The Academy Awards are the most prestigious annual celebration of film in Hollywood, and it has been for many years. The 2010's is the most recent decade, and that means that there are plenty of new and innovative films to have been released in the last ten years.
While many brilliant films have to compete for Oscars, the Best Picture category is by far the most competitive - and is most anticipated by all movie buffs. Many great flicks won, but many definitely didn't. So, it's time to celebrate all of the latter - here are 10 Oscar nominees that didn't win Best Picture, but definitely could have.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
This Quentin Tarantino-directed With Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Christoph Waltz and more in its stellar cast, Tarantino's stab at the war movie was hard to ignore.
This World War II drama follows Nazi leaders and soldiers, brutal Jewish-American soldiers (the titular Basterds), and French resistance alike, as their separate plans to end the war converge in the most violent ways possible. Inglourious Basterds lost out to another war thriller The Hurt Locker which, while still a fantastic movie, didn't have nearly the same critical reviews or die-hard fan base.
Black Swan (2010)
The 83rd Academy Awards might have been the toughest year of the 2010s, and nearly every nominee for Best Picture had a fighting chance to take the win. However, The King's Speech -- often regarded as the safe bet of its year -- came out on top.
If it were not for the tough competition, this mind-bending and surreal flick by Darren Aronofsky could have certainly taken home the crown. With stunning performances by Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, the ballerina thriller Black Swan is unlike anything seen before.
The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
There is no denying that 12 Years A Slave deserved its time in the spotlight, but it was also a truly competitive year. Plus, this Leonardo DiCaprio flick so far.
This adaptation of the true story of Wall Street conman Jordan Belfort is captivating from start to finish, with unique cinematography, stellar dialogue, and mesmerizing acting. The fact that it was nominated for five Oscars but won none isn't just a shame, but a rip off.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
The 2014 Oscars were a culturally pivotal year, and it was groundbreaking to celebrate a film like 12 Years A Slave. However, this biographical drama is just as unique and powerful, following an electrician and hustler who helps AIDS patient get medication.
With Matthew McConaughey in the lead role, this '80s era flick might just be one of his best roles to date. This is a movie that certainly never got the appreciation and respect it deserves.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
This year at the Academy Awards was another tough one, with Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) being named Best Picture. However, this Wes Anderson flick has certainly withstood the test of time to become one of his best works to date.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is stunning to watch, and has a memorably eccentric cast that creates so many wonderful and iconic scenes that it's impossible not to love every second of this dreamy, intense, quirky, and hilarious flick.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The 2016 Oscars had great nominees, including Brooklyn, The Martian, and The Revenant. With Spotlight taking the win for its tragic tale and subtle brilliance in tackling the real life exposé of the American Catholic Church's history of sexual abuse, there was definitely another movie that was being rooted for.
Mad Max: Fury Road is an apocalyptic Tom Hardy deserved it. Fury Road lost the Best Picture trophy, but it still won six out of ten Oscar nominations.
Arrival (2016)
There were many nominees from this year that had a dedicated fan base following it and while Moonlight came out on top, it's unclear if every movie lover out there really ed this decision.
In contrast, the unanimously praised Arrival is led by Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, and is a sci-fi drama unlike any other out there today. With unexpected twists, subtle drama, and a new approach to aliens on the big screen, this mesmerizing flick was unfortunately denied a big win.
Dunkirk (2017)
The 90th Academy Awards was another nail-biter of a year, and The Shape of Water came out on top. Still, the other nominees were equally breathtaking, and this modern war epic definitely deserved more time in the spotlight.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, this riveting action scenes and easily could have taken the crown in any other year.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Another flick that could have beaten out The Shape of Water for Best Picture was definitely this crime drama. s McDormand gives a stunning performance as a mother who, after losing her daughter, aggressively challenges the local police to investigate the case.
With Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell in ing roles, this movie is genius in its story and application. It's likely a film that will be ed for many years to come.
Roma (2018)
The 2019 Oscars might have been the closest battle of them all, and there were movie buffs that were definitely on the fence about Mexican flick Roma (directed by Alfonso Cuarón) gained the most critical acclaim and praise from critics of the 2019 Oscar race.
Roma recounts a year in the life of a maid and her family, who struggles with day to day life of living in Mexico during the '70s. With beautiful cinematography and a story unlike any other, there was never a better time to celebrate an international film.
