13 Oscar-Winning Movies That Don't Really Hold Up

The Oscar may be the most sought-after award in the movie industry, but that doesn't mean the Academy is always known for choosing the most deserving winners. Some of the most heavily awarded films of all time don't actually hold up that well nowadays. On the 15th anniversary of "Mystic River" this week, here are some of the worst offenders.

'Ordinary People' (1980)

The Academy clearly fell in love with Robert Redford's directorial debut, showering with awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Nearly 40 years later, it's a little tough to see what the fuss was all about. Sure, it's a good drama with a stellar cast. But it's certainly not "better-than-'Raging-Bull'" good.

'Chariots of Fire' (1981)

There are exactly two things most people about "Chariots of Fire" nowadays: slow-motion running on the beach and that Vangelis score. That's it. One iconic scene does not an Oscar-winning movie make.

'Driving Miss Daisy' (1989)

If there's any sub-genre of film that seems to do the worst job of holding up over time, it's the "Oscar-winning drama about battling racism." Case in point, "Driving Miss Daisy" is a perfectly enjoyable story about an elderly woman bonding with her African American driver over the course of 25 years, but it's also sappy and simplistic to a fault. It's hard to see what had Academy voters so enamored back in 1990.

'Dances With Wolves' (1990)

We all look at Kevin Costner's career in a much different light in the aftermath of duds like "Waterworld" and "The Postman." That's one knock against this historical epic, but a bigger one is that its premise seems dated and even somewhat offensive in hindsight.

'Forrest Gump' (1994)

"Forrest Gump" really domianted at the 1995 Academy Awards, landing everything from Best Picture to Best Director to Best Actor for Tom Hanks. And while it's still a fun movie to revisit on cable every now and then, we're not convinced it deserved quite so much adoration at the time. We blame it on the movie's superhuman ability to appeal to Baby Boomer nostalgia.

'The English Patient' (1996)

Is there a clearer example of Osbar Bait than "The English Patient." On a technical level, it's a very accomplished film. It's a lavish historical romance with some very talented actors to help bring it to life. But despite winning nine Oscars, it's a film that's been all but forgotten in the two decades since.

'Life Is Beautiful" (1997)

Even at the time, "Life Is Beautiful" had its detractors, as not everyone found the notion of combining comedy and the Holocaust particularly appealing.

'Shakespeare in Love' (1998)

How this farcical romance during the age of Shakespeare beat "Saving Private Ryan" for Best Picture is still something that hurts our brains.

'Mystic River' (2003)

While Clint Eastwood has long since proven himself every bit as talented a director as he is an actor, it also seems like his directorial efforts tend to be overhyped on release. Case in point, this 2003 mystery drama, based on the popular book by Dennis Lehane. It's well-made and full of top-notch performances. But for all the awards it raked in, it didn't exactly leave a strong, lasting impression.

'Crash' (2004)

Here's another case where a major Hollywood drama tripped over itself trying to explore the complexities of racial inequality in modern America. "Crash" had its share of detractors at the time, and nowadays it's downright despised by many film buffs. It certainly didn't deserve its Best Picture win.

'The Artist' (2011)

"The Artist" is a direct throwback to a much earlier era of moviemaking, opting for a silent, black and white format in order to convey the romance between two struggling actors at the dawn of the talkie. It's a fun homage to a simpler time, but it's hard not to look back and feel that it was given way too much credit for its old-school aesthetic.

'Argo' (2012)

There's no denying that "Argo" is a real crowd-pleaser of a historical drama, chronicling a fascinating story set during and around the Iranian hostage crisis and balancing out the drama with a lot of humor and energy. But at the same time, it's a fairly hollow movie given the subject matter. It's also a pretty wildly historically inaccurate take on the so-called "Canadian Caper," which hasn't necessarily helped "Argo's" staying power in the years since.

'Birdman' (2014)

Sometimes we wonder if "Birdman" won Best Picture simply because the Academy was thrilled to finally have a superhero movie it felt comfortable recognizing. The cinematography in this drama is terrific, what with the faux-single shot approach. And "Birdman" is also notable for reminding everyone what a terrific actor Michael Keaton still is. But with a mostly empty story and its thinly veiled contempt for film critics, "Birdman" is ultimately too hollow of an experience to hold up well.