10 Movies That Almost Won Oscar's 'Big Five'

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In the history of cinema, only three films have won the "Big Five" Academy Awards - "One Night Stand", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Silence of the Lambs". These particular blockbuster films have achieved stellar success with Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted), among others.

But amidst these rare successes, there were many other great films that achieved nearly as much. Whether they lost out on a few nominations, or weren't nominated for one of the Big Five -- these films came very close to joining the prestigious film honors club.

'Mrs. Miniver' (1942)

Set in the early days of World War II, Kay Minifer (Greer Garson) is determined to keep her family together despite the daunting challenges she faces as a middle-class family trapped in the horrors of wartime England. challenge.

With 12 nominations, Mrs. Miniver did quite well, winning six of them, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director (William Wheeler) and Best Actress ( Garson). Sadly, they missed out on the Big Five, as Walter Pidgeon didn't win Best Actor and was just one Oscar away.

'On Golden Pond' (1981)

Elderly couple Norman (Henry Fonda) and Ethel Thayer (Katherine Hepburn) always spend their summers at their vacation home, where they are called upon to care for their estranged daughter's stepson. When Chelsea (Jane Fonda) returns, she struggles to understand how her father and stepson have developed the intimacy she's always hoped to have.

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, but three nominations may seem like a sub-par achievement to some; (Hepburn) and Best Original Screenplay, which is certainly impressive. "Golden Pond" missed out on the big cachet by not winning Best Picture or Best Director, and it's doubtful anyone is complaining.

'Coming Home' (1978)

Sally Hyde (Jane Fonda), the wife of a Marine who served in Vietnam, volunteers at a veterans hospital. There, she meets, befriends, and slowly falls in love with Luke Martin (Jon Voight), a veteran paralyzed by combat injuries. But when Sally's husband returns unexpectedly, she has to figure out where her heart really is.

Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, "Coming Home" went on to win three, all of which were part of the Big Five: Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (Voigt) and Best Actress, earned Jane Fonda her second Oscar. Unfortunately, they lost out to Best Picture and Best Director.

'Forrest Gump' (1994)

Forrest (Tom Hanks) has an intellectual disability, but that doesn't stop him from achieving greatness. Tracing decades of his life, Forrest still has a good heart as he finds himself embroiled in a pivotal moment in history.

A much-loved and moving film, Forrest Gump is close to the Big Five. Only problem - it wasn't nominated for Best Actress. But despite an incredible 13 nominations, the film won six, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth), Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), and even It also earned Hanks his second consecutive Best Actor Oscar.

'Kramer vs Kramer' (1979)

After Joanna (Meryl Streep) runs away from home, her workaholic husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) finds himself strengthening his relationship with his son. Joanna returns for full custody and issues pop up, leading to a messy fight between the parents.

With huge fan and critical success, it's no surprise that Kramer vs. Kramer earned five of its nine Academy Award nominations. Sadly, for this epic family fight, they weren't all Part of the Big Five. The film won Best Picture and Best Actor (Hoffman), and Robert Benton won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay; Streep eventually won her first Oscar Best Supporting Actress — not Best Actress. Still, it's a great achievement.

'Terms of Endearment' (1983)

The film spans 30 years and follows the life and relationship between Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). From the joy of true love to the struggles of heartbreak, the two face their battles together.

Terms of Love was very close to the Big Five, but since the film was not nominated for Best Actor, they missed out. With 11 nominations, they ended up with five nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (McLaine) and two Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director for James L. Brooks prize. That's an amazing feat.

'The Bridge on the River Kwai' (1957)

During World War II, Japanese captors ordered Allied prisoners of war to build a bridge across the River Kwai to make way for the Siam-Burma Railway. For Colonel Nicholson (Sir Alec Guinness), the mission takes a twist A method and a deep obsession to boost the morale of prisoners.

The epic World War II film, often described as one of the greatest films of all time, achieved an incredible milestone as The Bridge on the River Kwai won seven of its eight Academy Award nominations . This includes Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director (David Lean) and Best Actor (Guinness). Given that they didn't get nominated for Best Actress, they couldn't hit the Big Five. That being said, this loss doesn't detract from the film's overall cinematic and cultural impact.

'The Apartment' (1960)

C.C. "Bud" Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is an insurance clerk who tries to advance his company by lending his apartment to his top executives for them to engage in extramarital affairs. Things get further complicated when he realizes that Fran (McLaine) - the woman he has a crush on - is one of the mistresses.

With 10 nominations, this unique rom-com has five wins, three of which go to the Big Five: Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder) and Best Original Screenplay. Unfortunately for The Apartment, both Lemmon and McClain missed out on Best Actor and Best Actress.

'Million Dollar Baby' (2004)

Determined to be a successful professional boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) seeks out Frankie Dunne (Clint Eastwood) to train her. Cranky and initially opposed to the idea of ​​training a woman, after witnessing her sheer courage in the ring, he finally agrees and the two begin to form a close bond.

One of the greatest boxing films of all time, Million Dollar Baby was nominated for four of seven Academy Awards, but only three of them made it to the Big Five. Eastwood won Best Picture and Best Actress (Swank), won an Academy Award for Best Director, but missed out on Best Actor. Paul Haggis also failed to win Best Original Screenplay.

'The King's Speech' (2010)

As the Duke of York rapidly ascends the throne as King George IV (Colin Firth), he aspires to transform into the confident leader England needs in the face of World War II, so he enlists the help of a speech therapist. Help him overcome stuttering.

Of the 12 nominations The King's Speech received, the great film of the British royal family sadly missed out on the Big Five as they were not nominated for Best Actress - Helena Bonham Carter ) was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Still, they were a huge success The film ultimately won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay (David Seidler), Best Director (Tom Hopper) and Best Actor (Firth). This is the latest movie to pull off this remarkable triumph.