Top 10 Acting Performances that Didn't Win the Oscar But Should Have

The Oscars are supposed to celebrate the best performances in film, but sometimes they get it completely wrong. You've seen it happen. A performance so powerful and so unforgettable that it feels like a guaranteed win, only for the Academy to hand the award to someone else.

Maybe politics got in the way. Maybe a flashier role stole the spotlight. Maybe the voters just weren't paying attention. Whatever the reason, some of the most stunning performances in film history have gone home empty-handed.

This list is dedicated to those actors who poured everything into a role, delivered career-defining work, and still didn't get to hear their name called on Oscar night. Some of these losses were shocking at the time. Others became even more baffling as the years went by.

Some actors have multiple performances that should have won, proving that the Academy has a habit of overlooking the obvious. And let's not even get started on actors who gave legendary performances but didn't even get nominated.

Vote for the performances you believe deserved the gold and see which ones still have people shaking their heads in disbelief.

The Top Ten

Tom Hanks - Saving Private Ryan
Tom Hanks - Cast Away
Tom Hanks - Big
Peter O'Toole - Lawrence of Arabia

Okay, really, you could advocate for any number of his performances winning an Oscar. He was nominated eight times in his career, eight times without winning once! He received an honorary award in 2002, but they should have made it official! He was a treasure of the silver screen and will truly be missed. And with any luck, the Academy is trying to reconcile for the sin of not honoring him well enough.

This was a performance of a lifetime. He was incredible as Lawrence.
Robert De Niro - Taxi Driver

Robert De Niro gives a chilling performance in what is highly regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Although Peter Finch's performance in Network was certainly memorable, it hasn't aged well in comparison to De Niro's iconic turn as the vigilante Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver.

No doubt, one of the best pieces of acting ever put on film. At least the Academy righted this wrong with an even better performance in Raging Bull, the gold standard of modern film acting!

This guy is the father of the rest of the people on this list. Anyone voting for someone else probably didn't watch Taxi Driver.
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line

I am watching Walk the Line right now, and he is just fantastic. He was robbed. I thought so at the time when Reese won and he didn't. I don't understand it. It took the Academy 40 years to figure out Jeff Bridges wasn't just an Oscar bridesmaid. Joaquin gets nominated a lot and one day will win.

Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Johnny Cash was haunting and mesmerizing. I have watched this film multiple times simply for his amazing performance! He completely embodied Johnny Cash. A true star. Johnny and June would have been proud.
Russell Crowe - A Beautiful Mind

He had a good performance in Gladiator, but in this movie, Russell Crowe was fantastic.

A Beautiful Mind won a lot of awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress...), but the one person that brought the movie to life didn't win. Joke.
Sylvester Stallone - Rocky

Rocky is the most inspirational movie character of all time. It's a crime Stallone did not get the Oscar that is rightfully his!

He didn't get the Oscar. The Oscar was for Best Picture, but not for Best Actor. That Oscar went to Peter Finch in Network that year.
Al Pacino - Scarface

It was great acting. Yes, it was violent, but that's how it was! It takes a lot for Al Pacino to put in those emotions. Great acting, great movie, period.

Scarface deserves a Best Actor Oscar.

Just look at Pacino. It's perfectly believable! I believe Pacino lives in the character.
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street

I cannot believe that he did not win the Oscar! His performance was the best of the year, at least! Matthew was great, but Leonardo was just breathtaking! He could play a dramatic and comedic hero at the same time so easily. In one scene he was so funny, and in the next one he was a dramatic and bad criminal. He took a big risk playing in a comedy. The Academy does not give Oscars to comedies, but he did that! They are so predictable and boring! Also, he proved that he can be a perfect comedic hero. The phone/kitchen scene is already a classic! His best performance by far... I believe that the Academy was more impressed by Matthew's weight loss than by his acting! Really, if you want to prove that you are a great actor, you lose weight and change your appearance? Leonardo did not...

The Newcomers

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Val Kilmer - Tombstone
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Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born

The Contenders

Malcolm McDowell - A Clockwork Orange

A stunning performance. How he made Alex's progress from delinquent to an "honest citizen" is scary. You can see he is enjoying every moment of the role, especially the ones before the transformation.

It's a wonder to me how he didn't even get nominated. Such a fearless and intense performance, you just couldn't take your eyes away from him.
Jack Nicholson - The Shining

I agree with this one. Jack definitely should have won.

One of the best performances of all time!
Robert De Niro - The Deer Hunter

Creepy, touching, sad, all in one. Along with Streep, they make the film's acting superb.
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond

It's the biggest injustice of all time. For sure, he deserves to have two Oscars by now and a couple of nominations! Actors like Jonah Hill get nominated without any talent or a very good performance, and it's just not fair! He is the number one actor of his generation, and that has been said by many professionals of cinema, like Kate Winslet and Martin Scorsese! In Django, all reviewers bet on him to be nominated, and he was robbed!

Give him his Oscar back NOW! What do you want, Academy people? The Wolf of Wall Street? Okay! Coming soon, and I am ready to clap for you, Leo!
Robert Downey Jr. - Iron Man
Tom Cruise - Jerry Maguire
Liam Neeson - Michael Collins

Liam Neeson did an awesome job of portraying Michael Collins. Plus, he really looks like the real guy! He also should have won an Oscar for Schindler's List, in my opinion.
Christian Bale - American Psycho
Edward Norton - American History X

The best Edward Norton performance EVER! The look of pride on his face when being arrested after killing two people was so believable it was chilling to watch! Who walked off with the Oscar that night? Roberto Benigni? What?! Who remembers that clown? It should have gone to Norton. HE WAS ROBBED!

One of the greatest performances of all time. The look of evil on Derek's face after he got arrested was so believable and priceless. That film was snubbed for nominations as well.
Jack Nicholson - About Schmidt
Tim Robbins - The Shawshank Redemption

Amazingly subtle, heartfelt, and convincing performance!
George Clooney - The Descendants

Just to let you know, George Clooney has an Oscar, though it's for Best Supporting Actor.
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth

I'm shocked this isn't #1. This decision was a travesty.
Meryl Streep - Doubt