‘Back to the Future' at 40: All the ways the Robert Zemeckis classic was snubbed by the Oscars
Genius isn't always recognized in its time, though, which is why the movie's relatively poor showing at the 58th Academy Awards — held on March 24, 1986 — hangs extra-heavy four decades later. Back to the Future received four nominations and took home a single statue as Sydney Pollack's Out of Africa emerged as the evening's big winner. Here's a look back at which Oscars the movie was up for... and which categories it should have been contending in.
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Best Original Screenplay
Zemeckis and collaborator Bob Gale were rightly recognized by voters for their expertly crafted script, which took five years to develop into the finished product. That calibration wasn't just about getting the action right — it was also always keeping the McFly clan front and center. "It's a movie about family," Gale remarked in one interview about why the film endures. "Movies about families always resonate."
The other nominees: Brazil, The Official Story, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Witness (winner)
Best Original Song
Did you hear the news? Huey Lewis came thisclose to winning an Oscar for "The Power of Love," only to see the statue go to another '80s legend — Lionel Richie for "Say You, Say Me." No shade on Richie, but we say that the Lewis peppy tune has more staying power.
The other nominees: The Color Purple, White Nights (2 nominations, 1 win), A Chorus Line
Best Sound
You win some, you lose some. In this case, Back to the Future lost one of the two Sound statues it was up for — back when the Academy Awards still had two Sound categories — but got the one it really deserved.
The other nominees: A Chorus Line, Ladyhawke, Out of Africa (winner), Silverado
Best Sound Effects Editing
Back to the Future's lone win at least acknowledged its skillfully edited audio effects, from the screeching tires of the DeLorean to lightning striking the Hill Valley clock tower. Don't call it a consolation prize — consider it well-rewarded expertise.
The other nominees: Ladyhawke, Rambo: First Blood Part II
Best Picture
The push-pull between art and commerce has long been a source of tension when it comes to the Oscars — remember Steven Spielberg's Jaws snub? But Back to the Future is a prime example of great artistry in service of lucrative commercial entertainment. Sometimes the movie that tops the annual box office isn't the best of Best Pictures (looking at you Batman Forever), but in 1985 it was.
The actual nominees: The Color Purple, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Out of Africa (winner), Prizzi's Honor, Witness
Best Director
Back to the Future catches Zemeckis as he closes out the wunderkind phase of his career and enters Phase 2 — established hitmaker. He would go on to helm more sophisticated and technically complex movies, several of which also should have merited nominations. (His absence from the Best Director category for the still-remarkable Who Framed Roger Rabbit? smarts.) But this one has all of the effects sizzle along with plenty of emotional stakes.
The actual nominees: Héctor Babenco (Kiss of the Spider Woman), John Huston (Prizzi's Honor), Akira Kurosawa (Ran), Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa, winner), Peter Weir (Witness)
Best Actor
Michael J. Fox famously replaced Eric Stoltz midway through production, and hit the ground running as the quintessential '80s everyteen-turned-time traveler. It's not a showy star turn, but if he slows down for even a minute, the movie dies. Maybe instead of an Oscar, they could have awarded him an Olympics-style gold medal.
The actual nominees: Harrison Ford (Witness), James Garner (Murphy's Romance), William Hurt (Kiss of the Spider Woman, winner), Jack Nicolson (Prizzi's Honor), Jon Voight (Runaway Train)
Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Lloyd brought the mad scientist trope out of the '50s and into the '80s — but really, Doc Brown is a timeless character. While the Taxi star isn't shy about playing the buffoon, he always grounds his portrayal in the good doctor's emotional connection to Marty. "Michael came on [set] and the electricity was there from the get-go and it never went away," Lloyd once said of his co-star. "It's still there when we get together today."
The actual nominees: Don Ameche (Cocoon, winner), Klaus Maria Brandauer (Out of Africa), William Hickey (Prizzi's Honor), Robert Loggia (Jagged Edge), Eric Roberts (Runaway Train)
Best Visual Effects
There's a reason why almost everyone believes that DeLoreans really can travel through time. The wizards at Industrial Light & Magic created a sound-and-light show accompanying each era-jump that seems like a natural add-on to an already-futuristic looking car. ILM can also boast to creating the largest lightning bolt in history for the climactic sequence, which seems like an Oscar-worthy achievement on its own.
The actual nominees: Cocoon (winner), Return to Oz, Young Sherlock Holmes
Best Original Score
Be honest — who among us hasn't cranked up Alan Silvestri's Back to the Future theme when our odometer approaches 88 MPH on an open stretch of highway? That soaring piece of music is as instantly recognizable as any '80s Oscar-winning score, from Chariots of Fire to The Little Mermaid. Its snub was and still is completely tone deaf.
