10 Oscar bait movies that are a treat to watch

"Oscar bait" movies are those films that are seen as being designed to attract Oscar or Academy Award nominations and wins. In the Oscars' long history, it is often noted that films with themes of war, biography, and a social agenda often win big at the ceremony. However, there are also some movies that are genuinely stellar and worth watching. Here are 10 Oscar friendly movies that also make a good watch.

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The Revenant, 12 Years a Slave, and other Oscar bait movies that are actually worth a watch

1. Lincoln

Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the biography by Doris Kearns Goodwin, this biographical and historical drama stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and others. The movie revolves around former President Abraham Lincoln’s efforts to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude. Daniel portrays the role of Lincoln, and the movie is set in 1865. It covers the social and political challenges that Lincoln had to face to pass the 13th Amendment in the Constitution by the US House of Representatives.

The movie was a critical and commercial success, and Daniel’s performance was especially lauded. It is considered one of the finest works by Spielberg and was nominated heavily at the Golden Globes and the Oscars—even winning the Best Movie at the Golden Globes. The movie is a must-watch as it portrays with nuance the final months of Lincoln in office and the turmoil he faced politically and personally in his quest to unite the nation. His complex emotions are ably portrayed by Daniel, who gives one of his best performances.

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2. The Revenant

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, this epic Western action drama movie directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu is based on a novel by Michael Punke, which is itself based on a poem. The film is often considered a remake of a movie from 1971. DiCaprio plays Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who leads treacherous expeditions. However, on one occasion, he is attacked by a bear and abandoned by his crew. The movie focuses on how he survives in the wild after the gruesome attack and plans to take revenge on the person who betrayed him.

The movie was a blockbuster and was lauded for Leonardo’s performance, Inarritu’s direction, and cinematography. The movie won the Best Motion Picture- Drama award at the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs and had 12 nominations at the Oscars, out of which it won Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography. It was said that the movie was made to win Leonardo an Oscar. However, the film is gorgeously shot, has thrills and action, and viscerally depicts the wild. It is a movie about resilience and vengeance and is a must-watch.

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3. The Theory of Everything

Based on the memoir by Jane Hawking, who was the ex-wife of Stephen Hawking, this biographical drama, directed by James Marsh, chronicles the life of the famous theoretical physicist. The film covers important moments of his life with a focus on his relationship with Jane, his diagnosis of ALS, and his growing fame in the world of science. The movie stars Eddie Redmayne as Hawking and Felicity Jones as Jane. The movie is inspirational, focusing on Hawking’s quest for groundbreaking scientific theories and his battle with ALS.

The movie also explores the themes of love, relationships, and sacrifice, as it portrays the couple’s undying love in the face of adversity. Critics praised the background score and the performances of Redmayne and Jones. It garnered multiple nominations at the Oscars, and Redmayne won Best Actor. It was also heavily nominated at the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes, and Redmayne won Best Actor at both the ceremonies. Set in the 1960s, the movie is a poignant look at the life of one of the most famous scientists of modern times and is worth watching.

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4. Hidden Figures

Directed by Theodore Melfi and starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and others, this biographical drama is based on the non-fiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The movie recounts the real-life story of three female African-American mathematicians—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who worked at NASA during the Space Race of the 20th century and made important contributions to the field of science and technology. Henson, Spencer, and Monae play the three women, respectively, and portray the professional challenges they had to overcome to succeed.

The movie tackles important themes about race and gender in the male-dominated scientific field of the time and is an inspirational look at the collective power shown by the women at NASA. All three actresses deliver powerful performances and bring to light a story about unsung heroes. The film was a critical and commercial success and had nominations at the Oscars and the SAG awards. The film is a must-watch as it is an empowering tale about the contribution of women in the scientific field.

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5. 12 Years a Slave

Based on the memoir by Solomon Northup, this biographical historical movie directed by Steve McQueen chronicles the life of Northup. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor in the role of Northup, and the movie recounts how he was kidnapped in Washington, DC, by two conmen and sold into slavery. The film is a grueling and heartbreaking look at the reality of slavery in the 19th century. It was only after 12 years of backbreaking slavery, that Northup was finally released.

