In 1985, the Steven Spielberg-directed drama The Color Purple, based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, premiered to critical acclaim and enormous box office success. On a budget of $15 million, the film ended up grossing nearly $100 million. It also received 11 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, Best Actress for Whoopi Goldberg’s brilliant breakout performance, and two Best Supporting Actress noms for Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery. However, it did not win a single one.
Despite all its commercial
