It’s extremely rare for a comedy to take home the elusive Best Picture prize at the Academy Awards, although over the years there have been plenty of great comedies among the nominations. While there have been some exceptions, like when Annie Hall won Best Picture over Star Wars in 1977, for the most part, great comedies were beaten out by movies that were considered more serious and deserving than their light-hearted laugh-filled counterparts. Despite truly exceptional comedies always having something insightful and interesting to say, this has not always resulted in awards and accolades.
Comedy movies have always had a tough time at the Academy Awards and before the number of potential Best Picture nominees was raised to ten in 2009, it was even more difficult to even secure a place on the voting ballot. While incredibly acclaimed directors like Charlie Chaplin, Stanley Kubrick, and Wes Anderson have all had comedy movies nominated for Best Picture, none of them went on to take home the award on the fateful night. There have been plenty of great Best Picture-nominated comedies that did not win the award.
15
The Great Dictator (1940)
Lost to Rebecca
The Great Dictator
- Director
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Charles Chaplin
- Release Date
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March 7, 1941
- Writers
-
Charles Chaplin
- Rating
-
G
The comedic legend and major star of Hollywood’s silent film era proved he was as compelling as ever with his first sound movie, The Great Dictator, a satirical comedy that aimed at fascist dictator Adolf Hitler released in the midst of WWII. A daring and vital topic, Chaplin brought nuance to the serious subject of antisemitism and the danger of Nazis in a comedy that was important and funny. While The Great Dictator stood as one of the greatest comedies ever made, it lost out on the Best Picture award to Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological thriller Rebecca.
14
Roman Holiday (1953)
Lost to From Here to Eternity
Audrey Hepburn starred in one of the most perfect romantic comedies ever produced when she played Princess Ann opposite Gregory Peck in the charming and effective film Roman Holiday. With a fantastic screenplay by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo, Trumbo’s name was famously removed from the credits due to being blacklisted by Hollywood for communist associations. While Roman Holiday ultimately lost the Best Picture award to From Here to Eternity, it’s remembered as one of Hepburn’s best performances and a true classic in the romantic comedy genre.
13
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Lost to My Fair Lady
Dr. Strangelove
Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 black-and-white satire Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb parodies the growing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Starring Peter Sellers, the plot revolves around a US Air Force general who orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union against the wishes of the government.
- Director
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Stanley Kubrick
- Release Date
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January 29, 1964
- Cast
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George C. Scott
, Slim Pickens
, Peter Sellers
, Keenan Wynn
, Sterling Hayden - Runtime
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95 minutes
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Director Stanley Kubrick created one of the most enduring and hilarious satirizations of the Cold War and the public’s fear of an impending nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia. With the unmatchable talent of Peter Sellers performing multiple roles, Dr. Strangelove was a triumph for Kubrick, but unfortunately, it could not compete with the less divisive musical comedy My Fair Lady, which ended up winning Best Picture. Despite Kubrick’s impressive filmography and multiple nominations, he only ever took home one Oscar, and that was for 2001: A Space Odyssey for Best Visual Effects.
12
Doctor Dolittle (1967)
Lost to In the Heat of the Night
While modern audiences may think of Robert Downey Jr. or even Eddie Murphy when they hear Doctor Dolittle, it was Rex Harrison who first took up the part in the 1967 adaptation about the man who can speak with animals. An engaging story with plenty of laughs, Doctor Dolittle was a moving musical that despite bombing at the box office still received a nomination for Best Picture. However, in a stacked year that also included The Graduate, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and Bonnie and Clyde, not one of them could win out against In the Heat of the Night.
11
Tootsie (1982)
Lost to Gandhi
Dustin Hoffman pushed himself to the limit with a challenging lead role in Tootsie, a surprisingly moving comedy about an actor pretending to be a woman to gain a role in a daytime soap opera. While the 1980s was a much less progressive time than today when it came to representations of alternative gender expressions, Tootsie maintained a feminist message and was a tender portrayal of the discrimination women faced. However, Hoffman’s gender-swapping would not be enough to bring home the Best Picture award, as Ben Kingsley achieved this with a similarly transformative portrayal as the lead in Gandhi.
10
The Full Monty (1997)
Lost to Titanic
The Full Monty (1997)
Released in 1997, The Full Monty is a Comedy film that follows six men laid off from their jobs at a local steel mill, leaving them in dire straits and looking for a way out of debt and depression. An unlikely opportunity presents itself when the men stumble onto a Chippendales striptease event, leading them to create their own, even more risque act.
- Director
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Peter Cattaneo
- Release Date
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August 13, 1997
- Cast
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Robert Carlyle
, Tom Wilkinson
, Mark Addy - Runtime
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91 Minutes
Despite being one of the most beloved British comedies ever made, The Full Monty was always fighting a losing battle regarding its Best Picture nomination opposite James Cameron’s Titanic. The story of six unemployed British men who formed a striptease act to make some money, this comedic premise allowed The Full Monty to address themes of father’s rights, mental health, body image, and working-class culture. Like the best comedies, The Full Monty appeared simple on the surface but in between all the laughs had a real message about men in the modern world and class consciousness.