The movie also stars Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, Brad Pitt, and others. The movie was a smash hit and won approval from the critics. It was heavily nominated at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTAs. At the Oscars, it won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress. McQueen became the first black British director to win the Best Movie award. The movie is unflinching, visceral, and gritty. However, it also has moments of intense emotions, and Chiwetel delivers a striking performance.

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6. Moonlight

Directed by Barry Jenkins and based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, this coming-of-age drama stars Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, and others. The movie chronicles the life of a young black man, Chiron, and is presented in three stages—his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. The movie is about his life-changing experiences with a drug dealer, Juan (Ali), who makes him his protégé. The film has important themes of LGBTQ+ as it portrays how Chiron deals with his homosexuality and identity as a Black man.

The movie was a critical and commercial success and is one of the few mainstream movies that portrayed a Black gay man and his struggles within the community. Nuanced and reflective, the film is known for its well-fleshed characters and brilliant performances. The film also received praise for its direction, cinematography, handling of sensitive themes, and Ali’s performance. The movie won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Ali won the Best Supporting Actor award. A must-watch for its stellar tackling of themes related to identity and community.

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7. Schindler’s List

Based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, this epic historical drama, directed by Steven Spielberg, stars Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and others. The movie tells the real-life account of Oskar Schindler (played by Neeson), who was a German industrialist who saved more than a thousand Jews from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. The film is set during World War II and is shot in black and white, with an emphasis on the documentary style of filming. The movie was the brainchild of Poldek Pfefferberg, who was one of the Jews saved by Oskar and wanted his story to come to the screen.

The movie was a blockbuster and garnered approval from all quarters. Critics praised its acting, tone, Spielberg’s direction, and the performances, especially those of Neeson and Fiennes. It was nominated for 12 awards at the Oscars and won seven, including in the Best Picture and Best Director category. It was also nominated at the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes. The movie is a moving portrayal of the humanity of one man and his determination to save the marginalized. It is regularly considered as one of the best American movies.

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8. Birdman

Directed by Alejandro Inarritu and starring Michael Keaton, this dark comedy-drama is about a yesteryear Hollywood actor, Riggan (Keaton), who is best known for playing the role of a superhero, known as the Birdman. He now faces personal and professional struggles as he tries to make a comeback by directing and starring in a Broadway play, which is an adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story. The movie was a critical and commercial success and received praise for its direction, screenplay, and the performance of Keaton.

The film is shot in a seemingly long-take style and is a unique exploration of identity and the arts. The film gained nine nominations at the Oscars and won in the Best Picture, Best Director, and other categories. It also won various awards at the Screen Actors Guild awards and the Golden Globes. The film is worth watching as it blends dark comedy and poignancy to reflect the inner turmoil of a fading star, who has all his hopes pinned upon a revival project. The film is a nuanced character study and is brilliantly performed by Keaton.

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9. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, and others, this comedy-drama, directed by Wes Anderson, revolves around a reputed concierge, Monsieur Gustave (Fiennes), at a mountainside resort. The film is set in the 20th century and follows the adventures of Gustave, who is accused of murdering a wealthy dowager. He decides to embark on a quest to clear his name and find a priceless Renaissance painting with the help of a protégé.

The movie has political undertones as it is set in Eastern Europe and hints at an encroaching fascist regime. The film was a critical and commercial success and is considered Anderson’s best work. The film has its characteristic touch in terms of cinematography and character development and received praise for its cinematography and acting by Fiennes and the supporting cast. The movie garnered nine nominations at the Oscars and won in four categories.

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10. Slumdog Millionaire

Directed by Danny Boyle and starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, and others, this British drama movie is an adaptation of a novel by Vikas Swarup. The movie is set in India and tells the story of a young boy, Jamal (Patel), who comes from the slums and becomes a contestant at an Indian gaming show where the winner can win two crores. The movie is shot in flashbacks, as Jamal uses memories from his childhood to correctly answer all the questions in the show. The movie was a sleeper hit but received praise for its plot, soundtrack, cinematography, and direction.

Even though the film also received criticism for its stereotyped portrayal of India’s poverty, it was still one of the most influential movies of the decade and garnered ten Oscar nominations. The film won in the Best Picture and Best Director category. It was also nominated at the BAFTAs and Critics’ Choice Awards, and the Golden Globes. The movie is a must-watch as it depicts the raw reality of the marginalized in India and the immense talent that they have.