All Oscar-nominated films from worst to first

Written by:
February 7, 2019
Updated on February 8, 2019
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All Oscar-nominated films from worst to first

Every year since 1929, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has held an event to honor the best movies of the previous year. Members of the Academy vote to select winners for a variety of categories related to filmmaking, from costume design to cinematography. The official name for the golden statue given to Academy Award winners is the Academy Award of Merit, but most people call it the Oscar. Although three people claim to be the creator of the nickname, the true origin of the statuette's moniker remains unknown. Regardless of the truth, the nickname was officially adopted by the Academy in 1939 and has since become ubiquitous.

Whether you're a fan of prestige cinema or a lover of red carpet glam, the Oscars offers a bit of classic Hollywood style for viewers of all tastes. In preparation for the most prestigious film award ceremony of the year, Stacker has compiled the films nominated for the 91st Academy Awards and ranked them from worst to best. Rankings were determined by averaging the films' IMDb user rating times 10 with their Metascores. Ties were broken by IMDb ratings.

Click through this slideshow to find out which films are up for an Academy Award of Merit this February.

RELATED: Movies from 2018 dominating this awards season

#35. Mary Queen of Scots

Stacker score: 62.5
IMDb rating: 6.5
Metascore: 60
Runtime: 124 min.
Director: Josie Rourke
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden

Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie team up in this historical drama about the relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. The film received two Oscar nods, for Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.


 

#34. Solo: A Star Wars Story

Stacker score: 66.0
IMDb rating: 7.0
Metascore: 62
Runtime: 135 min.
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke

The "Star Wars” franchise has won a total of nine Academy Awards and "Solo: A Star Wars Story” could add a 10th: It’s nominated for Best Visual Effects. This film has another record to its name; it’s the second lowest-grossing of all live-action "Star Wars" films.


 

#33. Vice

Stacker score: 66.0
IMDb rating: 7.1
Metascore: 61
Runtime: 132 min.
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell

In "Vice,” Christian Bale stars as Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States. The film received eight nominations including Best Director and Best Picture; according to certain movie critics, these nominations are not deserved. Director Adam McKay’s previous offering, "The Big Short,” won the Oscar Best Adapted Screenplay in 2016.

 

#32. Bohemian Rhapsody

Stacker score: 66.0
IMDb rating: 8.3
Metascore: 49
Runtime: 134 min.
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee

Rami Malek is nominated for his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the band Queen. "Bohemian Rhapsody” is also nominated for Best Picture. The nomination is not without controversy: The film’s director Bryan Singer has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual assault, which could affect its chances of winning.


 

#31. Christopher Robin

Stacker score: 67.0
IMDb rating: 7.4
Metascore: 60
Runtime: 104 min.
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael

A live-action version of the Disney classic, this film follows an adult Christopher Robin who receives a visitor in the form of his childhood friend Winnie the Pooh. Ewan McGregor stars as the title character while Jim Cummings reprises his role as Pooh. "Christopher Robin” is nominated for Best Visual Effects.


 

#30. Mary Poppins Returns

Stacker score: 69.0
IMDb rating: 7.2
Metascore: 66
Runtime: 130 min.
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw

Emily Blunt stars as the titular character in the sequel to 1964’s "Mary Poppins.” The film received four nominations, including Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Composer Marc Shaiman and his songwriting partner Scott Wittman have worked together for years and were especially eager to write the music for "Mary Poppins Returns.”


 

#29. Ready Player One

Stacker score: 69.5
IMDb rating: 7.5
Metascore: 64
Runtime: 140 min.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn

Ernest Cline’s 2011 science-fiction novel is the basis for "Ready Player One.” The futuristic setting combined with endless ‘80s pop-culture references earned the film one nomination for Best Visual Effects.


 

#28. Never Look Away

Stacker score: 70.5
IMDb rating: 7.3
Metascore: 68
Runtime: 188 min.
Directors: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Paula Beer

"Never Look Away” is inspired by the life of German painter Gerhard Richter. Richter is not a fan of the film, which has been nominated for Best Foreign Feature and Best Cinematography.


 

#27. Ralph Breaks the Internet

Stacker score: 72.0
IMDb rating: 7.3
Metascore: 71
Runtime: 112 min.
Directors: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot

"Wreck-it Ralph” came out in 2012 and was nominated for, but did not win, Best Animated Feature. Its sequel "Ralph Breaks the Internet” is nominated in the same category. John C. Reilly reprised his role voicing the titular character.


 

#26. Of Fathers and Sons

Stacker score: 73.0
IMDb rating: 7.6
Metascore: 70
Runtime: 99 min.
Director: Talal Derki
Starring: Abu Osama, Ayman Osama, Osama Osama

Nominated for Best Documentary Feature, "Of Fathers and Sons” focuses on a Jihadist family living in Syria. Director Talal Derki earned a rare look into this radical Muslim lifestyle by claiming he was making a documentary supporting the cause.


