When it comes to the Oscars, the Academy tends to favor dramatic, more serious-minded fare, so much so that movies specifically made to garner awards attention have earned their own vaguely-insulting genre moniker: “Oscar Bait.” These films tend to be dramatic and overly sentimental, with an emphasis placed on larger-than-life performances and tear-jerking stories. Things have changed in recent years as the voting arm of the Academy has undergone a series of major overhauls, but for the most part, the trend persists.
As a result, a lot of great movies – especially comedies – tend to get overlooked. While lighter comedic fare has earned Oscar nominations, most notably Little Miss Sunshine and Juno, it is rare for the Academy to recognize comedic works, be it in screenwriting or performances or even best picture. This is a true shame because that means there are a lot of worthwhile movies that are not getting the award attention they deserve. Here are fifteen comedy movies that weren’t nominated for any Oscars but should have been.
Update January 31, 2024: In honor of the recent Academy Award nominations, this article has been updated with even more great comedic movies that should have been nominated for Oscars and where you can stream each film.
15 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Original Screenplay – Will Ferrell and Adam McKay
- Best Actor – Will Ferrell
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy might be one of the funniest films ever made. The story of an anchorman in 1970s San Diego who isn’t ready to evolve and is a misogynist in his boy’s club is played for laughs, and it works. His whole team is hilarious, and Christina Applegate is great at being his nemesis, at least at first. Judd Apatow, Adam McKay, and Will Ferrell might’ve changed comedy in the early 2000s, adding much more improv and heart to their stories, and yet none of them got any Oscars for it. McKay has gotten some after he decided he wanted to tackle more serious subjects in films like The Big Short and Vice.
One of the Funniest Films Ever Made
The film is incredibly quotable, making it perfect for a rewatch in big part to Ferrell’s job at the center of the frame. He’s both the funniest character and the butt of most jokes, and he makes both as funny as possible. The academy has never been the best at awarding comedic performances, and even less with one so out there. Yet there is no doubt that when it comes to iconic performances that have stood the test of time, Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy is one that will endure for years. Stream on Paramount+
14 Hot Fuzz (2007)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Original Screenplay – Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg
Hot Fuzz – Edgar Wright’s incredibly fun love letter to action movies – is the second film in the “Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy” (the others being Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End). Simon Pegg – who also co-wrote the film – stars as Nicholas Angel, an overachieving London police officer who is transferred to the seemingly idyllic and crime-free village of Sandford. But as a series of grisly (and suspicious) “accidental deaths” begin to pile up after his arrival, Angel and his new partner Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) must pull back the curtain on Sandford and expose its crime-ridden underside.
A Smart Dissection of the Action Genre
When Hot Fuzz was released stateside back in 2007, it quickly gained a passionate cult following. But despite critical and audience praise, the film was completely overlooked by the Academy. Although Hot Fuzz isn’t typical Oscar fodder, the movie is a smart dissection of the action genre and is one of the most cleverly scripted movies to be released that year. The film could have easily qualified for the Best Original Screenplay statue. While a win would have been unlikely (the competition that year was Babel, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Queen, Letters from Iwo Jima, and the winner, Little Miss Sunshine), some recognition would have been well-earned. Rent on Apple TV, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies
13 School of Rock (2003)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Actor – Jack Black
- Best Original Screenplay – Mike White
- Best Original Song – “School of Rock”
Jack Black gave one of the best performances of his career in Richard Linklater’s School of Rock. Black stars as Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck substitute teacher at a strict private school who tries to turn his music class into a rock band after he’s kicked out of his own. It’s a light-hearted and life-affirming comedy that became one of the best-reviewed comedies of 2003.
Wonderful Original Music
Despite critical acclaim and an Oscar-friendly late-year release date, School of Rock failed to garner even a single Oscar nomination. While the Best Picture trophy might be a tad ambitious, the movie should have been recognized for its wonderful original music, Mike White’s great script, and Jack Black’s memorable lead performance. The songs are all very original and move the plot forward, and Black has never been better, as this role was tailor-made for him by his friend Mike White (White Lotus). Stream on Netflix
12 Midnight Run (1988)
Midnight Run
- Release Date
- July 20, 1988
- Director
- Martin Brest
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Original Screenplay – George Gallo
- Best Supporting Actor – Charles Grodin
The late Charles Grodin’s most famous and remembered role was as mafia accountant Jonathan Mardukas in Midnight Run, as his character not only didn’t fear bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) but loved to mess and irritate him. A mix of a crime story and a comedy, Midnight Run was a surprising film with incredible chemistry between its leads. The script is great, but it wouldn’t work without De Niro and Grodin. The film was also one of the first times De Niro had a comedy side, even if in the movie, he’s pretty much the straight man to Grodin’s craziness.
