It's no secret that the Academy does not like horror. Horror movies are often seen as a "lesser" form of entertainment (at least in the Academy's eyes), and as a result, they are never given their due recognition. Even today, when horror movies are more acclaimed and respected than ever before, they are not given their due by the Academy.
And it's a shame because many horror films deserve to be recognized. Horror films are an art and it takes talent to craft art. And this talent deserves recognition. These are 10 horror movies that were snubbed at the Academy Awards.
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is perhaps the most acclaimed horror film of our time. It sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and has a stellar Metascore of 87, with most critics commending the lead performance from Toni Collette. She imbues the process of grief, and her chilling performance as Annie Graham may forever remain indelibly etched in our minds.
And while some claimed that Collette would earn a Leading Actress nomination, she never did. In fact, she wasn't nominated for a single major award. It's a darned shame.
The Shining (1980)
Today, The Shining is rightfully recognized as a cornerstone of the horror genre. It's required viewing, and it has wormed its way into the pop-culture consciousness. However, the movie was not well-received upon release, and it even earned two Razzie Award nominations (for Worst Actress and Worst Director).
This is the literal opposite of an Academy Award. And if not Kubrick for Best Director, then Jack Nicholson should have easily been recognized for Lead Actor. It's one of cinema's most iconic performances.
Psycho (1960)
Would it surprise you to hear that Psycho, perhaps the greatest horror film ever made, didn't earn a single Academy Award? Unlike the other two movies, Psycho was actually recognized by the Academy in four departments - Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography. However, it failed to win a single award.
The respective winners were Billy Wilder for The Apartment, Shirley Jones for Elmer Gantry, The Apartment, and Sons and Lovers. It didn't even earn a Best Score nomination, despite its now-iconic score.
The Witch (2015)
The Witch was the most acclaimed horror film of 2015, and it helped usher in the age of A24. It sits at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, with most of the praise going to its screenplay, directing, and acting.
The movie won other awards in those departments, including a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Screenplay, an Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer, an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, and the Sundance Film Festival's Directing Award. And not a single Academy Award nomination.
The Lighthouse (2019)
The Lighthouse is Robert Eggers' much-anticipated follow-up to The Witch, and it was equally as fascinating. Unlike The Witch, The Lighthouse received some Academy love in the form of a Best Cinematography nom. Unfortunately, it lost to 1917.
Many critics believed that the acting, particularly Willem Dafoe's performance, also deserved some recognition. Dafoe took home both a Satellite Award and an Independent Spirit Award, but wasn't nominated for an Oscar.
The Thing (1982)
The Thing not being recognized for its makeup or visual effects will forever remain one of horror's greatest tragedies. The award for Best Makeup was first given out in 1981, and visual effects have been a staple at the Academy Awards since its inception. So it's not like the departments simply weren't recognized back then.
Rather, The Thing was critically reviled when it was first released, and it even earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Musical Score. The Thing is now a horror classic, but in 1982, it was Razzie material.
Don't Look Now (1973)
Speaking of horror movies that didn't earn the respect they deserved, 1973's Don't Look Now is often regarded as a seminal work in the horror genre.
And while it wasn't horribly received like The Thing, it sort of came and went without much fanfare. It earned seven nominations at the 27th British Academy Film Awards, winning for Best Cinematography. However, it failed to earn a single Academy Award nomination, and that year's Best Cinematography award went to a movie called Cries and Whispers.
Poltergeist (1982)
1982 was a fantastic year for Steven Spielberg. Not only did it see the release of his seminal E.T., but he also helped write and produce the horror masterpiece that is Poltergeist.
The good news is that Poltergeist was recognized by the Academy, earning three nominations for Original Score, Sound Editing, and Visual Effects. The bad news is that it lost all three. The sort-of-good news is that it lost to a respectable opponent - Spielberg's very own E.T.
The Babadook (2014)
The Babadook was easily one of the best-reviewed movies of 2014. It was instantly hailed as a horror classic, earned a stellar 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 Metascore, and Essie Davis was universally praised for her lead performance.
The movie took home a few Australian Academy awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. However, it didn't receive a single Academy Award nomination, despite many clamoring for some Davis recognition.
Carrie (1976)
Carrie is another rare horror film to earn some recognition at the Academy Awards. At the 49th Academy Awards in 1977, Carrie was nominated for both Best Actress (Sissy Spacek) and Best Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie). And despite these being some of the most iconic performances in horror movie history, neither actress took home the coveted award.
Instead, the Best Actress award went to Faye Dunaway for Network, and Best Supporting Actress went to Beatrice Straight - also for Network.