10 Best Martin Scorsese Movies That Were Snubbed For Best Picture Ranked 220142

The 10 Best Martin Scorsese Movies Snubbed for Best Picture at the Oscars

While Martin Scorsese is undeniably one of cinema’s most revered auteurs, his storied career has seen several of his masterpieces overlooked for the Academy Award for Best Picture. These cinematic titans, imbued with his signature visceral storytelling, complex characters, and masterful direction, deserved far more than just nominations. This ranked list, focusing on his most critically acclaimed yet Best Picture-snubbed works, aims to rectify that oversight, highlighting the films that stand as testaments to his unparalleled genius and the Oscars’ occasional blind spots.

1. Goodfellas (1990)

Topping this list, Goodfellas remains one of the most egregious Best Picture snubs in Academy Award history. Nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, it famously lost to the more genteel Dances with Wolves. This is a crime against filmmaking. Scorsese’s electrifying, kinetic depiction of the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill is a masterclass in editing, soundtrack integration, and immersive storytelling. Ray Liotta delivers a career-defining performance as Hill, navigating a world of glamour, violence, and existential dread with terrifying authenticity. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, in an Oscar-winning turn that redefined screen psychopaths, are equally indelible. The film’s audacious narrative structure, its unflinching portrayal of the seductive allure of organized crime, and its unforgettable soundtrack created a cultural phenomenon. Its influence on subsequent crime films is immeasurable. The sheer vibrancy and raw energy of Goodfellas, its ability to make the viewer complicit in the protagonists’ morally compromised world, is what makes its loss so profound. It wasn’t just a great film; it was a seismic event in cinematic language, a blueprint for how to capture the intoxicating, corrosive nature of a life lived outside the law. The Academy’s choice, while perhaps reflecting a preference for a more traditional epic, feels like a monumental misjudgment in retrospect, failing to recognize the revolutionary artistry at play. The film’s enduring popularity and its continued status as a benchmark for the gangster genre solidify its place as the paramount Scorsese Best Picture snub.

2. Taxi Driver (1976)

Nominated for Best Picture, Taxi Driver ultimately lost to Rocky, another superb film, but one that doesn’t possess the same profound, unsettling power. Scorsese’s raw, unflinching exploration of urban alienation and psychological decay, seen through the eyes of Travis Bickle, a Vietnam War veteran driving a taxi through a seedy, rain-slicked New York City, is a harrowing masterpiece. Robert De Niro’s portrayal of Bickle is iconic, a portrait of escalating paranoia and simmering rage that has become ingrained in the cultural consciousness. The film’s grimy realism, its unsettling soundtrack, and its exploration of themes of loneliness, violence, and the search for meaning in a dehumanizing world are as relevant today as they were in 1976. Scorsese’s directorial vision is at its most potent here, creating an atmosphere of suffocating dread that perfectly mirrors Bickle’s fractured psyche. The final shootout sequence, a ballet of brutal violence and desperate catharsis, remains one of cinema’s most unforgettable moments. The film’s enduring power lies in its refusal to offer easy answers or moral pronouncements. It forces the audience to confront the darker aspects of human nature and the societal conditions that can breed such despair. The Academy, while acknowledging its artistry with a Best Picture nomination, ultimately shied away from its challenging, uncomfortable truths, opting for a more accessible, inspirational narrative.

3. Raging Bull (1980)

Raging Bull, a monumental achievement in filmmaking, was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but lost to Ordinary People. This is another instance where a film of unparalleled artistic merit was bypassed for a more conventional, emotionally safe choice. Scorsese’s biographical drama about the self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta is a visceral, black-and-white masterpiece of physicality and psychological torment. Robert De Niro, in a transformative and Oscar-winning performance, embodies LaMotta with a raw, animalistic intensity that is both captivating and repulsive. The film’s brutal, visceral boxing sequences are legendary, but it is the internal struggles of LaMotta – his jealousy, his rage, his inability to connect – that truly resonate. Scorsese’s direction is masterful, capturing the raw emotion and operatic tragedy of LaMotta’s life with unflinching honesty. The cinematography, the editing, and the sound design all contribute to the film’s visceral impact, immersing the viewer in LaMotta’s turbulent world. Raging Bull is not just a sports film; it’s a profound examination of masculinity, self-destruction, and the corrosive nature of envy. Its artistic boldness, its unflinching look at a deeply flawed protagonist, and its stylistic bravado were perhaps too much for the Academy at the time, who favored a more somber but ultimately less groundbreaking drama.

