What If the Oscars Had Started Earlier? How Weimar-Era German Films Might Have Dominated Hollywood's Biggest Night

The Weimar Republic era (1918–1933) was one of the most artistically rich and technically innovative periods in world cinema. While the Academy Awards (Oscars) began in 1929, many of the greatest films and filmmakers had already made their mark on global film history—particularly in Germany. So what if the Oscars had started a decade earlier? There's a compelling case that Weimar-era German cinema would have dominated the awards, with visionary directors, groundbreaking cinematography, and performances that still resonate today.

Weimar Cinema: A Golden Age of Film Innovation

The Weimar period gave rise to legendary filmmakers such as F.W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, Ernst Lubitsch, and G.W. Pabst, as well as stars like Emil Jannings, Pola Negri, Louise Brooks, and Asta Nielsen. Films from this era weren't just popular in Germany; they shaped the aesthetics of world cinema, introducing Expressionism, surreal set design, and psychological depth in storytelling.

Key Weimar Films That Could Have Won Oscars:

"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920) – A pioneering work of German Expressionism. Likely contenders: Best Art Direction, Best Director.
"Nosferatu" (1922, F.W. Murnau) – One of the earliest and most iconic horror films. Likely contenders: Best Cinematography, Best Director.
"Dr. Mabuse the Gambler" (1922, Fritz Lang) – A sprawling crime epic with political overtones. Possible Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director.
"The Last Laugh" (1924, Murnau) – Virtually silent, with no intertitles, using groundbreaking camera techniques. A strong pick for Best Cinematography, Best Actor (Emil Jannings).
"Metropolis" (1927, Fritz Lang) – The sci-fi epic that defined dystopian cinema. Would have likely received Best Picture, Art Direction, Cinematography.
"Pandora's Box" (1929, Pabst) – With Louise Brooks in a stunning performance, a top contender for Best Actress.
"M" (1931, Fritz Lang) – A chilling psychological thriller centered on a serial child murderer, portrayed with eerie nuance by Peter Lorre. A landmark in sound cinema and a likely winner for Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay.

When the Oscars Began: Weimar Stars Still Made Waves

Although the Academy Awards began in 1929, the first-ever Best Actor Oscar was awarded to Emil Jannings, a German actor and Weimar-era icon, for his roles in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. This alone underscores how influential Weimar talent was, even in the early days of Hollywood.

Other Weimar Connections to Early Oscars:

F.W. Murnau directed Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), which won the Academy’s first and only award for "Best Unique and Artistic Picture." The film is considered a Weimar-style masterpiece, despite being produced in the U.S.
Ernst Lubitsch, who moved from Berlin to Hollywood, became one of the most celebrated directors in early American cinema, earning multiple Oscar nominations in the 1930s and 40s.
Marlene Dietrich, who rose to fame in The Blue Angel (1930), became an Oscar-nominated Hollywood legend.

Hypothetical Oscar Dominance: What Could Have Been?

Film historians often speculate what the Academy Awards might have looked like if they began in the 1910s or early 1920s. Critics regularly cite the following "retroactive" Oscar picks:

Best Director: Fritz Lang (Metropolis, M), Murnau (Nosferatu, The Last Laugh)
Best Actor: Emil Jannings, Conrad Veidt, Werner Krauss
Best Actress: Pola Negri, Asta Nielsen (one of silent cinema’s first international superstars, known for her magnetic and modern screen presence), Louise Brooks
Best Picture: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Last Laugh, Metropolis, Pandora’s Box

What If They Qualified Under Today’s Rules?

Under current Academy rules, foreign-language films released during the eligibility period can be nominated in all major categories—not just Best International Feature Film. By that standard, later Weimar-era films like "M" (1931) and "The Blue Angel" (1930) could have received significant recognition. M would have been a major contender for its taut direction, chilling script, and Peter Lorre’s unforgettable performance. Likewise, The Blue Angel launched Marlene Dietrich into international stardom and could have easily earned nods for Best Actress and Best Cinematography.

Even Leni Riefenstahl, though a polarizing figure, warrants mention in any discussion of technical innovation. Her early film Das Blaue Licht (1932) was lauded for its visual style, while her documentary Olympia (1938) remains groundbreaking in terms of cinematography and editing. Had content not been an issue, Olympia might have qualified for awards in categories like Best Documentary or Best Editing.

Legacy in Modern Film Rankings

Despite their age, Weimar-era films still appear on prestigious "best of all time" lists:

Sight & Sound 2022: M (#52 Critics, #13 Directors), Metropolis (#67), Nosferatu (#94)
TSPDT (They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?) 2024: M (#16), Metropolis (#28), Sunrise (#7)
IMDb Top 250: M and Metropolis still regularly appear, proving their enduring popularity.

Conclusion: A Lost Oscar Era

If the Oscars had existed in the early 1920s, the Weimar Republic's filmmakers would have swept the awards. Their influence is still felt in modern cinema, and their masterpieces continue to earn critical acclaim a century later. As such, the Weimar era remains a towering pillar of film history—one that deserves recognition far beyond its original time.