 

#25. RBG

Stacker score: 73.5
IMDb rating: 7.6
Metascore: 71
Runtime: 98 min.
Directors: Julie Cohen, Betsy West
Starring: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Clinton, Sharron Frontiero

Acting Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the subject of "RBG,” nominated for Best Documentary Feature. While she recovered from a recent surgery, Ginsburg was happy to hear about the nomination. The film also received a Best Original Song nomination for "I’ll Fight,” written by Diane Warren and performed by Jennifer Hudson.


 

#24. Border

Stacker score: 74.0
IMDb rating: 7.3
Metascore: 75
Runtime: 110 min.
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson

"Border” is about a strange-looking woman named Tina, an equally strange-looking man named Vore, and their unique relationship. This film was chosen as the Swedish entry for Best Foreign Film and did not get the nomination, but it did earn a nod for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.


 

#23. Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Stacker score: 76.0
IMDb rating: 6.8
Metascore: 84
Runtime: 76 min.
Director: RaMell Ross
Starring: Latrenda 'Boosie' Ash, Quincy Bryant, Daniel Collins

This documentary depicts snapshots of the lives of African-Americans living in Hale County, Ala. Director RaMell Ross moved to Hale County in 2009 and shot footage for the film over several years. "Hale County This Morning, This Evening” is nominated for Best Documentary Feature.


 

#22. Mirai

Stacker score: 76.5
IMDb rating: 7.2
Metascore: 81
Runtime: 98 min.
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Starring: Rebecca Hall, John Cho, Daniel Dae Kim

Mamoru Hosoda’s latest film focuses on Kun, a 4-year-old boy whose life is changed with the arrival of his baby sister Mirai. Hosoda expressed surprise and gratitude upon hearing that "Mirai” was nominated for Best Animated Feature.


 

#21. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Stacker score: 76.5
IMDb rating: 7.4
Metascore: 79
Runtime: 133 min.
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring: Tim Blake Nelson, Willie Watson, Clancy Brown

The Coen brothers wrote, directed, and produced "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” which is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. The directors adapted the film from their own set of Western-themed short stories, which is evident in the movie’s unique composition of six entirely separate chapters.


 

#20. Green Book

Stacker score: 76.5
IMDb rating: 8.3
Metascore: 70
Runtime: 130 min.
Director: Peter Farrelly
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini

"Green Book” depicts the friendship between an African-American musician and his white bouncer as they tour the Deep South in the 1960s. The film is nominated for Best Picture, and actors Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen both received acting nods. Despite its success at award shows, some critics claim "Green Book” is an unrealistic take on an interracial relationship.


 

#19. Avengers: Infinity War

Stacker score: 76.5
IMDb rating: 8.5
Metascore: 68
Runtime: 149 min.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo

The highest-grossing film in 2018, "Avengers: Infinity War” is nominated for Best Visual Effects. In this Marvel film, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy work together to try and defeat villain Thanos before he wipes out half of all life in the universe.


 

#18. Capernaum

Stacker score: 77.5
IMDb rating: 8.1
Metascore: 74
Runtime: 126 min.
Director: Nadine Labaki
Starring: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole

"Capernaum” is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, making it the second Lebanese film ever to be nominated for an Oscar. It follows Zain as he sues his parents for giving him life when they did not have the means to provide him with adequate care.


 

#17. First Reformed

Stacker score: 78.0
IMDb rating: 7.1
Metascore: 85
Runtime: 113 min.
Director: Paul Schrader
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer

Paul Schrader, who also directed the film, received his first nomination in the Original Screenplay category for "First Reformed.” Star Ethan Hawke was not nominated for his role as Rev. Ernst Toller, which some reviewers consider a snub.


 

#16. A Quiet Place

Stacker score: 79.0
IMDb rating: 7.6
Metascore: 82
Runtime: 90 min.
Director: John Krasinski
Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds

In "A Quiet Place,” John Krasinski and his real-life wife Emily Blunt play a married couple who must exist in silence, along with their children, to survive the alien predators hunting them. Although Blunt received Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for this role and her role in "Mary Poppins Returns,” she was not nominated for any Oscars. The film received one nod for Best Sound Editing.


 

#15. Incredibles 2

Stacker score: 79.0
IMDb rating: 7.8
Metascore: 80
Runtime: 118 min.
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell

Nominated for Best Animated Feature, "Incredibles 2” catches up with the Parr family as they team up to fight a new villain. You still have time to catch this film before the Oscars; it’s currently streaming on Netflix.


 

#14. First Man

Stacker score: 79.5
IMDb rating: 7.5
Metascore: 84
Runtime: 141 min.
Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke

"First Man” nabbed four Oscar nominations, but was snubbed for the biggest award of the night, Best Picture. Ryan Gosling was also overlooked for his starring performance as Neil Armstrong.