4. The Departed (2006)

The Departed is the only Scorsese film to have actually won Best Picture, a monumental achievement. However, this article focuses on films that were snubbed. If The Departed were to be included in this list due to its controversial reception or a hypothetical alternative outcome, it would be a testament to the ongoing debate about artistic merit versus popular appeal. Nevertheless, considering the prompt’s explicit instruction to focus on snubbed films, The Departed‘s win, while deserved, disqualifies it from this particular ranking. The Academy’s recognition of The Departed is a crucial counterpoint to the snubs that precede it, demonstrating their eventual embrace of Scorsese’s singular vision.

5. The Irishman (2019)

Despite being nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Irishman ultimately lost to Green Book. This loss, particularly for a film of such epic scope and ambition, felt like a profound disappointment for many. Scorsese’s sprawling crime saga, chronicling the life of hitman Frank Sheeran, is a meditation on loyalty, betrayal, and the passage of time. The film’s technical achievements, particularly the de-aging technology, are groundbreaking, but its true power lies in its elegiac tone and its exploration of the consequences of a life spent in the shadows. The performances from Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci are magnificent, each actor bringing a lifetime of experience to their respective roles. Scorsese’s direction is as assured as ever, weaving a complex narrative that is both grand and intimate. The Irishman is a melancholic reflection on aging, regret, and the phantom limbs of memory. It’s a film that demands patience and contemplation, and its ultimate failure to clinch Best Picture felt like a missed opportunity to honor a master at the peak of his powers, delivering a work that was both a summation of his career and a bold new statement. The Academy’s decision, while not a complete dismissal of the film’s artistry, arguably prioritized a more conventional, feel-good narrative over Scorsese’s profound, somber farewell to a bygone era of American cinema.

6. Casino (1995)

While Casino only received a single nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Sharon Stone), its critical acclaim and enduring legacy solidify its status as a film that deserved far more recognition, including a Best Picture nod. Scorsese’s opulent and brutal chronicle of the mob’s control over Las Vegas is a visually stunning and narratively complex epic. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci deliver tour-de-force performances as Ace Rothstein and Nicky Santoro, respectively, anchoring the film with their magnetic screen presence. Sharon Stone, in a career-defining role, is captivating as Ginger McKenna, a woman caught in the destructive currents of wealth and power. The film’s intricate plot, its lavish production design, and its unflinching portrayal of the excesses and violence of the casino world are breathtaking. Scorsese’s meticulous attention to detail, his masterful use of voice-over narration, and his ability to create an immersive, almost operatic experience make Casino a triumph of filmmaking. Its exploration of themes like greed, ambition, and the corrupting influence of money is as relevant as ever. The film’s vibrant energy, its operatic scope, and its tragic undertones were perhaps too much for the Academy to fully embrace in a competitive year. The oversight, particularly for a film that so perfectly encapsulates Scorsese’s fascination with power, corruption, and the American dream gone awry, remains a significant blemish on Oscar history.

