive a leading eleven nominations at the 2020 Academy Awards, eventually winning two: Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score.
Black Panther (2018) - $1.347 Billion
Killmonger, one of the MCU's best villains, a revolutionary who wants to bring the country out of obscurity.
The film received universal critical acclaim, with particular praise going to production values, soundtrack, complex plot, acting, and directing. Black Panther received seven nominations at the 2019 Oscars, including Best Picture, and won three. With a worldwide box office of $1.347 billion, Black Panther is the highest-grossing Best Picture nominee of the 2010s.