Charles Grodin Deserved a Nomination
The film was good enough to have earned Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay nominations. Even then, the biggest and most criminal mistake the Academy made that year was not nominating Charles Grodin. The actor never got a nomination, not even for this movie, his best ever. Rent on Apple TV, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies
11 Superbad (2007)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Original Screenplay – Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
Greg Mottola’s Superbad has been touted by some – including Seth Rogen – to be the last great high-school comedy. The film that spawned “McLovin” has been quoted endlessly since its release in 2007, and is widely regarded to be one of the best comedies of the last twenty years. Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse star as a trio of high school friends trying to impress their crushes and score booze for a massive end-of-the-school-year party. Although Superbad is a comedy classic, it failed to earn any attention from the Academy. Which isn’t too surprising, to be honest. Still, it would have been satisfying to see a nomination or two, specifically for writing or one of the film’s numerous memorable performances.
The Script Is the Star
While the performances and comedic time of each actor are pitch-perfect, the film’s script is a stealthy, heartfelt rumination on growing up and moving on. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg – who wrote and produced the film – reportedly wrote the first version of the script when they were 13 and managed to seamlessly weave together crass, crude humor with scenes of genuine emotion. The characters feel real, and that honestly is why Seth, Evan, and McLovin still resonate more than fifteen years later. Stream on fuboTV and DIRECTV
10 Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Actor – Robert Downey Jr.
- Best Original Screenplay – Shane Black and Britt Halliday
Writer-director Shane Black practically invented the buddy-cop genre with his script for Lethal Weapon, a movie that could have just as easily been on this list were it not for its single Oscar nom for Best Sound. Throughout his career, Black has mostly remained within the niche that he’s carved himself (save for a controversial excursion into the Marvel Cinematic Universe). But one film in particular really highlights his skills on the page and behind the camera, yet he received no love from the Academy. And that was his 2005 film Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
A Whip-Smart Script and Great Performances
The noir-tinged crime-comedy stars Robert Downey Jr. as Harry Lockhart, a thief that’s mistaken for an actor and tasked with shadowing a private investigator (played by Val Kilmer) to prepare for an upcoming role. As a result, Lockhart becomes entangled in a far-reaching murder mystery that involves his long-lost childhood crush and some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
What really sets Kiss Kiss apart is its whip-smart script. Black weaves an intriguing and twisty mystery but never forgets to incorporate humor and jokes, which are delivered perfectly by Downey and Kilmer. Downey, Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan – who stars as Lockhart’s love interest – should have been recognized for their performances; RDJ pretty much landed the role of Tony Stark thanks to this movie. So it’s a shame that the Academy totally overlooked it. Rent on Apple TV, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies
9 Harold and Maude (1971)
Harold and Maude
- Release Date
- December 20, 1971
- Cast
- Ruth Gordon , Bud Cort , Vivian Pickles , Cyril Cusack , Charles Tyner , Ellen Geer
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Hal Ashby
- Best Actress – Ruth Gordon
Hal Ashby’s beloved film Harold and Maude is certainly an acquired taste. The dark romantic dramedy stars Bud Cort as Harold Chasen, a rich young man obsessed with death who forms an unlikely relationship with Maude Chardin, a woman close to fifty years his senior. When the film was released stateside in 1971, it was overlooked by most people. As a result, Harold and Maude didn’t get a lot of awards love, not even in its home country of Britain, where Bud Cort earned the film’s only BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. But over time, Harold and Maude developed a devoted cult following and have been critically reassessed as one of Ashby’s best movies.
