20 Most Oscar Nominated Movies Ever - Ranked From Worst To Best

By Jack Pooley /

19. Dances With Wolves (1990)

Orion Pictures

Nominations: 12

Advertisement

Wins: 7 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score)

Kevin Costner's epic western is the prototypical "white saviour" movie, presenting a "white man goes native" narrative that's been replicated in countless films, most notably the similarly Oscar-nominated Avatar.

Advertisement

As far as the dubious sub-genre goes, though, it's a pretty good effort, sharply directed and an undeniable technical powerhouse with an earnest message that impressively remains politically balanced.

It is rather on the long side, but carries its run-time fairly well, though beating out Goodfellas for Best Picture is ludicrous to modern eyes.

Advertisement

In short, a solid drama that capitalises on elemental themes of acceptance and communication, though you probably won't want to return to it all that often.