Oscars cannot go without some of the most shocking upsets each year. And while the ceremony and the eventual winners are somehow becoming more and more predictable, each year, there are a few winners that either come out of the blue or are given the golden statuette instead of the much more deserving candidate. The unpredictability of the Academy Awards is part of what makes them so fascinating; whether it’s a surprise acting win, an underdog taking home Best Picture, or a perceived front-runner losing at the last moment, these moments ignite debate and fuel passionate discussions among film lovers and critics alike.
Over the years, the Oscars have been known to deliver results that defy conventional wisdom, often influenced by industry politics, sentimental favoritism, or last-minute campaign pushes. While some upsets are celebrated as victories for diversity and innovation in cinema, others leave audiences frustrated, feeling that a more deserving nominee was overlooked. Regardless of where one stands on these surprises, they remain an integral part of Oscar history, shaping the way we perceive both the awards and the art of filmmaking itself.
Here Are The Most Shocking Oscar Upsets From the Last Ten Years:
1. Jamie Lee Curtis Wins Best Supporting Actress for ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’
Alright, we know that this, too, was a predictable win after Curtis took home the SAG award only a few weeks earlier, but this is a definite upset because one can clearly see that all the other nominees in the category were more deserving than her.
While I would personally want the towering, whale-like performance by Hong Chau in The Whale to be recognized, there’s no way in hell the award should have gone to anyone other than Kerry Condon for The Banshees of Inisherin. Even Stephanie Hsu, who co-starred with Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once, had more range, versatility, and an extreme physicality that was integral to her role.
Curtis, while a beloved figure in Hollywood and an undisputed horror icon, won more for her legacy and industry goodwill rather than for the merits of her performance. The Academy choosing her over her more deserving competition was one of the biggest surprises of the night, leading to an online debate about whether popularity and career longevity should outweigh pure acting prowess in deciding an Oscar winner.
2. Anthony Hopkins Wins Best Actor for ‘The Father’
Chadwick Boseman was a strong favorite to win Best Actor at the 2021 Oscars for his poignant role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom following his tragic passing from cancer the year before. Although Anthony Hopkins had beaten him at the BAFTAs for his performance in The Father, many believed it was due to a potential bias toward a revered Welsh actor who had been knighted by the Queen.
The producers of the 2021 Oscars even anticipated Boseman winning Best Actor, restructuring the ceremony so that the Best Actor category would be the final award of the night. However, when Hopkins’ name was announced instead, it led to an awkward, anticlimactic ending that left audiences stunned. While Hopkins delivered an incredible performance, many felt that Boseman’s final and most powerful role should have been honored posthumously.
3. Parasite Wins ‘Best Picture’
Parasite faced several challenges to win Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars, including the fact that no non-English language film had ever won before. Additionally, no actor was nominated in any category, which made it nearly impossible to win at the time.
However, the film’s success at the SAG Awards and overwhelming popularity led to a historic victory, making Bong Joon-ho’s masterpiece the first foreign-language film to ever take home the top prize. This upset shocked many who expected 1917 or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to win instead. The win was a turning point in Academy history, signaling a broader acceptance of international cinema and breaking long-standing barriers in the industry.
4. Olivia Colman Wins Best Actress for ‘The Favourite’
Glenn Close was the overwhelming favorite to finally win an Oscar for her performance in The Wife after several previous nominations without a victory. Many critics and industry insiders believed it was her time, and she had swept almost all the major precursor awards leading up to the ceremony.
However, in one of the most unexpected moments of the night, Olivia Colman won for her brilliant and offbeat performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite. While Colman was widely praised for her role, the upset left audiences in disbelief, as Close seemed poised to take home her first Oscar. Colman’s genuinely shocked and heartfelt acceptance speech softened the blow, but many still argue that Close was robbed of a long-overdue win.
5. Moonlight Wins ‘Best Picture’ After Envelope Mix-Up
The 2017 Academy Awards will always be remembered for one of the most shocking moments in Oscar history. When Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty mistakenly announced La La Land as the Best Picture winner due to an envelope mix-up, the cast and crew took the stage, only to have their victory abruptly rescinded.
In an unprecedented turn of events, Moonlight was revealed as the actual Best Picture winner, shocking everyone in attendance. While Barry Jenkins’ film was widely acclaimed and deserved the win, many had expected La La Land to take home the prize. The moment not only created chaos on stage but also became one of the most talked-about Oscar upsets in history, overshadowing the actual achievement of Moonlight’s win.
6. Mark Rylance Wins Best Supporting Actor for ‘Bridge of Spies’
Mark Rylance’s win for Bridge of Spies over Sylvester Stallone for Creed was one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 Oscars. Stallone, a Hollywood legend, had returned to the role of Rocky Balboa with a deeply emotional and career-best performance, and many assumed he would finally win an Academy Award.
However, Rylance’s subtle and understated work in Bridge of Spies impressed enough Academy voters to secure him the Oscar. While his performance was undoubtedly excellent, the upset left Stallone fans disappointed, as they had hoped to see the iconic actor finally receive recognition for his long career. Many still view this as one of the most surprising results in recent Oscar history.
