10 Oscar-winning horror films

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Bloodthirsty aliens, terrible transformations of the human body and a secret society of racists are waiting for you.

Throughout the existence of the Oscar, a lot of great horror films were left without attention. It is difficult to say why this is happening. Probably, the genre of horror itself is inconvenient for film academics: it is gloomy, cruel, dark. Thrillers often manage to be among the nominees and even win, as was the case in 1992 with Silence of the Lambs. But still, films with a clear story or social subtext in the plot are much more likely to receive a prestigious prize. Nevertheless, some horror films still managed to stand out from the competition.

1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

• Winning the Best Actor category.
• USA, 1931.
• Horror, fantasy.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Dr. Henry Jekyll puts forward the bold theory that an evil entity lives in every person. In an attempt to prove this, Jekyll invents a potion capable of awakening violent instincts and tries it on himself. However, the scientist does not even suggest what terrible consequences this experiment will lead to.

The film based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson "The Strange Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was quite worthy to receive an award for an adapted script or work of make-up artists. But the leading actor Fredrik March so skillfully conveyed the transformation of his character that he simply could not be left without an acting Oscar.

2. Rosemary's baby

• Winning the Best Supporting Actress category.
• USA, 1968.
• Horror, drama, detective, thriller.
• Duration: 137 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Young spouses Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move to a prestigious New York area. They quickly converge with elderly neighbors, Rosemary becomes pregnant, and everything seems to be going well in life. However, carrying a child is so difficult that the exhausted girl begins to suspect something was wrong.

In his Hollywood debut based on the mystical novel by Ira Levin, director Roman Polanski perfectly combined a drama about fear of motherhood and a horror film about a sect. The picture struck critics and immediately became a cult. But of the entire creative team, only the actress Ruth Gordon, who played the neighbor's old lady, was awarded an Oscar.

3. The exorcist

• Victories in the categories "Best Adapted Screenplay", "Best Sound".
• USA, 1973.
• Horror.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

12-year-old Regan has horrible seizures all of a sudden. She behaves extremely aggressively, moves strangely and speaks in a male voice. Doctors are unable to make a diagnosis, and then a young priest comes to the rescue. He believes that the girl is not sick, but possessed by the devil.

After the success of Rosemary's Baby, horror films emerged from the underground, and at the Oscars, works in this genre began to be noticed more often. So, "The Exorcist" in 1974 was nominated in as many as 10 categories. Although in the end, the picture took only two awards in the technical categories. But this does not prevent her from remaining loved by critics and viewers to this day.

4. Jaws

• Victories in the categories "Best Sound", "Best Editing", "Best Original Soundtrack".
• USA, 1975.
• Thriller, horror, adventure.
• Duration: 124 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Sheriff Martin Brody discovers the remains of a girl on the shore, torn apart by a huge white shark. The number of victims is growing every day, but the mayor does not dare to notify residents of the danger. Then Martin teams up with a shark hunter and oceanography expert. Together they are going to catch the monster.

The work of the master of cinema Steven Spielberg, despite its considerable age, still causes goosebumps. It's not only about the excellent cinematography and director's work, but also about the ominous soundtrack. The famous music of the composer John Williams was awarded an Oscar, as well as a Golden Globe, a Grammy and the French Cesar.

Although this great musical theme might not exist at all. But in the process of filming, a mechanical stuffed shark constantly broke down at the creative team. Not surprising audiences with such effects, Spielberg asked Williams to write such a powerful soundtrack that it made him shiver.

5. Alien

• Winning the Best Visual Effects category.
• Great Britain, USA, 1979.
• Horror, fantasy, thriller.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The crew of the spaceship "Nostromo" intercepts a strange signal from an unknown planet. The astronauts decide to go there and check what is happening there. As a result, the heroes manage to bring a creepy alien on board.

Ridley Scott's work has received cult status and a number of prestigious awards, including an Oscar for special effects. Looking at "Alien" now, it becomes clear why academics noted this particular side of the picture. The realistic scenery and disgusting appearance of the xenomorph is very impressive even today.

6. Strangers

• Victories in the categories "Best Sound Editing", "Best Visual Effects".
• Great Britain, USA, 1986.
• Horror, Science Fiction, Action, Thriller, Adventure.
• Duration: 137 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The action takes place 57 years after the events of Alien. In the battle with the xenomorph, the only crew member survives - a young woman named Ellen Ripley, who was in suspended animation for many years. In the end, the search team does find her. The heroine has to return to the very planet where they once found an alien, since communication with the colonists sent there was lost.

Seven years after the release of Alien, the world saw the continuation of the story of Ellen Ripley, but the director's chair this time was taken by James Cameron. Not all fans of the first part liked the sequel: the action became larger, and the branded suspense disappeared. But the picture received much more attention at the Oscar. "Aliens" were presented in seven categories, which is not possible for every nominee.

7. Misery

• Winning the Best Actress category.
• USA, 1990.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Popular novelist Paul Sheldon travels to Colorado to calmly finish another book, but gets into an accident. He is found and nursed by Nurse Annie Wilkes. The woman turns out to be a big fan of Sheldon's work. But he is furious when he learns that the writer is going to kill her beloved heroine.

Because of the broken legs, the hero is completely dependent on his nurse. And this is where Paul's problems only begin, because every day it becomes more and more obvious that Annie is not herself.

If you look at Katie Bates as Annie Wilkes, there is no doubt why the Oscar in 1991 was given to her. This image is scary in itself. But the actress also embodied it on the screen in such a way that even the author of the literary primary source Stephen King was impressed. And he is usually not so easy to please.

8. Dracula

• Victories in the categories "Best Costumes", "Best Sound Editing", "Best Makeup".
• UK, USA, 1992.
• Horror, fantasy, melodrama.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Having lost his beloved, Prince Vlad Dracula renounces his faith and becomes a vampire. Several centuries later, the ghoul meets the girl Mina, like two drops of water similar to his dead wife. Now the heroine is in danger, because Dracula is sure that she is the reincarnation of his wife.

Francis Ford Coppola's film based on the famous work by Bram Stoker won three Oscars, including Best Costumes. They were invented by the Japanese artist Eiko Ishioka. The designer was inspired by the outfits of the Victorian era, the kabuki theater and the masterpieces of world painting - in a word, she gave maximum free rein to her imagination.

9. Sleepy Hollow

• Winning the Best Decorations category.
• Germany, USA, 1999.
• Horror, fantasy, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

End of the 18th century. A young New York constable Ichabod Crane arrives in a godforsaken village to investigate a series of murders. Locals believe that the mystical headless horseman is behind the crimes. However, the pragmatic Ichabod is confident that there is a more reasonable explanation for what is happening.

One of the most spectacular paintings by Tim Burton deservedly received an Oscar for visual design. After all, it was the gothic atmosphere of this gloomy masterpiece that conquered many moviegoers around the world.

10. Get away

• Winning the Best Screenplay category.
• USA, Japan, 2017.
• Thriller, horror, detective.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Black photographer Chris Washington travels with his white girlfriend Rose to meet her parents. They welcome the hero with open arms, but he still feels awkward. And not in vain, because behind the smiles hides a dark secret.

Initially, Jordan Peel made a name for himself as a great comedian. But his feature debut, Get Out, instantly earned him a reputation as a master of horror. After all, the director organically combined horror and fun in one film, and even diluted this extraordinary cocktail with powerful social satire.

In total, the film received four Oscar nominations, but won only one category. However, this is not a small amount, since Peel became the first black person in the history of the award to take away the award for best original screenplay.