Chariots of Fire (1981)

Directed by Hugh Hudson

Starring Nicholas Farrell, Nigel Havers, Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, Daniel Gerroll, Ian Holm, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson, Nigel Davenport, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Dennis Christopher, Brad Davis, and Patrick Magee

There really isn't much wrong with this movie, but besides the scene with the athletes running on the beach accompanied by Vangelis's iconic score, there isn't much too memorable about it either. It tells the story of the different personalities of British Olympic runners in the 1924 Games. It's well done, but went against several films that are now considered all-time classics. It's the kind of movie that was not necessarily undeserving of the award, but it's one the Academy probably wishes it could have back

Other nominees: Atlantic City (Louis Malle), On Golden Pond (Mark Rydell), Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg), Reds (Warren Beatty)