Seven Legendary Films That Were Shut Out at the Golden Globes

Every awards season brings its share of surprises, but few things are more shocking than seeing a highly nominated film leave an awards show empty-handed. Over the years, seven movies have set a unique record at the Golden Globes: each received seven nominations, yet none managed to take home a single trophy. For filmmakers and fans alike, that’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when expectations run high after so many nods.

What makes these snubs even more remarkable is that many of these films are now considered classics—groundbreaking works that have stood the test of time. Despite their critical acclaim and cultural impact, they were overlooked by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Sometimes, it ’s just the luck of the draw, or maybe the result of judges’ personal preferences, but the outcome is the same: a night of disappointment for some of cinema ’s most celebrated titles.

Unlucky Streaks for Acclaimed Movies

Take Mike Nichols’ directorial debut, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). The film was a major contender, earning nominations in nearly every top category. Yet, it walked away with nothing at the Globes. Ironically, it went on to receive 13 Oscar nominations and won five, proving its staying power and industry respect. The following year, Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde (1967) faced a similar fate. Despite its seven Globe nominations, it lost out on Best Motion Picture – Drama to In the Heat of the Night. Still, the film found redemption at the Academy Awards, where Estelle Parsons won Best Supporting Actress and Burnett Guffey took home Best Cinematography.

Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon (1975) is another example. With powerhouse performances from Al Pacino and John Cazale, many expected at least one win. Instead, the film was shut out at both the Globes and, for Cazale, even the Oscars, where he didn’t receive a nomination at all. These cases highlight just how unpredictable awards season can be, no matter how strong the competition.

Modern Misses and Notable Omissions

The trend didn’t stop in the 1970s. In 1990, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III joined the list. Despite its high-profile pedigree and seven nominations, the film failed to impress Globe voters, perhaps due in part to the mixed reviews and criticism of Sofia Coppola’s performance. Unlike some of its predecessors, this sequel also missed out at the Oscars, making its awards run especially disappointing.

Other films that share this dubious distinction include Stanley Kramer’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), Colin Higgins’ Foul Play (1978), and Miloš Forman’s Ragtime (1981). Each of these movies arrived at the Golden Globes with high hopes and multiple nominations, only to leave without a single win. It’s a reminder that even the most celebrated films can fall victim to the unpredictability of awards season.

The Seven Most-Nominated Films Without a Globe Win

Here are the seven films that hold the record for most Golden Globe nominations without a win:

* Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Mike Nichols, 1966)
* Bonnie and Clyde (Arthur Penn, 1967)
* Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Stanley Kramer, 1967)
* Dog Day Afternoon (Sidney Lumet, 1975)
* Foul Play (Colin Higgins, 1978)
* Ragtime (Miloš Forman, 1981)
* The Godfather Part III (Francis Ford Coppola, 1990)

While these films may have missed out on Golden Globe glory, their legacies endure, and in many cases, Oscar recognition helped cement their place in movie history.