Fifteen Best Picture Oscar Winners with the Minest Box Office Earnings in History

LET'S DIVE INTO THE SHADY WORLD OF LOWEST-GROSSING BEST PICTURE WINNERS, SHALL WE? I reckon it's time to uncover the cinematic underdogs that stole the show at the Oscars, leaving general audiences scratching their heads and wondering what the hell they missed. Buckle up, folks, as we dive headfirst into the ranks of these critically-acclaimed yet financially underwhelming masterpieces.

Check it out - here are the 15 lowest-grossing Best Picture winners of all time, adjusted for inflation:

Moonlight (2016)
The Hurt Locker (2009)
Hamlet (1948)
All The King's Men (1949)
Marty (1955)
An American in Paris (1951)
Birdman (2014)
Spotlight (2015)
It Happened One Night (1934)
The Artist (2011)
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Gigi (1958)
The Shape of Water (2017)
Crash (2005)

Now, let's get our hands dirty and explore some of these fascinating films that left a lasting impact on the world of cinema, despite their lack of big-time ticket sales!

Crash (2005)

One of the most controversial Best Picture winners in Oscar history, Crash beat out the running favorite Brokeback Mountain to snag the top prize at the 78th Academy Awards. The win sparked a flurry of accusations of anti-gay sentiment amongst Academy voters, while others felt the film was undeserving of the praise it earned. Starring an ensemble cast featuring big names like Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, and Thandie Newton, the excitement surrounding Crash didn't quite translate into impressive box office earnings, earning a respectable (but far from spectacular) $69.7 million.

Source: Sky.com

The Shape of Water (2017)

As the most recent Best Picture winner, Guillermo del Toro's fantastical film about a deaf woman who falls in love with a mysterious creature imprisoned in a government facility was never destined for box office dominance. With the accolades it received, it saw a bump in domestic earnings following the announcement of its 13 Oscar nominations in January 2018 and finished its run with $63.8 million. Although this make it a modest hit compared to other Best Picture winners, it still ranks as the best-performing Best Picture winner since Ben Affleck's Argo grossed $136 million in 2012.

Source: Dread Central

Gigi (1958)

This 1958 musical directed by Vincente Minnelli is widely considered to be the last great Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical production. The film won nine awards at the 1959 ceremony, setting a record for most ever won by a single film up until that point. However, its achievements didn't hold for long, as the record was broken the very next year when Ben-Hur took home 11 Oscars. In terms of box office, Gigi earned a tidy profit, raking in $63 million when adjusted for inflation - not shabby by any means, but not exactly the top of the Best Picture earnings list either.

Source: Cinema Trove

In the realm of general news, it's worth noting that Gigi, the last great Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical production, managed to earn a respectable sum of $63 million (when adjusted for inflation) despite winning a record-breaking nine awards at the 1959 Academy Awards. (Cinema Trove)

Entertainment buffs might also appreciate the story of The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro's fantastical film that, despite its impressive accolades and 13 Oscar nominations, remained a modest hit compared to other Best Picture winners, raking in $63.8 million. (Dread Central)

In the sports section, Crash, one of the most controversial Best Picture winners in Oscar history, won the top prize at the 78th Academy Awards but fell short in the box office department, earning a respectable (but far from spectacular) $69.7 million. (Sky.com)