 

#13. BlacKkKlansman

Stacker score: 79.5
IMDb rating: 7.6
Metascore: 83
Runtime: 135 min.
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier

Spike Lee directed this film, which follows the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs police department as he attempts to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. After its six Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture, "BlackkKlansman” was re-released in theaters.


 

#12. Isle of Dogs

Stacker score: 80.5
IMDb rating: 7.9
Metascore: 82
Runtime: 101 min.
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton

In Wes Anderson’s latest film, a Japanese boy searches for his dog after an outbreak of canine flu leads to the species being banished from the country. Some critics questioned the use of Japan as a plot tool rather than a genuine setting. "Isle of Dogs” received nominations for Best Original Score and Best Animated Feature.


 

#11. Black Panther

Stacker score: 81.0
IMDb rating: 7.4
Metascore: 88
Runtime: 134 min.
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o

"Black Panther” made history as the first superhero movie to ever receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. It’s also the ninth highest-grossing movie ever. A sequel is slated to begin shooting in 2019.

 

#10. Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Stacker score: 81.5
IMDb rating: 7.6
Metascore: 87
Runtime: 106 min.
Director: Marielle Heller
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells

Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant both earned acting nominations for their roles in this biographical film. Based off Lee Israel’s memoir, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?” follows Israel as she turns to forging letters after struggling to make ends meet as an author.


 

#9. If Beale Street Could Talk

Stacker score: 82.5
IMDb rating: 7.8
Metascore: 87
Runtime: 119 min.
Director: Barry Jenkins
Starring: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King

Barry Jenkins earned a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for "If Beale Street Could Talk,” based on a James Baldwin novel of the same name. The story is set in 1970s Harlem and sees a pair of lovers challenged by institutional racism. Jenkins did not earn a nomination for Best Director, which some consider a snub.


 

#8. A Star Is Born

Stacker score: 84.0
IMDb rating: 8.0
Metascore: 88
Runtime: 136 min.
Director: Bradley Cooper
Starring: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott

This Bradley Cooper-directed offering earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Lead Actor, but was overlooked for Best Director. Cooper’s costar Lady Gaga is nominated for Best Lead Actress and in the Best Original Song category for "Shallow.” This is the fourth iteration of "A Star is Born.


 

#7. Cold War

Stacker score: 84.5
IMDb rating: 7.8
Metascore: 91
Runtime: 89 min.
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Starring: Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot, Borys Szyc

A Best Foreign Language Film nominee, "Cold War” follows the love story between a musical director and young singer in 1950s Poland. Director Pawel Pawlikowski is nominated for Best Director, an award he won at the 71st Cannes Film Festival.


 

#6. The Favourite

Stacker score: 84.5
IMDb rating: 7.9
Metascore: 90
Runtime: 119 min.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz

"The Favourite” has a total of 10 nominations, tying with "Roma” for most nominations this year. Olivia Colman plays the ailing Queen Anne while Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz play underlings fighting for her attention. The three leads are all nominated for acting awards while the film has been nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

 

#5. Free Solo

Stacker score: 84.5
IMDb rating: 8.6
Metascore: 83
Runtime: 100 min.
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Starring: Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold

This documentary captures Alex Honnold’s unprecedented free climb of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot rock formation in Yosemite National Park. The film is up for Best Documentary Feature, one of the 44 nominations it has received from various festival and critics.

 

#4. Shoplifters

Stacker score: 87.0
IMDb rating: 8.1
Metascore: 93
Runtime: 121 min.
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Starring: Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Mayu Matsuoka

Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, this Japanese drama is about a family who shoplifts as a means of survival. "Shoplifters” already won the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded, at the Cannes Film Festival and was even a surprise box-office success.


 

#3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Stacker score: 87.0
IMDb rating: 8.7
Metascore: 87
Runtime: 117 min.
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey
Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is not only nominated for Best Animated Feature, but it’s also a surprise front-runner. This animated film follows teenage Spider-Man fan Miles Morales who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and finds himself face-to-face with a gaggle of alternate universe Spider-heroes.


 

#2. Minding the Gap

Stacker score: 88.0
IMDb rating: 8.3
Metascore: 93
Runtime: 93 min.
Director: Bing Liu
Starring: Keire Johnson, Bing Liu, Zack Mulligan

Currently streaming on Hulu, this documentary captures the lives of three friends growing up in Rockford, Ill., a city northwest of Chicago. "Minding the Gap” is director Bing Liu’s first full-length nonfiction film and is nominated for Best Documentary Feature.


 

#1. Roma

Stacker score: 88.5
IMDb rating: 8.1
Metascore: 96
Runtime: 135 min.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey

"Roma” tied with "The Favourite” for most Oscar nominations and, according to critics, stands the best chance to win Best Picture. If it does, it will be the first foreign film to win the top prize. It is currently streaming on Netflix.

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