13 Awesome 2015 Movies That Deserve Best Picture (But Won't Get Nominated)

7. The Martian

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93% (7.9/10) Why It Deserves Best Picture: Ridley Scott finally delivers on his promise of turning in another classic sci-fi movie over thirty years after he wowed us with Alien and Blade Runner. The Martian is a riveting adaptation of Andy Weir's novel which finds lead Matt Damon in top form in what is basically Cast Away in Space, abetted by a terrific ensemble cast. It's visually stunning, dramatically urgent and most surprisingly of all, totally hilarious. Better than almost every other movie this year, the film is balanced perfectly between art and entertainment: it's an absolute riot to behold but also beautifully shot and blessed with a thoughtful narrative. Why It Won't Get Nominated: Again, the sci-fi card is always a tricky proposition, and though it could possibly fill the token "populist" spot that the Academy normally leaves open, it seems more likely that the film will be the one that just barely gets edged out by other, more "serious" competitors.