7. The Age of Innocence (1993)

This film, unlike many of Scorsese’s more violent works, garnered significant critical praise and five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. However, it ultimately lost to Schindler’s List, a monumental film in its own right. While Schindler’s List‘s win is undeniable, The Age of Innocence represents a different facet of Scorsese’s genius, one that was perhaps undervalued in its Oscar context. Scorsese’s exquisitely crafted period drama, based on Edith Wharton’s novel, is a masterclass in social commentary and repressed emotion. Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder deliver nuanced performances as individuals navigating the rigid social strictures of 1870s New York. The film’s breathtaking production design, its opulent costumes, and its meticulous attention to historical detail create a world of suffocating beauty and unspoken desires. Scorsese’s direction is subtle and masterful, capturing the exquisite pain of unfulfilled love and the crushing weight of societal expectations. The film’s exploration of class, convention, and the devastating consequences of societal hypocrisy is deeply affecting. Its subtle power, its focus on internal struggles rather than external conflict, may have been perceived as less impactful than the grand narrative of Schindler’s List. Nevertheless, The Age of Innocence stands as a testament to Scorsese’s versatility and his ability to imbue even the most genteel settings with profound emotional resonance and underlying tension.

8. The King of Comedy (1982)

The King of Comedy is a film that has, over time, gained significant critical appreciation and cult status. It received no Academy Award nominations, making its absence from the Best Picture race a glaring omission given its subsequent recognition. Scorsese’s darkly comedic and deeply unsettling satire of fame and obsession is a prescient masterpiece that was perhaps ahead of its time. Robert De Niro delivers a brilliant, chilling performance as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comedian whose desperate pursuit of stardom leads him down a path of delusion and criminal intent. Jerry Lewis, in a surprisingly effective dramatic turn, plays his idol, a talk show host. The film’s uncomfortable humor, its unflinching look at the darker side of the entertainment industry, and its exploration of the hunger for validation resonate powerfully. Scorsese’s direction is sharp and incisive, creating a palpable sense of unease and a satirical edge that cuts deep. The film’s bleakness and its unconventional approach to its subject matter may have alienated Academy voters at the time, who were perhaps not ready for such a biting commentary on celebrity culture. Its lack of nominations at all is a testament to its initial underappreciation, a classic case of a film whose genius was only fully recognized years later.

9. After Hours (1985)

After Hours also received no Oscar nominations, a surprising oversight for a film that is widely considered a masterful black comedy and a significant departure for Scorsese. This frantic, surreal journey through a single, increasingly disastrous night in SoHo is a testament to Scorsese’s versatility and his ability to craft gripping narratives outside his usual thematic territory. Griffin Dunne plays Paul Hackett, a mild-mannered word processor whose attempt at a date spirals into a series of escalating misfortunes and bizarre encounters. The film’s breakneck pacing, its dark humor, and its labyrinthine plot create a sense of escalating panic and disorientation that is both hilarious and terrifying. Scorsese’s direction is kinetic and inventive, using the urban landscape as a character in itself. The film’s exploration of urban anxieties, the unexpected dangers lurking beneath the surface of everyday life, and the sheer absurdity of fate makes it a unique and enduring work. Its absence from the Oscar conversation is baffling, a clear indication that the Academy, at the time, may not have fully appreciated the brilliance of Scorsese’s foray into this darkly comedic, Kafkaesque territory.

10. Gangs of New York (2002)

Nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Gangs of New York ultimately lost to Chicago. While nominated, its absence from the winner’s circle for Best Picture is a point of contention for many who saw it as a groundbreaking historical epic. Scorsese’s ambitious historical drama, set against the backdrop of 19th-century New York City, is a visually stunning and thematically rich exploration of immigration, power, and the birth of American identity. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a ferocious, Oscar-nominated performance as the ruthless Bill the Butcher. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz also shine in this sprawling narrative of revenge and rebellion. The film’s epic scope, its meticulously recreated historical setting, and its visceral depiction of brutal street warfare are breathtaking. Scorsese’s direction is as powerful as ever, bringing a raw energy and historical weight to the proceedings. The film’s exploration of the nation’s violent origins and the clashes of culture and power are deeply resonant. The Academy’s decision to award Chicago, a vibrant musical, over this monumental historical saga, while understandable in terms of genre preference, is seen by many as a missed opportunity to honor a more complex and historically significant cinematic achievement. Gangs of New York remains a testament to Scorsese’s ability to craft large-scale epics with an unflinching eye for historical truth and human drama.