From Citizen Kane to Saving Private Ryan, celebrity award show snubs controversial at the Academy Awards prove peer voters often crown safe consensus over era-defining masterpieces on ceremony night.

Orson Welles Citizen Kane lost Best Picture to How Green Was My Valley — among the earliest celebrity award show snubs controversial enough to define Oscar discourse for eighty years.

Shakespeare in Love upset Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture at the 71st Oscars — a celebrity award show snub controversial enough that Spielberg won Director but lost Picture.

Martin Scorsese Goodfellas lost Best Picture to Dances with Wolves in 1991 — a celebrity award show snub controversial to film fans who waited years for Scorsese directing gold.

Chadwick Boseman posthumous loss and Amy Adams nomination droughts join Glenn Close near-misses on lists of celebrity award show snubs controversial at recent Oscar ceremonies.