It Developed a Cult Following Over Time
The film works in large part thanks to Ruth Gordon, as her Maude is funny, irreverent, and with a younger spirit than most, creating a believable character for whom Harold could fall for. The actress had already won an Oscar for her performance in Rosemary’s Baby, and this should’ve been her second. Now, it stands as one of the best movies of the 1970s, and while its competition at the 44th Academy Awards would have been stiff with films like The French Connection, A Clockwork Orange, and The Last Picture Show, there is no doubt that Harold and Maude should have been nominated as it as just as much a masterpiece as those films. Stream on Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel and DIRECTV
8 Playtime (1967)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Actor – Jacques Tati
Playtime is the last adventure of Jacques Tati and his famous character Monsieur Hulot, a movie Tati also co-wrote and directed. This film makes fun of a futuristic, tech-forward version of Paris. The character is almost silent; the film uses experimental colors and the message of chaos as the film moves forward. Although it was the most expensive French film ever made when it was released, they created a futuristic town of “Tativiille” to shoot in. The movie was a failure at the time. Now, It’s seen as Jacques Tati’s best and the 41st Greatest Film Ever by the British Film Institute. And yet, the movie earned zero nominations at the Academy Awards.
Tati Was a Film Pioneer
Tati was a film pioneer and a one-of-one performer, artist, and thinker, but his best film ever wasn’t nominated for anything. That wasn’t right even back then. The movie deserved to be nominated for both Best Picture and, especially, Best Actor for Tati himself. Yet in the 1960s, the idea of an international film being nominated for any of the major categories was nothing more than a pipe dream so it does go to show how far we’ve come. Stream on the Criterion Channel
7 The Death of Stalin (2017)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Adapted Screenplay – Fabien Nury, Thierry Robin, and Armando Iannucci
Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin is a wonderfully dark historical comedy that satirizes the scramble for power following the death of Joseph Stalin, one of the most powerful and ruthless dictators of the 20th century. The movie is all about how everyone wants power and will do anything to get it, while also showing how pathetic some of them can be in trying to get said power. Iannucci’s masterful script delivers laughs and gasps in equal measure and is brought to life by a stellar cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Tambor, and Simon Russell Beale. The writer is known for his satires, as he’s also written The Thick of It, and created and wrote the first few seasons of Veep, so this story was right up his alley, but even then, the film is hilarious.
The Script Had Already Received Critical Acclaim
Despite earning Best Adapted Screenplay and Outstanding Picture nominations from the BAFTA Awards (Britain’s equivalent to the Oscars) and receiving significant critical acclaim stateside, The Death of Stalin was overlooked by the Academy. Maybe it was a competitive year; maybe it was genre bias; whatever the case, The Death of Stalin didn’t receive a single nomination. Stream on Hulu, AMC channels, and DIRECTV
6 This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Original Screenplay – Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer
- Best Original Song – “Big Bottom”
Rob Reiner’s 1984 comedy classic This is Spinal Tap practically pioneered the mockumentary subgenre. The movie presents itself as a real documentary about the fictional rock band Spinal Tap (composed of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer). Reiner stars as film director Mary DiBergi, who documents England’s self-proclaimed “loudest bands” during a hilariously ill-fated tour.
It Revolutionized the Comedy Genre
Although it literally revolutionized the comedy genre, This is Spinal Tap didn’t earn a single nomination. The film wasn’t a huge commercial success, despite the critical acclaim, and flew under a lot of radars as a result. It wasn’t until its VHS release years later that it began to garner the reputation it now holds as a cult classic, with songs that are as good as what they parody and still being one of the best mockumentaries ever made. This Is Spinal Tap is not available for streaming
5 Modern Times (1936)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Charles Chaplin
- Best Actor – Charles Chaplin
Charles Chaplin received three Academy Awards during his life, but there is no doubt he should have earned more, as he was one of the actors, writers, and directors who changed the industry for the better. Unfortunately, the Academy never thought much about his films, and the actor only got an Oscar (for the score for Limelight) and two honorary ones.
Chaplin’s Visionary Critique of Industrialization
Modern Times might’ve been the biggest snubbed film of his life. This movie is funny and gives a sharp critique of industrial practices and the dehumanization of workers. Some of those critiques are visionary and can still be applied today, with much more technology, to how some big companies where you can buy everything treat their workers. Using his character of the Tramp, Chaplin did everything in the film: he wrote it, directed, and starred in it. As such, he at least should’ve been nominated for both his performance and direction, and the film should’ve been nominated for Best Film. Stream on Max and the Criterion Channel
4 The Big Lebowski (1998)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Joel Coen
- Best Actor – Jeff Bridges
- Best Supporting Actor – John Goodman
- Best Original Screenplay – Ethan Coel and Joel Coen
Joel and Ethan Coen are no strangers to the Academy Awards; the brothers have earned a combined fifteen nominations throughout their illustrious careers and have brought the statue home five times. But oddly enough, one of their most beloved films – The Big Lebowski – is one of the handful of movies in their catalog that wasn’t nominated for a single Oscar. Jeff Bridges stars as the now-iconic Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, an unassuming stoner who becomes embroiled in a seedy web of crime and corruption after a couple thugs urinate on his favorite rug. Sure, that description alone may explain why it didn’t get much attention – it’s pretty much a stoner comedy. But this stoner comedy is also directed by and starring some of the most talented creatives working in the business.
