From Oscars to Snorefests: 12 Award-Winning Movies That Put You to Sleep Faster Than Ambien

Awards and accolades are a measure of a film's critical success, the triumphant moment when the film's makers are lauded for their craft, their storytelling, their vision. But sometimes, the gleam of the Oscar statuette casts a shadow that obscures a less flattering truth: not all award-winning films are engaging to every viewer.

Here are twelve such films – acclaimed, honoured, but ultimately just a wee bit boring, to put it mildly.

The English Patient (1996)

Nominated for 12 Oscars, won 9, including Best Picture

Despite sweeping the 69th Academy Awards with nine Oscars, including Best Picture, some found Anthony Minghella's war-drama to be a languid affair. With its complex narrative structure and lengthy runtime, 'The English Patient' requires a level of patience that not all viewers can muster. While visually stunning and featuring powerful performances, the film's slow-paced storytelling can lull unsuspecting viewers into an unplanned slumber.

Gandhi (1982)

Nominated for 11 Oscars, won 8, including Best Picture

This epic biographical film garnered numerous accolades, including eight Oscars. While Ben Kingsley's powerful performance as Mahatma Gandhi is lauded, the movie's runtime of over three hours, coupled with its heavy historical context, proves too somnolent for some viewers. Despite its undeniable craft, 'Gandhi' has a tranquil rhythm that can serve as an effective lullaby.

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Nominated for 12 Oscars, won 7, including Best Picture

This sweeping historical epic, which explores the unique bond between a Civil War soldier and a Native American tribe, collected a whopping seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Kevin Costner 's passionate direction and a compelling narrative earned it much critical acclaim. However, its expansive runtime of over three hours and its introspective, patient storytelling has proven to be a test of endurance for some viewers.

The Last Emperor (1987)

Nominated for 9 Oscars, won 9, including Best Picture

Bernardo Bertolucci's biographical masterpiece swept the Academy Awards, winning all nine categories it was nominated in. 'The Last Emperor' is a feast for the eyes with stunning cinematography and intricate set designs, but the sprawling, episodic narrative and historical depth can be daunting for some, resulting in a film experience that's appreciated more than it's engaged with.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Nominated for 4 Oscars, won 1 (Best Visual Effects)

This Stanley Kubrick classic is often hailed as a landmark in the science fiction genre. While it's an artistic triumph, with a mysterious monolith, advanced AI, and a journey to the infinity of space, its slow pace and philosophical undertones have a meditative quality that doesn't always align with mainstream viewing habits.

Boyhood (2014)

Nominated for 6 Oscars, won 1 (Best Supporting Actress for Patricia Arquette)

Richard Linklater's experimental drama, shot over twelve years, won numerous awards for its unique portrayal of growing up. 'Boyhood' offers an intimate look into a young boy's life as he matures into a man, with the movie unfolding as a series of small, ordinary moments. While this slow journey through adolescence was hailed as a cinematic breakthrough, some viewers found its almost three-hour exploration of life's mundanities less engaging.

Out of Africa (1985)

Nominated for 11 Oscars, won 7, including Best Picture

Sydney Pollack's romantic drama swept the Academy Awards with seven wins, but not every viewer was swept off their feet. Though the film offers stunning African vistas and a stirring score, its slow-burn narrative and lengthy scenes made some audience members more inclined to catch forty winks than keep up with the intricate love story unfolding onscreen.

The Tree of Life (2011)

Nominated for 3 Oscars, didn't win any

Terrence Malick's existential drama may have won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and received several Oscar nominations, but it left some viewers scratching their heads – or, let’s be honest here, yawning. The film's poetic, non-linear narrative style, combined with its philosophical musings, make it a challenging watch that can lull even the most ardent cinephile into dreamland.

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Nominated for 7 Oscars, won 4

Known for his meticulous filmmaking, Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon' is a masterpiece of technical precision that won four Academy Awards. However, its deliberate pacing and three-hour length have caused more than a few eyelids to droop. Painted with the brush of 18th-century artistry, this film has been described as watching a series of beautiful paintings dry – a perfect recipe for an unexpected nap.

The Hours (2002)

Nominated for 9 Oscars, won 1 (Best Actress for Nicole Kidman )

Interweaving the narratives of three women from different eras, 'The Hours' is an intense exploration of life, love, and despair, and we can’t just call it an Oscars bait and be done with it. However, despite its riveting performances and winning a Best Actress Oscar for Nicole Kidman, the heavy emotional weight of the film and its unhurried narrative have lulled some viewers into a melancholy slumber.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Nominated for 13 Oscars, won 7, including Best Picture

Seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, adorn (however justifiably) the mantle of this romantic comedy-drama, yet some viewers find themselves less in love with the film than the Academy was. The complex plot twists, archaic language, and extensive run time, make this less of a romantic romp and more of a bedtime sonnet for some.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Nominated for 8 Oscars, won 4, including Best Picture

Russell Crowe's captivating performance as the troubled mathematician John Nash in 'A Beautiful Mind' earned the film four Oscars. However, the movie's intricate exploration of Nash's mind, replete with mathematical theorems, delusions, and a slow-burning narrative, can result in an unexpected cerebral lullaby, putting many viewers to sleep before Nash solves his equations.