This article compares and contrasts two of the largest oil spills ever: the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska in 1989 and the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. In these situations, oil contamination has been greatly reduced thanks in large part to bioremediation, particularly biostimulation and intrinsic bioremediation. The limitations and difficulties of this technique are made clear, however, by the lasting effects on the ecosystem and the areas of persistent contamination. Thus, this study stresses the importance of optimising bioremediation processes, completing thorough environmental impact assessments, and investing in more research to better understand the efficacy of bioremediation. The significance of well-thought-out, multi-pronged emergency response plans is also emphasised. The lessons learned from these watershed events can help direct future bioremediation initiatives and environmental management policies in the right direction.