The English Patient (1996)

Directed by Anthony Minghella

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, Julian Wadham, and Jurgen Prochnow

A character's disdain for this movie served as the basis for an episode of Seinfeld. It is really an "Oscar-like" movie if there ever was one, but it has probably remained popular less than any other Best Picture winner of the 90s. Ralph Fiennes' character is a totally unlikeable protagonist, so it is nearly impossible to become invested in his story. Juliette Binoche is fine as the nurse caring for Fiennes, so the scenes featuring her and her romance with Naveen Andrews are a welcome reprieve from the selfish love story between Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas. This may have won the award, but Fargo has proved to be the breakout classic of 1996.

Other nominees: Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen), Jerry Maguire (Cameron Crowe), Secrets & Lies (Mike Leigh), and Shine (Scott Hicks)