Movies

Oscars: The Only 6 Horror Films Ever Nominated for Best Picture

Oscars: The Only 6 Horror Films Ever Nominated for Best Picture
Image credit: Hollywood Pictures, Orion Pictures

Can you guess which films are on this list?

The Oscars usually snub even great horror films: The Babadook, Hereditary, and Anthony Perkins' performance in Psycho were all ignored by the Academy. But every once in a while a movie comes along that manages to impress even the snobbiest of critics.

Here are the only six horror films to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

The Exorcist (1973)

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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

One of the most famous horror movies of all time – and for good reason – The Exorcist documents the possession of a little girl named Regan (Linda Blair), who speaks in tongues and has violent, hateful outbursts. The Catholic Church sends an exorcist to try and expel the demon before it's too late.

Famous Quote: 'Your mother's in here, Karras. Would you like to leave a message?'

Fun Fact: Linda Blair needed a bodyguard for six months after the film was released. Religious zealots were angry with the little girl for 'glorifying Satan'.

Jaws (1975)

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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

When a giant shark starts terrorizing the waters of Amity Island, the mayor refuses to close the beaches and risk tourist revenue. Instead, the chief of police (Roy Scheider), an ichthyologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a ship captain (Robert Shaw) must team up to hunt down the beast.

Famous Quote: 'You're gonna need a bigger boat.'

Fun Fact: That famous quote comes from an inside joke on set!

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

A serial killer is hunting down and skinning young women. At a loss, the FBI decides that the only way to find their man is to talk to someone with similar predilections – so Bureau newbie Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is sent to interview imprisoned killer Hannibal Lector. Hannibal the Cannibal does indeed have insights into the case, but he's also unsettling, ruthless, and always plotting a way out…

Famous Quote: 'I ate his liver with some fava beans, and a nice Chianti.'

Fun Fact: When Anthony Hopkins was told he had an audition for a movie called 'The Silence of the Lambs', the title made him think it might be a children's movie!

The Sixth Sense (1999)

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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

It might be fashionable to hate on M. Night Shyamalan these days, but there's no denying that The Sixth Sense is a truly fantastic movie. Bruce Willis plays Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist called in to help a disturbed young boy. The more he learns, the more Malcolm understands that there might be something supernatural happening with the troubled child.

Famous Quote: 'I see dead people.'

Fun Fact: Donnie Wahlberg lost 43 pounds in five weeks to get the right look for the psychologically tormented Vincent.

Black Swan (2010)

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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

Nina is a talented but repressed ballerina who has lived under her mother's thumb her entire life. When she has the opportunity to dance the lead in Swan Lake, Nina's major rival is also her polar opposite. When the two dancers begin a twisted friendship, Nina's perfectionism starts to turn into madness.

Famous Quote: 'The only person standing in your way is you. It's time to let her go.'

Fun Fact: Natalie Portman met her now-husband on the set of Black Swan.

Get Out (2017)

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Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) goes away for a weekend to meet his girlfriend's (Allison Williams) parents. At first their behavior is welcoming, if slightly cringey. But as Chris gets to know the family, the help, and the neighbors, he starts developing the sinking feeling that something might be terribly wrong.

Famous Quote: 'I would've voted for Obama for a third term if I could.'

Fun Fact: Chance the Rapper loved the movie so much that he bought out entire showings in Chicago so that people could watch it for free.