The actual nominees: Agnes of God, The Color Purple, Out of Africa (winner), Silverado, Witness
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In the film, Gascón stars as Mexican cartel leader Emilia who hires a lawyer (Saldaña) to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self. The crime-comedy-musical that defies all labels was also named one of the 10 best films of 2024 by the American Film Institute. Watch Emilia Pérez on Netflix Netflix Nimona (2023) Genre: Family movies Rating: PG This animated drama, based on the graphic novel of the same name, is set in a futuristic medieval world, in which a knight (Riz Ahmed) is framed for a crime. A shapeshifting teenager named Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) -- whom he's been trained to destroy -- may be his only hope for proving his innocence. Watch Nimona on Netflix Netflix The Swimmers (2022) Genre: Drama Rating: PG-13 This biographical film tells the story of two sisters, Yusra (Nathalie Issa) and Sarah Mardini (Manal Issa), who escape war-torn Syria. Amid all the strife and upheaval, Yusra works toward her dream of swimming in the Olympics. It's a touching narrative of hope and survival. Watch The Swimmers on Netflix Netflix All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Genre: Drama Rating: R A World War I drama based on the classic novel of the same name, this epic depicts the horrors of war through the eyes of 17-year-old German soldier Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer). At first enthused about joining the army, in spite of his parents' wishes, Bäumer gets a violent wake-up call. All Quiet on the Western Front was a dominating force at the 95th Annual Academy Awards, as it was nominated for nine Oscars and ultimately walked away with four, including Best International Feature Film. Watch All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix Netflix Nyad (2023) Genre: Drama Rating: PG-13 Annette Bening and Jodie Foster both scored Oscar nominations (for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress) for their roles in Nyad, the Netflix original film about marathon swimmer Diana Nyad and her devoted coach Bonnie Stoll. The remarkable true story is not a full biopic but a chapter of Nyad's accomplished life when, at the age of 60, Nyad became obsessed with completing the arduous, near-impossible 110 mile swim from Cuba to Florida. Determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage, the film is a story of Nyad's determination, ushered along by the support of those closest to her. Watch Nyad on Netflix Netflix Back In Action (2025) Genre: Action Rating: PG-13 The Netflix original Back in Action topped the Netflix Top Ten when it arrived in January but it's not too late to catch the buzz on this entertaining action romp. The film reunites Cameron Diaz, who has spent the last few years away from the spotlight, with Jamie Foxx for their third film. The duo star as former CIA agents who have attempted to get out of the spy business and raise a family, only to get pulled back into their old jobs. Watch Back In Action on Netflix Photo by Carlos Somonte Roma (2018) Genre: Drama Rating: R Alfonso Cuarón's Roma nabbed him the best director Oscar in 2018 (the film earned two other Oscars that year, too), a first for a foreign-language film. It's inclusion in the award show marked the first time a film distributed by a streaming platform was eligible for major awards. The film, set in the early 1970s, stars Yalitza Aparicio as the live-in housekeeper for a wealthy Mexico City family as she deals with her own pregnancy, the troubles within the family she works for and the escalating political turmoil in the city around her. Watch Roma on Netflix
Elle
a day ago
- Elle
Jenna Ortega's 'Wednesday'-Inspired Sheer Corset Look Brings Back Vampy Glamour
THE RUNDOWN Though archive and easter-egg dressing continues to be all the rage, Jenna Ortega is playing things a little more subtle on her Wednesday season 2 press tour. There are plenty of ways to literally interpret the title character of the series—the iconic pigtail braids and collared black babydoll dresses being obvious options. Instead, Ortega's recent looks have felt like a natural extension of her own edgier aesthetic as she quickly establishes a signature red carpet style. On July 31, the 22-year-old actress stepped out for the opening of Le Beach Club de Mercredi (Wednesday's Beach Club) in Paris in a dress from the fall 2025 Vivienne Westwood by Andreas Kronthaler collection. Ortega paired the look with a striking pavé cross necklace by Loree Rodkin. The club is a month-long activation on the Seine dedicated to season 2 of the hit Netflix show. Though not on the sandy beaches of the south of France, the club takes advantage of the cityscape, channeling Tim Burton-inspired gothic elements. Ortega's bold vampy glamour and bleached eyebrows were a perfect fit as the actress was photographed in an ominous sea of fog, The look was styled by her longtime collaborator, Enrique Melendez, who has done an expert job putting together a press tour wardrobe that is on theme but innovative. Earlier in the week for the London premiere, Ortega wore a couture snakeskin latex gown from Ashi Studio, again paired with a dark lip. For the show's London photo-call, Melendez placed the actress in a bold-shouldered bralette look from Givenchy by Sarah Burton. The sleeves were reminiscent of Wednesday's iconic original look, although the sculptural construction prevented it from feeling too literal. Givenchy has been a quiet hero on the red carpet lately, with Elle Fanning (who debuted Burton's Givenchy at the 2025 Oscars) and Vanessa Kirby wearing standout looks. Time will tell whether Melendez pulls from the house again—and there will be opportunity. Ortega's press tour hasn't even hit the U.S. yet and is only for the first part of Wednesday season 2, which comes out on August 6.