9
Lost In Translation (2003)
Lost to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Lost in Translation
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Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation is a romantic comedy starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as fading movie star Bob Harris and Yale college graduate Charlotte, who build an unlikely relationship while traveling in Tokyo.
- Director
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Sofia Coppola
- Release Date
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October 3, 2003
- Cast
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Fumihiro Hayashi
, Bill Murray
, Anna Faris
, Giovanni Ribisi
, Scarlett Johansson
, Catherine Lambert - Runtime
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102 minutes
Bill Murray’s role as Bob Harris in Lost in Translation signaled the dawning of a new era in his career where, although most of his roles were comedic, they also contained an emotional resonance and tackled deep themes. With strong performances from Murray and Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation was an overwhelming success that dealt with alienation, cultural displacement, and fleeting connections. In a different year, Lost in Translation may have taken home the Best Picture award, but it was defeated by the runaway success of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
8
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Lost to The Departed
Little Miss Sunshine
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- Director
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Jonathan Dayton
, Valerie Faris - Release Date
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July 26, 2006
- Cast
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Abigail Breslin
, Greg Kinnear
, Paul Dano
, Alan Arkin
, Toni Collette
, Steve Carell - Runtime
-
101 minutes
The tragic road comedy Little Miss Sunshine was a heartfelt ensemble story about a dysfunctional family traveling with the youngest kid to a child beauty pageant in an uplifting and powerful story. With a hilarious script, Little Miss Sunshine boasted an incredible cast of comedy and drama stars including Steve Carell, Toni Colette, Paul Dano, and a standout performance from Abigail Breslin. Little Miss Sunshine was an enjoyable independent underdog that was understandably defeated by Martin Scorsese’s well-overdue win for The Departed.
7
Juno (2007)
Lost to No Country for Old Men
Juno
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Starring Elliot Page, Juno follows the titular character, a teenage girl who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Deciding to give the baby up for adoption once it is born, Juno finds and befriends Mark and Vanessa, and childless couple desperate for a baby, who she plans to let adopt her child once she gives birth. Michael Cera also stars as Juno’s boyfriend Paulie, with a further cast that includes Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons.
- Director
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Jason Reitman
- Release Date
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December 25, 2007
- Cast
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Jason Bateman
, Michael Cera
, Allison Janney
, elliot page
, J. K. Simmons
, Jennifer Garner - Runtime
-
96 minutes
The coming-of-age comedy Juno was the film that put Elliott Page on the map and was propped up with a great supporting cast including Michael Cera coming right after the success of Superbad. The story of a 16-year-old high schooler named Juno MacGuff who, after becoming pregnant, decided to give the child up for adoption to a couple whose prospective father appeared increasingly questionable. A powerful portrayal of feminism, women’s agency, and a teenager’s understanding of maturity, Juno lost out on the Best Picture award to the Coen brothers’ neo-Western thriller No Country for Old Men.
6
The Kids Are Alright (2010)
Lost to The King’s Speech
A warm and funny comedy about alternative family dynamics, The Kids Are Alright explored the story of a lesbian couple, their two children, and the unknowing father who helped conceive them through artificial insemination. Bringing together themes of marriage, identity, sexuality, and the restrictions of societal and relationship expectations, The Kids Are Alright was a progressive look at modern topics that, while remaining light, did not shy away from deeper questions. In an impressive year for nominees, The Kids Are Alright lost out on Best Picture to The King’s Speech.
5
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Lost to The Artist
Midnight in Paris
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Written and directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris stars Owen Wilson as Gil Pender, a struggling writer who, on a trip to Paris with his fiance, begins traveling back in time to the 1920s every night at midnight, leading him to meet and mingle with some of the city’s biggest names of the time. Besides Wilson, the cast includes Rachel McAdams, Tom Hiddleston, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard, Corey Stoll, and Adrien Brody.
- Director
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Woody Allen
- Release Date
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May 11, 2011
- Cast
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Owen Wilson
, Tom Hiddleston
, Rachel McAdams
, Marion Cotillard
, Lea Seydoux - Runtime
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94minutes
The fantasy comedy Midnight in Paris was a late-career success for controversial director Woody Allen, which stood as his most commercially success movie, taking in $151.7 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo.) An intriguing mix of time travel science fiction, fantasy wish fulfillment, and tribute to the artists of the past, Midnight in Paris was a sentimental sensation led to by Owen Wilson doing his best Allen impression. However, Midnight in Paris would lose out on Best Picture to another call back to an earlier time, the heartfelt homage to the silent film era The Artist.
4
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Lost to Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
The Grand Budapest Hotel
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From director Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel stars Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H., the renowned concierge of the film’s titular hotel. Fiennes is joined by Tony Revolori as Zero, a newly hired bellhop who serves as Gustave’s partner-in-crime throughout the film. An older Zero, played by F. Murray Abraham, serves as the narrator for the story, which chronicles the adventures of Gustave and Zero after Gustave is framed for the murder of the wealthy Madame D., his patron and lover.
