Throughout the storied history of the Oscars, documentaries have persistently been overlooked in the Best Picture category, despite their capacity to tell impactful stories and influence cultural discourse. It’s notable that, while these films often earn their own accolades, they’ve remained absent from the most prestigious honor in filmmaking—Best Picture.
After the Academy broadened the Best Picture nominees from five to ten in response to the exclusion of significant films like "The Dark Knight" in 2008, there was hope for potential recognition of documentaries. However, this change has not yet resulted in a single documentary achieving a nomination for Best Picture.
This year’s cinematic landscape may finally challenge this trend with the release of "You Can See Everything," a documentary by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim that delves into the life of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Its critical acclaim and box office success raise the tantalizing prospect of a nonfiction film breaking through one of the longest-standing barriers at the Oscars. If nominated, it would not only make history but also highlight an uncomfortable reality: the ongoing exclusion of powerful documentaries from the top honors in filmmaking.
In light of this significant moment, Variety has compiled a list of twenty documentaries from the past four decades that deserved recognition in the Best Picture category. These films cover a vast array of topics, ranging from basketball aspirations to harrowing historical events, effectively showcasing the power and breadth of documentary storytelling.
The Academy and its documentary branch have been criticized for their oversight of such vital works, with many films snubbed regardless of their merit. This year, alongside "You Can See Everything," other documentaries like "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" and "Naza" also deserve commendation for their contributions to cinema.
Below, we celebrate these overlooked masterpieces that should have received a nod for Best Picture in their respective years.
Honorable Mentions: “An Inconvenient Truth” (2006), “Senna” (2010), “The Act of Killing” (2012), “Apollo 11” (2019).
As documentary filmmaking continues to evolve, the hope remains that both audiences and industry gatekeepers will begin to acknowledge these powerful narratives, giving them the recognition they truly deserve on the grandest of stages.
Read more about this topic:
Best Documentaries Snubbed for Best Picture at the Oscars, Ranked