A Stoner Comedy Perfectly Directed and Acted
Much like This is Spinal Tap, most people were slow to discover The Big Lebowski. The Coen Brothers have even acknowledged as much, saying that people just didn’t really get it, especially when compared to their previous film, the groundbreaking Fargo. The Big Lebowski barely made back its budget stateside and only garnered a cult following years after its release. Yet even at the time of its release, it was apparent that Jeff Bridges was giving a great performance as Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, one that has become a pop culture icon and a figure that looms large in film history. Yet the biggest snub might be John Goodman as The Dude’s friend Walter. John Goodman has never once been nominated for an Oscar which feels criminal, but Walter is easily his best character and he certainly deserved to be there.
Stream on Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel, DIRECTV, and TCM
3 Airplane! (1980)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Adapted Screenplay – Jim Abrams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker
The Zucker Brothers’ classic spoof comedy Airplane! remains to this day one of the most influential comedies of all time. The film consistently tops out best-of lists and is widely regarded to be one of the best examples of the spoof/parody genre. The film was also a massive critical and commercial success, bringing in upwards of $170 million worldwide against a $3 million budget. The Zucker Brothers and co-writer/director Jim Abrahams not only received the Writer Guild of America’s Award for Best Adapted Comedy, but earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Screenplay. It also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
The Film’s Script Is Genuinely Impressive
Despite all of this award recognition, Airplane! was never recognized by the Academy, failing to earn a single nomination. Although it may not be high art, the film’s script is a genuinely impressive piece of screenwriting; it not only tells an engaging (if silly) story but packs every single page with wall-to-wall jokes and double entendres. The film’s writing was rightfully recognized by the BAFTA Awards, but apparently the Academy voters weren’t too impressed. Stream on Amazon Prime Video, AMC Channels, and DIRECTV
2 Life of Brian (1979)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Original Screenplay – Monty Python
- Best Original Song – “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”
Monty Python is one of the most influential comedy troupes ever created. They even have a programming language in their honor (python). Many comedians named them their comedy inspiration when they were young, and every one of their movies is laugh-out-loud funny. And yet, they never got an Academy Award nomination. Life of Brian might still be the best film they ever made, and it all started with a practical joke about what their next movie was about. From then on, a great idea. What happened to a man whose life is not that different from the one of Jesus but worse? As with every Monty Python story, there are many jokes about the history of that time, the Romans, and the many factions for and against Judea.
A Hilarious Yet Realistic Script
The script deserved to be nominated as it’s hilarious yet realistic about how the Romans controlled the area, how women had no rights, and the continuous indignities of those under the Romans‘ thumb. Even if the film is one of its greatest ever, what people might remember more is the song at the end, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”, and it should had also been nominated. Can you imagine Eric Idle singing the song and whistling where the camera shows every famous actor in a tuxedo whistling along? Stream on Netflix
1 Groundhog Day (1993)
Academy Awards it should’ve been nominated for:
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Harold Ramis
- Best Actor – Bill Murray
- Best Original Screenplay – Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis
Bill Murray is an all-time comedy legend, having been involved in some of the most seminal comedies of the ’80s and ’90s. From Ghostbusters to Zombieland, Murray’s brand of dry, sardonic humor has always stood out. But one of his best performances is in Harold Ramis’ 1993 classic Groundhog Day, where Murray stars as Phil, a narcissistic and selfish weather-man who finds himself stuck in a time loop, having to relive the holiday over and over again.
It Created its Own Genre
The movie was a commercial and critical success upon release, created its own genre, the time loop genre, and its reputation has only grown over the years. The film is funny and sad, surprising and tragic, and with a great message about improving oneself. Despite Murray’s all-time performance, Ramis’ precise direction, and the film’s ingenious script (which actually won the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay), Groundhog Day was totally ignored by the Academy. Stream on AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
