10 Best Directors Who Haven't Won An Oscar

An Honorary Oscar is like that time your Mum gave you a stuffed teddy bear to make up for the fact that she didn't want to get you a dog: it's too little, too late. So the fact that Welles got an honorary award towards the end of things does not count.

Despite the fact that it's been the film at the top of every Best Movies Ever list for the past five decades, Citizen Kane somehow didn't win Welles a Best Director award or even Best Picture. This is an especially egregious oversight because Welles' direction is why people love that film so much. Each frame is like a portrait, utilizing innovative technology to create one of the most extravagant and gorgeous films ever put to screen.

And it still holds up! The use of deep-focus is shockingly clear and effective, creating a viewing experience that feels revolutionary to this day.

If Citizen Kane isn't enough for you, that was just Welles debut film. Though its popular now to bad-mouth his later films, he made consistently great films throughout his career, they just had the misfortune of all following-up Citizen Kane. Anyone of these films could have easily earned him the Best Director trophy, but he was never even nominated again.