- Director
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Wes Anderson
- Release Date
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March 28, 2014
- Cast
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Willem Dafoe
, Jude Law
, Edward Norton
, Jeff Goldblum
, Saoirse Ronan
, Adrien Brody
, Tilda Swinton
, Ralph Fiennes
, Tony Revolori - Runtime
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100minutes
The incredible ensemble comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel ranked among Wes Anderson’s best movies as his signature aesthetic reached a stylistic watershed moment and all the disparate aspects of his appeal came together in one charming movie. A thoughtful and funny nostalgic call back to classic movies of the past, The Grand Budapest Hotel utilized extraordinary acting talent to explore themes of fascism, friendship, loyalty, and the past. The Grand Budapest Hotel lost Best Picture to the similarly thematically rich comedy Birdman and stood as Anderson’s best chance in his career so far at taking home the award.
3
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Lost to Parasite
Jojo Rabbit
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Directed by Taika Waititi and featuring his characteristic absurdist humor, Jojo Rabbit stars Roman Griffin Davis as Johannes “Jojo” Betzler, a young German boy during WWII who is a member of the Hitler Youth. When Jojo discovers that his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson) is helping a Jewish girl hide from the Nazis in the attic of their home, he must begin to confront his prejudices and what he thought he knew was right head-on. Waititi also stars in the film as a fictionalized version of Hitler who is Jojo’s imaginary friend.
- Director
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Taika Waititi
- Release Date
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October 18, 2019
- Cast
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Stephen Merchant
, Sam Rockwell
, Rebel Wilson
, Taika Waititi
, Alfie Allen
, Thomasin McKenzie
, Scarlett Johansson
, Roman Griffin Davis - Runtime
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108minutes
Director Taika Waititi had a major challenge on his hands when he set out to make a comedy out of the indoctrinated beliefs of a ten-year-old Hitler Youth member where he played an imaginary friend version of Adolf Hitler. However, despite this controversial subject matter Waititi managed to pull off deeply effective satire that managed to balance its lighthearted concept with the true horrors of war. However, Jojo Rabbit was beaten by the historical win of Parasite, the South Korean black comedy that became the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Lost to CODA
Don’t Look Up
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Don’t Look Up follows two astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) desperately trying to warn humanity about an approaching comet that they believe could wipe out all life on Earth. When the President (Meryl Streep) and her son (Jonah Hill) ignore their warnings, they embark on a media tour to enlighten the public, earning the ire of the global populace who refuse to believe in the danger. Meanwhile, an eccentric billionaire (Mark Rylance) begins to fund an emergency colonization mission to take humanity out among the stars.
- Director
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Adam McKay
- Release Date
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December 24, 2021
- Cast
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Meryl Streep
, Tyler Perry
, Himesh Patel
, Cate Blanchett
, Timothee Chalamet
, Tomer Sisley
, Jonah Hill
, Leonardo DiCaprio
, Scott Mescudi
, Jennifer Lawrence
, Mark Rylance
, Rob Morgan
, Melanie Lynskey
, Ron Perlman
, Michael Chiklis
, Ariana Grande - Runtime
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145 minutes
Despite a star-studded cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam McKay’s apocalyptic political comedy Don’t Look Up lost the Academy Award for Best Picture to the coming-of-age drama CODA. While Don’t Look Up won over many viewers through its effective examination of U.S. politics, the media’s portrayal of scientific issues, and the public’s close-mindedness to environmental disaster, others found its messaging heavy-handed and arrogant. A divisive comedy, Don’t Look Up had plenty of laughs, but they weren’t enough to take home any of its four Oscar nominations.
1
The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022)
Lost to Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Banshees of Inisherin
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Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) returns to film with The Banshees of Inisherin, a comedy/drama that stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two friends on the outs of their relationship. Set in 1920’s Ireland, Pádraic (Farrell) has a simple life that is upended when one day, his friend Colm (Gleeson) decides that Pádraic adds nothing to his life and that he’d rather spend his remaining years pursuing things to be remembered by. Pádraic cannot accept this, leading to a never-ending escalation on both ends and darkly comedic outcomes. The film examines the concept of non-romantic break-ups and the challenges of coping with losing a close friend for what seems to be no reason.
- Director
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Martin McDonagh
- Release Date
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October 21, 2022
- Cast
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Colin Farrell
, Brendan Gleeson
, Kerry Condon
, Barry Keoghan - Runtime
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109 minutes
The black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin received nine nominations at the 95th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. While ultimately the prize would go to Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Banshees of Inisherin was a strong contender due to the incredible performances of Irish actors Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, a nuanced and funny script by director Martin McDonagh, and its heartbreaking humor that found meaning in the sudden crumbling of a longstanding friendship. While it may not have won any Oscars on the night in question, The Banshees of Inisherin will be a comedy remembered for generations to come.