It’s not that common, but there are some horror movies that managed to win Oscars. If you’re a fan of the scariest genre of cinema, you may have noticed that, in general, horror works tend to be left out of the Oscars, the biggest and most prestigious film awards in the world.
- Oscars: why do the awards tend to ignore horror movies?
By the way, in the entire history of the celebration, which is already 94 years old, only 18 horror productions appeared among the nominees for the event. A very low number if we consider the whole period.
Oscar-winning horror movies
But, after all, what were the horror films that managed to break the cycle and win at the Oscars? Check out the complete list below (with trailers, descriptions of the works, according to IMDb, and the categories in which they won)!
18 – The Legend of the Headless Horseman (Sleepy Hollow) – 1999
“Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the beheadings of three people and discovers that the culprit is the legendary appearance of the Headless Horseman.”
Winner in the category: Best Art Direction.
17 – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Dracula) – 1992
The film follows “the period when the vampire Dracula goes to London to seduce his lawyer’s bride and create chaos in the process”.
Winner in the categories: Best Makeup, Best Costume Design and Best Sound Effects.
16 – The Phantom of the Opera (1943)
“A sour composer emerges from the sewers of Paris to improve his career at the Opera,” describes the synopsis of the 1940s classic.
Winner in the categories: Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.
15 – The Exorcist (The Exorcist) – 1973
“A teenage girl is possessed by an evil spirit and her mother desperately seeks help from two priests”, describes the synopsis of the feature, which has certainly given nightmares to many people.
Winner in the categories: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.
14 – Black Swan (Black Swan) – 2010
“A ballerina struggles to keep her sanity while trying to land the lead role in Swan Lake.”
Category winner: Best Actress, for Natalie Portman.
13 – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) – 2007
The film tells the “infamous story of Benjamin Barker, who establishes a hairdressing salon in London, which is, in fact, the basis of a sinister association with his companion Mrs. Lovett”.
Winner in the category: Best Art Direction.
12 – The Prophecy (The Omen) – 1976
“A series of mysterious deaths surround the US ambassador, who wonders if it’s possible that the child he’s raising is really the Antichrist.”
Winner in the category: Best Original Soundtrack.
11 – An American Werewolf in London – 1981
“Two American students are attacked by a werewolf on a walking tour of Britain, but none of the natives accept the existence of such a creature.”
Winner in the category: Best Makeup.
10 – Crazy Obsession (Misery) – 1990
“A famous author is saved from a car accident by a fan without suspecting that the attention he is receiving is just the beginning of a nightmare”.
Category Winner: Best Actress for Kathy Bates.
- Netflix of horror: meet Shudder, streaming horror movies
9 – The Doctor and the Monster (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) – 1931
“Dr. Jekyll faces dire consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.”
Category Winner: Best Actor, for Fredric March.
8 – What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane) – 1962
“A former child star torments her paraplegic sister in her decaying Hollywood mansion”.
Winner in the category: Best Costume Design.
7 – The Fly (The Fly) – 1986
“A scientist begins to transform into a giant insect after one of his experiments goes wrong”, describes the synopsis of the film starring Jeff Goldblum.
Winner in the category: Best Makeup.
6 – The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
“A corrupt young man somehow retains his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to everyone.”
Winner in the category: Best Cinematography.
5 – Rosemary’s Baby (Rosemary’s Baby) – 1968
“A young couple moves into an apartment in a quiet area. When the wife is mysteriously pregnant, paranoia for the safety of the fetus begins to take over her life.”
Category Winner: Best Supporting Actress, for Ruth Gordon.
4 – The Silence of the Lambs – 1991
“A young woman enlists the help of a trapped, manipulative cannibal killer to help capture another serial killer, a madman who preys on his victims,” describes the synopsis for the feature, which is one of the biggest Oscar hits in the horror genre.
Winner in the categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
3 – Aliens: The Rescue (Aliens) – 1986
“Ellen Ripley is saved after being dormant for 57 years. Now she has new threats to fight.”
Winner in the categories: Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.
2 – Alien: The 8th Passenger (Alien) – 1979
“After a merchant ship from space perceives an unknown transmission as a distress call, it finds one of its crew attacked by a mysterious way of life.” With an atmosphere of suspense, the feature of the xenomorph and Ellen Ripley conquered fans and critics upon its release.
Winner in the category: Best Visual Effects.
- Friday the 13th: check out the origin of the date and tips on what to watch
1 – Run! (Get Out) – 2017
“A young black man visits his white girlfriend’s parents for the weekend and their perception of him is not the best, but over time, Chris realizes that the family hides something much more disturbing.”
Category Winner: Best Original Screenplay.
