The Unspoken Winners: Who Should Have Won an Oscar, According to Fans and Critics?

Every year, the Oscars crown the best in cinema, but sometimes the true “winners” aren’t the ones holding the golden statue.

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Whether it's an overlooked performance or a film that failed to capture the Academy’s attention, fans and critics often have strong opinions about who should have won.

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Let’s explore some of the most iconic “unspoken winners” in Oscar history—those who earned admiration from the public and critics alike but didn’t take home the award.

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Sharon Stone: Casino (1995) Sharon Stone’s role in Casino as the complicated and ruthless Ginger McKenna remains one of her most powerful performances. Nominated for Best Actress, Stone was a front-runner for the Oscar that year.

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However, the award ultimately went to Susan Sarandon for Dead Man Walking. Fans and critics alike still consider Stone's performance a snub, as it showcased her ability to bring depth and nuance to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional.

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Jim Carrey: The Truman Show (1998) Known for his comedic genius, Jim Carrey took a dramatically different turn in The Truman Show, where he portrayed an ordinary man unaware that his entire life was a reality TV show.

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The Shawshank Redemption: A Cinematic Masterpiece Despite being nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, The Shawshank Redemption (1994) left the ceremony empty-handed.

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Angela Bassett: What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993) Angela Bassett’s electrifying performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It earned her widespread acclaim, but she lost the Best Actress Oscar to Holly Hunter for The Piano.

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