what was the first horror movie to be nominated for a best picture oscar?

The first horror movie ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture was “The Exorcist” (1973) , which received its Best Picture nomination at the 46th Academy Awards.

Quick Scoop

• First horror Best Picture nominee: “The Exorcist” (dir. William Friedkin), released in 1973.

• Ceremony: It competed at the 46th Oscars alongside films like “The Sting” and “American Graffiti.”

• Outcome: “The Exorcist” lost Best Picture to “The Sting,” but its nomination was a landmark moment for the horror genre.

Why it was a big deal

• Horror had long been seen as too “pulpy” or “lowbrow” for major awards, so this nomination signaled a rare level of prestige for the genre.

• The film earned multiple nominations (including directing and acting categories), underlining how seriously it was taken by the Academy compared with earlier horror films.

In later years

• After “The Exorcist,” later horror films like “Jaws,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” and “The Sixth Sense” would also be nominated for Best Picture, but all followed in its trailblazing footsteps.

TL;DR: If someone asks, “What was the first horror movie to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar?” the crisp answer is: “The Exorcist” (1973).

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