The 10 Worst Best Picture Winners of All Time, According to Critics
Emily Ross
Published Feb 22, 2026
It's comforting to believe that the Academy Awards single out the best film every year, but it's a little more complicated than that. The Oscars have been known to shower awards on movies that are good but not great, along with some clear misses that have aged particularly poorly. In advance of the long-awaited 2021 Academy Awards on April 25, we wanted to track down the worst Best Picture winners of all time.
We turned to Rotten Tomatoes' ranking of every Best Picture winner, then headed straight to the bottom of the list. It's true that many of the lowest-scoring movies still got relatively strong reviews, but these 10 films represent the most poorly reviewed Best Picture winners in Oscar history. Read on to see if any of your favorite Academy Award-winning movies made the cut. And for the worst offerings from stars who picked up acting awards, check out The 20 Worst Movies Starring Oscar-Winning Actors.
10 A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 74 percent
9 Crash (2004)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 74 percent
8 Forrest Gump (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 71 percent
And for a Tom Hanks film that got way worse reviews, discover The Worst Tom Hanks Movie of All Time, According to Critics.
7 Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 69 percent
6 The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 64 percent
And for more recent clunkers, find out The Worst Movies of 2020, According to Critics.
5 Cavalcade (1933)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 64 percent
4 Out of Africa (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 62 percent
And for an even more disappointing Meryl movie, check out The Worst Meryl Streep Movie of All Time, According to Critics.
3 Cimarron (1931)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 52 percent
2 The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 47 percent
And for more entertainment content delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
1 The Broadway Melody (1929)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 33 percent
And for another walk down worst-movie memory lane, revisit The Worst Movie That Came Out the Year You Graduated.
Filed UnderEntertainment • NewsRead This NextThe 20 Worst Movies Starring Oscar Winners
Even Academy Awards winners couldn't save these box office and critical disasters.November 24, 2020The Worst Meryl Streep Movies of All Time
She's one of the greatest actors of her generation, but she's still made some bad movies.January 27, 202110 Things You Didn't Know about Justin Trudeau
Athlete, nerd, hopeless romantic, thespian. Yes, there’s a lot more to Canada’s Prime Minister than just politics.March 21, 2017Jon Hamm: The Best Life Interview
Jon Hamm, star of TV's Mad Men, reveals the secrets of manliness in a postmodern world.November 15, 2016Driving Tips Smart Men Know
Ten easy ways to be the safest driver on the road. April 3, 2017Men Who Set the Time: Cash Warren
The successful producer, entrepreneur and husband of Jessica Alba reveals how you, too, can live your best life.October 31, 2016Dr. Oz: The Best Life Interview
Mehmet Oz, M.D., asks the toughest question: Are you living or dying?October 23, 2016Dr. Oz's 15 Best Life Tips
October 23, 2016The One That Got Away
A single nutrient—omega-3 fatty acids—may have turned early humans into civilized man. Has stripping it from our diet given rise to cancer, diabetes, and other civilized diseases? Our correspondent investigates.February 23, 2017George Clooney Is Having Twins. Here's What Women Everywhere Are Saying About It
The legendary ladies' man who once swore off fatherhood went from zero to "Full House" very quickly—and the Internet has responded.February 10, 2017
