Every Best Picture Nominee Sequel: Winners and Nominees
Explore the rare instances of sequels nominated for Best Picture and discover which ones took home the prestigious award. Delve into the limited selection of sequel films that made it to the top of the Academy's list.
The Oscars have a history of overlooking franchise films, but a few sequels have managed to snag Best Picture nominations. Sequels have always been a significant part of the movie industry, with the first one being made in 1916. However, the Academy Awards typically do not recognize them in the most prestigious category. This has led to some iconic sequels like The Empire Strikes Back, Terminator 2, and The Dark Knight being snubbed by the Oscars. The exclusion of Christopher Nolan's Batman film even prompted the Academy to make changes to its Best Picture nomination process.
Despite Hollywood churning out more sequels in recent years, many have still failed to secure Best Picture nominations at the Oscars. Recent examples like Logan, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have only reinforced the notion that franchise films are often overlooked. In the entire history of Oscar nominations spanning 95 years, fewer than twelve sequels have been recognized as Best Picture nominees - and only two have emerged as winners.
The Bells Of St. Mary's (1945)
Lost To The Lost Weekend
Father O'Malley in front of a Christmas Tree in The Bells of St Marys - Lost To The Lost Weekend - The Bells Of St. Mary's (1945)
The first sequel to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars was The Bells of St. Mary's. Released in 1945, the movie featured Bing Crosby once again as Father O'Malley, this time alongside Ingrid Bergman as Sister Mary Benedict. Following the success of Going My Way, which won Best Picture the previous year, expectations were high for The Bells of St. Mary's. Directed by Leo McCarey, the film received a total of eight Oscar nominations. Despite its critical acclaim, The Bells of St. Mary's did not win the Best Picture award, losing to Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend.
WHERE TO WATCH THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Winner
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) sitting in the dark in The Godfather Part II - Winner - The Godfather: Part II (1974)
It took the Oscars almost 30 years to nominate another sequel for Best Picture, and they waited for something truly special with The Godfather Part II. Many people consider this crime drama by Francis Ford Coppola to be the best movie ever made. In 1975, it was a big success at the Oscars, becoming the first sequel to ever win Best Picture, just like The Godfather before it. The sequel ended up winning six Oscars, compared to the original's three, making it an even bigger winner overall. Both movies received a total of 11 Oscar nominations.
WHERE TO WATCH THE GODFATHER PART II
The Godfather: Part III (1990)
Lost To Dances With Wolves
Kay and Michael dancing in The Godfather Part III - Lost To Dances With Wolves - The Godfather: Part III (1990)
The Godfather: Part III was nominated for Best Picture at the 1991 Oscars, making it the third sequel in history to receive this honor. Fans had been eagerly anticipating Francis Ford Coppola's follow-up to The Godfather: Part II for 16 years, but unfortunately, The Godfather 3 fell short of expectations. Despite receiving seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, it was the first movie in the series to not win any Oscars. It was also overshadowed by other films like GoodFellas, which was considered a better mob movie that year. Ultimately, Dances With Wolves took home the Best Picture award.
WHERE TO WATCH THE GODFATHER PART III
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Lost To Chicago
Viggo Mortensen as Aragon in Two Towers Helms Deep - Lost To Chicago - The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Oscars started to nominate sequels for Best Picture more frequently in the early 2000s, largely due to Peter Jackson's influence. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was one of the sequels to receive a Best Picture nomination after its release in 2002. This film is the sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which also received a Best Picture nomination and began the successful franchise. Despite earning six Oscar nominations, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers did not win the Best Picture award, losing to the musical adaptation of Chicago.
If you're interested in watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, you can find it available on various platforms where movies are streamed or rented.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Winner
Aragorn and Arwen being wed at the end of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Winner - The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Return of the King, part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, won the Best Picture Oscar in 2004. This marked the second time a sequel had achieved this prestigious award. The movie, directed by Peter Jackson and based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels, was praised for its storytelling and performances. The film's success was further highlighted by its record-tying 11 Oscar wins, making it a standout in cinematic history.
WHERE TO WATCH THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
Lost To The Departed
Ken Watanabe as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi holding binoculars in a trench in Letters From Iwo Jima. - Lost To The Departed - Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima is a war movie released in 2006. It is the second part of Eastwood's exploration of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Japan. The first part, Flags of Our Fathers, focused on the United States' perspective and was released in October 2006. Letters from Iwo Jima, on the other hand, portrayed the battle from Japan's perspective when it was widely released in February 2007. Despite both films, Letters from Iwo Jima was more successful, earning a Best Picture nomination and Eastwood a Best Director nomination. However, it lost to Martin Scorsese's The Departed.
