10 Movies That Had A Bigger Impact Than You Realise

10. More Best Picture Nominees - The Dark Knight

What it's known for: The Dark Knight was the point where Christopher Nolan's ascension to blockbuster king was completed. Making over a billion dollars without the aid of a 3D ticket surcharge, the film not only became an adored insta-classic, but shaped how Hollywood approached blockbusters. Although he'd given us a gritty take on the formerly-camp character previously in Batman Begins, this was the point where the realism really took over; less a superhero film, The Dark Knight was a crime movie that just happened to star a costumed vigilante. What it also changed: The Dark Knight was the undisputed king of 2008 (followed shortly by Pixar's equally stupendous Wall-E), not only being an incredibly popular film, but also boasting some impressive film-making. And yet when it came to awards season it was criminally overlooked. Pipped to a Best Picture nomination as the Oscars by the likes of The Reader and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, it brought out the age-old discussion about the stuffiness of the Academy. The direct response was to increase the number of Best Picture nominees from five to ten (later reduced to a variable number between five and ten) so a wider range of movies could be in the running for the big prize. It hasn't really affected which movies get a chance of winning, but has led to Up, Toy Story 3, District 9 and, in recompense for overlooking his previous, Nolan's Inception all getting nominated.