The Oscars celebrate the best in film but have also sparked some of Hollywood's biggest controversies. Over the years, fans have witnessed unbelievable snubs and baffling decisions that left them questioning if the Academy was even watching the same movies. From powerhouse performances overlooked to game-changing films ignored, these moments did not just disappoint, they stirred outrage and ignited debates!

Curious to know which Oscar misses sent fans into a frenzy? These are the moments that still get film lovers talking today.

Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love touched hearts with a poignant tale of two neighbors in 1960s Hong Kong who suspect their spouses of infidelity and, in turn, develop a deep bond. Although the film received worldwide acclaim and represented Hong Kong in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 73rd Academy Awards, the Academy surprisingly ignored it. 

Filmgoers and critics were quite let down by its failure, feeling the Academy had overlooked a masterpiece now celebrated as one of the 21st century's greatest films. 

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In 2014, Selma brought the civil rights movement to the big screen, with David Oyelowo delivering a powerful portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Despite widespread praises, the film received only two Oscar nominations: Best Picture and Best Original Song. Notably absent were nods for Best Director for Ava DuVernay and Best Actor for Oyelowo. 

The lack of diversity among that year's nominees triggered the #OscarsSoWhite movement. Oyelowo reportedly later claimed that some Academy members had made a point to voice their distaste for the 'I Can't Breathe' shirts worn at the premiere, suggesting that this kind of activism did impact their vote.

In 1995, the Oscars were all abuzz with anticipation as Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction went head-to-head with Forrest Gump for Best Picture. Despite its groundbreaking storytelling and critical admiration, Pulp Fiction lost to the more traditional Forrest Gump. This outcome left many fans scratching their heads, questioning the Academy's choices. While Pulp Fiction did win Best Original Screenplay, the snub for Best Picture is still a topic of heated discussion among film enthusiasts.

At the 2006 Oscars, in a shocking twist Crash won the Best Picture award over the widely favored Brokeback Mountain. This unexpected outcome left many questioning the Academy's decision. Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee, had already secured multiple wins for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. Despite its critical praise and multiple awards, it was Crash, a film exploring racial tensions in Los Angeles, that took home the night's top honor. This did not sit well with many, sparking debates, and still remains one of the most discussed moments in Oscar history.

In 1992, Denzel Washington gave a powerful performance of civil rights icon Malcolm X in Spike Lee's biographical movie. He won many honors for this performance and even earned a nomination as Best Actor in the 65th Academy Awards but did not walk away with the Oscar. Although Al Pacino ultimately walked away with the Oscar for his role in Scent of a Woman, many shared the feeling that Washington's nuanced depiction was more deserving than Pacino's performance. 

Interestingly, Washington later expressed in a Playboy interview back in 2013 that he was content with the outcome, acknowledging that it was Pacino's time to be recognized. 

Back in 2009 one of Christopher Nolan's masterpieces, The Dark Knight was so impressive that it earned eight Oscar nominations and took home two. Yet, it surprisingly missed a Best Picture nod,  leading to heated debate. This omission was so influential that the Academy expanded the Best Picture category to ten nominees the following year to include a wider variety of films, such as blockbusters and superhero movies.

The Academy totally overlooked Barbra Streisand's direction in The Prince of Tides during the 1992 Oscar nominations, despite seven nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor. This sparked wide-ranging discussions about what challenges female directors face in Hollywood. Reflecting on the snub in her memoir, Streisand says it "hurt even more" than being excluded in 1984 for Yentl.

Marilyn Monroe dazzled as Sugar Kane, the charming singer of the band in the 1959 comedy classic Some Like It Hot. Although Some Like It Hot received six Academy Award nominations, Marilyn Monroe's outstanding performance was not rewarded. In fact, she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for this role. This is one of the most talked-about snubs in Oscar history, pointing out the Academy's occasional oversight of exceptional talent.

Alfred Hitchcock known as the master of suspense was the director behind Vertigo in 1958 which is now an iconic classic. Despite its strong legacy of praises, the movie did not win him the Best Director Award yet again. Hitchcock's movies, such as Vertigo, Psycho, and Rear Window, are classics today, but he never won an Oscar. 

His only recognition by the Academy was the Irving G. Thalberg Award in 1968, an honorary award. The snub of Vertigo and Hitchcock by the Academy is one of the most significant debates among film buffs and critics. 

Spike Lee's 1990 film Do the Right Thing was shockingly left out of the Best Picture nominees, despite its critical acclaim and timely exploration of racial tensions. The only two nominations received by the film were Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Danny Aiello. Driving Miss Daisy won Best Picture for its more conventional narrative on race relations. This decision had fans reflecting on the Academy's tendency to favor safer storytelling over more provocative, contemporary issues. Reportedly, actress Kim Basinger even called out the omission during the ceremony, underlining the importance of the film.

These moments make fans frustrated and critics stunned with stars wondering whether they had not done enough for the nod to come from the Academy. Whether it is a memorable performance or a groundbreaking film left unrewarded, these snubs prove the Oscars do not always get it right—and that is what keeps the debate alive every year.

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Do you agree with these picks, or do you have your own Oscar snub that still stings? Let us know in the comments below!