If you want to watch Letters from Iwo Jima, you can rent it on AppleTV, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Lost To The King's Speech
All the toys in Toy Story 3 spilling out of a box in Toy Story 3. - Lost To The King's Speech - Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3 made history by becoming the first and only animated sequel to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The movie provided a heartfelt conclusion for beloved characters like Woody, Buzz, and Andy's toys. Despite its nomination, Toy Story 3 did not win the award, losing to The King's Speech. This recognition marked a significant achievement for Pixar, as it was only the third animated film to ever be considered for the prestigious honor.
Every Animated Movie Nominated For Best Picture | Year |
|---|---|
Beauty and the Beast | 1991 |
Up | 2009 |
Toy Story 3 | 2010 |
WHERE TO WATCH TOY STORY 3
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Lost To Spotlight
Tom Hardy as Max aiming a gun while waering a mask in Mad Max Fury Road - Lost To Spotlight - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, making it a rare sequel to receive such recognition. The movie, directed by George Miller, is a mix of reboot and sequel, with Tom Hardy leading a new cast while also paying homage to the original films starring Mel Gibson. Despite being a strong contender with 10 nominations in 2016, it ultimately won six Oscars for its production elements. However, the coveted Best Picture award went to Spotlight instead of Mad Max: Fury Road.
WHERE TO WATCH MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
Black Panther (2018)
Lost To Green Book
T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) smiling in Black Panther - Lost To Green Book - Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther, although a new franchise starter for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is considered a sequel within the universe. This is because Chadwick Boseman's character, T'Challa, first appeared in Captain America: Civil War two years prior. Directed by Ryan Coogler, this groundbreaking MCU film set new records for Marvel at the Oscars. It was the first MCU movie to be nominated for Best Picture and also earned Marvel Studios its first three Oscars wins in other categories. However, the award for Best Picture went to Green Book instead.
Looking to watch Black Panther?
Avatar: The Way Of Water (2023)
Lost To Everything Everywhere All At Once
Jake Sully in war paint in Avatar The Way of Water - Lost To Everything Everywhere All At Once - Avatar: The Way Of Water (2023)
Avatar: The Way of Water was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar in 2023, making it the latest sequel to receive this honor. Released 13 years after the original Avatar, which also received a Best Picture nomination, there were doubts about whether the sequel would connect with audiences as strongly. However, the film's success both critically and financially proved otherwise. Along with its Best Picture nomination, the sequel received nominations for three other Oscars. In the end, Avatar: The Way of Water did not win the Best Picture Oscar, losing out to another film.
WHERE TO WATCH AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Twitter article posted by Avatar
Top Gun: Maverick (2023)
Lost To Everything Everywhere All At Once
Tom Cruise As Pete Mitchell in a jet in Top Gun Maverick - Lost To Everything Everywhere All At Once - Top Gun: Maverick (2023)
In 2023, the Oscars made history by nominating Top Gun: Maverick for Best Picture, marking the first time multiple sequels were up for the prestigious award in the same year. Tom Cruise's film also set a new record for the longest gap between a Best Picture nominee and its original film, with Top Gun: Maverick hitting the big screen 36 years after the original Top Gun. While the original film received four Oscar nominations and a win for Best Original Song, the sequel outperformed with a total of six nominations. Despite its success, Top Gun: Maverick, like Avatar: The Way of Water, ultimately lost to Everything Everywhere All at Once.
WHERE TO WATCH TOP GUN: MAVERICK
Editor's P/S:
The article delves into the history of sequels and their recognition at the Oscars. It highlights the rarity of sequels receiving Best Picture nominations, with only a handful of exceptions throughout the 95-year history of the Academy Awards. The piece discusses the significance of these nominations, particularly in recent years, as they reflect the growing prominence of franchise films in the industry. While the article acknowledges the critical and commercial success of these sequels, it also sheds light on the challenges they face in breaking through the traditional barriers of the Oscars, which often favor more traditional and independent films.
The article's exploration of the reasons for the Oscars' reluctance to recognize sequels is thought-provoking. It raises questions about the perceived artistic value of sequels compared to original films, as well as the influence of industry dynamics and voting patterns on the selection process. The article also highlights the evolution of the Academy's Best Picture nomination process, which has been adjusted over time to address concerns about the lack of diversity and representation in the awards. Overall, the article provides a valuable perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding the recognition of sequels at the Oscars, offering insights into the historical, cultural, and artistic factors that shape the decisions of the Academy.
