Historically,horrorhas been a hugely popular movie genre, yet often overlooked by critics and award ceremonies like the Academy Awards. This perceived snub stems from a long-held belief that horror, with its emphasis on scares and thrills, is somehow less “elevated” than other genres. Blockbuster actions have faced a similar bias, with the implication being that they are more designed for pure entertainment than artistic merit.
While the Academy has gradually begun to acknowledge the artistry behind horror, the genre still faces an uphill battle for true recognition. The tide does seem to be changing, inspiringbold predictions for the 2025 Oscars. Additionally,although the Academy has a reputation for not recognizing horror, quite a few horror films have been nominated for and won Oscars.However, the majority of these wins focus on their visual spectaclewith both impressive practical effects andCGI in horror movies.
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Horror has beenmostly overlooked criticallyuntil recent years. Whereas biopics and dramas are celebrated,horror is often wrongly reduced to the sum of its scares.However, while the sheer thrill of horror is important, critics have more recently appreciated the mirror it holds up to society’s fears. Horror is a challenging genre for actors and filmmakers, but a perfect, vital vehicle for cultural commentary.
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However, this is still an easy trap for some critics to only justify lauding horror when it is perceived as “more than” horror. This is more important than ever following the “poignant, moving and tragic"The Substancereceiving five Golden Globe nominations — a huge step toward more recognition.The Substancedoes have societal commentary, but it is anything but subtle and that’s where its brilliance lies, providing hope that the genre is being appreciated more by awarding parties.
How Horror Movies Have Performed In Best Picture At The Oscars
Horror Has Been Largely Snubbed For Best Picture
However, horror’s limited presence in the Oscars' Best Picture category is still a glaring omission. Despite the genre’s rich history dating back to 1927 (ignoring classics likeKing Kong),only six horror films have received nominations for the utmost award in Hollywood,and a handful of titles are known to everyone for their prestige.
There are the ultimate genre classics:The Exorcist(1973)was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, garnering 10 nominations, but losing Best Picture toThe Sting. Another movie now synonymous with horror isJaws(1975), which received four Oscar nominations. However, it lost toOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nestin what was overall a very tight Best Picture race. Moving into the 1990s,The Silence of the Lambs(1991) cannot be overstated as a critical darling andfinally brought an Oscar home for the genre with its Best Picture win.
The Sixth Sense(1999) is perhaps one of the most quoted horror movies of all time. However, on its release, it did not receive an Oscar for Best Picture, which instead went toAmerican Beauty.But as the modern age of cinema began, Aronofsky bolstered the horror genre critically with the release ofBlack Swan(2010), which was likely deemed more respectable for being predominantly apsychological thriller movie. However, it also did not win Best Picture.
The inclusion of films likeBlack SwanandGet Outhints at a gradual shift in the Academy’s perspective.
Of course,Jordan Peele has been a key director in elevating horror in the 2010s and 2020s.His directorial debut ofGet Outwas an incredibly strong contender. The film received four Academy Award nominations at the 90th ceremony, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor for Daniel Kaluuya. However, it lost Best Picture toThe Shape of Waterwhich, despite being gothic horror influenced, is more recognized as a fantasy movie.
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This limited recognition does suggest a bias against the horror genre within the Academy. Whilefilms likeThe ExorcistandJawsare undeniably milestones in cinematic history,they often faced competition from more conventional films. The inclusion of films likeBlack SwanandGet Outhints at a gradual shift in the Academy’s perspective, acknowledging the artistic merit and cultural impact of horror. However, the overall lack of recognition for the genre remains a significant oversight.
Which Horror Movies Got Best Director Oscar Nominations
Best Director Is An Even Less Awarded Category For Horror
The pattern of horror direction nominations has also taken a turn in more recent years, although it has yet to take home this specific award. While it won for Best Original Screenplay,Get Outwas also nominated for Best Director; a deserved accolade when Jordan Peele is the heart of the entire project.Decades earlier, amongThe Exorcist’s 10 nominations was Best Director — another creative who merited recognition, whenThe Exorciststill holds uptoday.
Black Swanalso got a Best Director nomination and didn’t win. Previously, Jonathan Demme did win Best Director forThe Silence of the Lambs.Although there are few Best Director nominations for horror compared to Best Actor and technical categories, there are great examples of horrors made by directors who have won Oscars for their other, non-horror, movies. Steven Spielberg is a prime example of this withJawsandPoltergeist, proving that legendary directors themselves respect the genre.
Which Actors Got Oscar Nominations For Horror Movies
Some Actors Have Been Recognized For Their Horror Performances, But Maybe Not Enough
Viewers are often conditioned to dismiss strong acting in horror, viewing it as secondary to the scares and gore. However,the horror genre lends itself well to deep, disturbing performances,with winners including Fredric March inDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,Ruth Gordon inRosemary’s Baby, Kathy Bates inMisery, and the legendary duo of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. Iconic performances like Sissy Spacek inCarrie, Bette Davis inWhat Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, and Johnny Depp inSweeney Toddalso showcase the caliber of acting often found in the genre.
Accolades from other awarding bodies for movies like Talk to Me (2022) demonstrate the power of strong performances within the horror genre.
The Academy has unfortunately demonstrated some neglect for female leads in horror. Natalie Portman won forBlack Swan;however, it could be argued that it was for the drama aspect of the movie and her commitment to ballet training as well as the mentality of the role. While Jodie Foster inThe Silence of the Lambsand Sigourney Weaver inAliensreceived recognition (althoughAliensis often categorized as action), iconichorror movie Final GirlslikeNeve Campbell inScreamand Maika Monroe inIt Followsremain ignored.Toni Collette’s powerful performance inHereditarywas also overlooked.
10 Best One-Scene Horror Movie Performances of All Time
While the protagonists and terrifying villains in horror movies often get the most attention, these actors stole the show with one-scene performances.
However, accolades from other awarding bodies for movies likeTalk to Me(2022) demonstrate the power of strong performances within the horror genre. Sophie Wilde’s portrayal highlights the need for more change in perspective, acknowledging the exceptional talent often found within a genre that has long been undervalued. Although neither she nor the movie won any Oscars,Talk to Mewon five AACTA Industry Awards.
Other Categories That Horror Movies Have Received Oscars
The Visual Effects Category Is Well Recognized At The Oscars
The many nominations horror movies have gotten over the years have tended to be for more technical categories. For example,Alienwon the award for Best Visual Effects, andBram Stoker’s Dracula(1992) received four Academy Award nominations, but all in technical categories: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, and Best Sound Editing. Many otherhorror titles have won Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup. While these are worthy achievements, the lack of recognition in other categories highlights its reduction to visual spectacle critically.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1931
Phantom of the Opera
1943
1945
1961
1968
1973
1975
1976
1979
1981
1986
1990
The Silence of the Lambs
1991
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay
1992
1999
2010
2017
2023
Best Visual Effects
However, horror has been recognized for writing, with several titles winning Academy Awards for their screenplays. This being said horror seems to have responded in kind, embracing its visual effects achievements more recently in a tongue-in-cheek way. For instance,MaXXXineis a pastiche ofhorrormovies, and it actually uses its decidedly pulpy visual effects as a source of horror – such in the scene where Maxine is having her head cast. Other 2024 titles, such as thesurging horror movie hitThe Substance,have embraced their visual grandiosity.
