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Best Picture

Here are the previous winners of the Best Picture category

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Award Winning Controversy

Although most awards wins are jusified, not every Oscar win is met with universal acclaim. Over the years, some victories have sparked heated debates as critics and fans argue that more deserving films have been overlooked in their bid for glory. Whether due to aggressive campaigning, industry politics, or the Academy’s preference for traditional storytelling, these controversial wins continue to be discussed long after the ceremonies end.

Shakespeare in Love (1999) – Best Picture Over Saving Private Ryan

Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan was a harrowing and masterfully directed war epic and was widely expected to win Best Picture in 1999. Its opening D-Day sequence remains one of the most intense scenes in cinema history. However, this Spielberg film would lose this particular war as the award went to Shakespeare in Love.

While the reason for this upset was due to a certain Harvery Weinstein. The Miramax co-founder led an aggressive Oscar campaign, revolutionising how awards lobbying was done. Weinstein targeted Academy voters relentlessly, positioning Shakespeare in Love as a fresh, intelligent take on history, while criticising Saving Private Ryan for supposedly peaking in its first 30 minutes - a tactic that would prove to be fruitful at that year's Oscars.

Crash (2006) – Best Picture Over Brokeback Mountain

Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain was more than just a frontrunner in 2006, it was considered to be a landmark moment in cinema. One that told a powerful love story between two men against the backdrop of American conservatism and once released, many critics and audiences expected it to win the Academy's biggest prize.

But in a shocking twist, the Best Picture award went to Crash, an ensemble drama about racial tensions in Los Angeles. While Crash tackled important themes, its win was met with immediate backlash. Critics accused the Academy of playing it safe by avoiding honouring a film with an LGBTQ+ romance at its core. While even that year's Oscar host Jon Stewart joked about the upset, In addition and in later years, the film’s director Paul Haggis admitted Crash did not deserve the win.

How Green Was My Valley (1942) – Best Picture Over Citizen Kane

If there’s one Oscar decision that film historians still debate, it’s this one. Citizen Kane, Orson Welles’ groundbreaking film, is often hailed as the greatest movie ever made. It introduced revolutionary storytelling techniques, cinematography, and deep-focus shots that changed cinema forever.

Yet, when it came time to crown Best Picture, the Academy went with How Green Was My Valley, a well-made but conventional drama about a Welsh mining family. Part of the reason was political—Citizen Kane was a thinly veiled critique of media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who used his influence to tarnish the film’s reputation.

Ordinary People (1981) – Best Picture Over Raging Bull

Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, showcasing Robert De Niro’s transformative performance as boxer Jake LaMotta. Its raw intensity, visual style, and emotional depth made it a critical darling, with many assuming it would take home Best Picture.

Instead, the award went to Ordinary People, Robert Redford’s directorial debut. A touching but conventional family drama, it resonated deeply with Academy voters, who favoured its emotional weight over Raging Bull’s brutal storytelling.

The King’s Speech (2011) – Best Picture Over The Social Network

The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, was widely seen as the defining film of a generation. Chronicling the rise of Facebook and the complexities of its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, the film was stylish, gripping, and relevant to the digital age - something that resonated with large pockets of the contemporary audience.

However, the Academy instead went with The King’s Speech, a traditional historical drama about King George VI overcoming his stutter. While the 2011 winner was well-crafted and featured an excellent performance from Colin Firth, its win was seen as a sign that the Academy favoured safe, prestige films over modern, innovative storytelling.

The Evolution Of The Oscars

Since the first Academy Awards in 1929, the Oscar for Best Picture has represented the pinnacle of cinematic achievement.

Nearly 100 years on from its first winner, the award remains just as prestigious but the types of films that win have changed dramatically over the decades. From lavish epics to intimate dramas, from studio-driven spectacles to indie breakthroughs, Best Picture winners often reflect the evolving tastes of Hollywood and society.

While we can now explore the trends that have defined Best Picture winners over the years, revealing how the Academy’s choices have evolved with shifting industry landscapes and cultural movements.

1930s–1940s: The Golden Age of Hollywood and Big Studio Epics

In the early years of the Oscars, Best Picture winners were largely shaped by the dominance of the major Hollywood studios. Lavish productions, often adapted from literature or theatre, were the hallmark of this era.

Key Trends:

• Grand historical and literary adaptations (Gone with the Wind, Rebecca).
• Patriotic or war-influenced films (Casablanca, Mrs. Miniver).
• Studio dominance, with MGM, Warner Bros., and Paramount leading the pack.

Defining Winner: Gone with the Wind (1939)

A sweeping historical romance set during the American Civil War, Gone with the Wind showcased the Academy’s love for grand storytelling, elaborate production and star power. It remains one of the most famous Best Picture winners of all time.

1950s: The Age of Prestige and Broadway Adaptations

As Hollywood adjusted to competition from television, studios leaned into prestige filmmaking. In doing so, they often adapted successful Broadway plays and classic literature.

Key Trends:

• Stage-to-screen adaptations (All About Eve, Gigi).
• Lavish spectacle films (Ben-Hur, The Bridge on the River Kwai).
• Star-driven dramas with strong performances (Marty, On the Waterfront).

Defining Winner: Ben-Hur (1959)

With its massive scale, elaborate chariot race and historical grandeur, Ben-Hur set the standard for the kind of epic filmmaking that defined 1950s Oscar winners.

1960s: The Shift to Risk-Taking and Social Commentary

The 1960s saw Hollywood undergo a transformation, embracing more daring storytelling and addressing societal issues. The Best Picture winners of this era reflect a growing willingness to challenge audiences.

Key Trends:

• Films addressing political and social issues (In the Heat of the Night, Midnight Cowboy).
• Darker, more complex storytelling (The Apartment, Lawrence of Arabia).
• The rise of New Hollywood directors influencing the Academy’s tastes.

Defining Winner: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

The first and only X-rated film to win Best Picture, Midnight Cowboy signalled a departure from old Hollywood traditions, embracing a grittier and more experimental approach.

1970s: The Rise of Auteur Filmmaking

This was the decade of New Hollywood, where directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese redefined cinema. Best Picture winners reflected this shift, embracing realism, moral ambiguity, and bold storytelling.

Key Trends:

• Auteur-driven masterpieces (The Godfather, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).
• Anti-establishment themes (The Deer Hunter, Rocky).
• The blending of blockbuster spectacle with artistic ambition (The Godfather Part II).
  
  

Defining Winner: The Godfather (1972)

A landmark in film history, The Godfather combined commercial success with artistic excellence, setting a high standard for storytelling and character depth.

1980s: The Return of Traditional Hollywood Filmmaking

After the experimentation of the 1970s, the 1980s saw a shift back toward more mainstream, emotionally resonant films.

Key Trends:

• Feel-good, crowd-pleasing winners (Rain Man, Chariots of Fire).
• Prestige biopics (Gandhi, Amadeus).
• A mix of war films and historical epics (Platoon, The Last Emperor).
  
  

Defining Winner: Rain Man (1988)

A heartfelt drama that balanced emotional storytelling with strong performances, Rain Man exemplified the Academy’s preference for human-driven narratives in the 1980s.

1990s: A Mix of Epics, Indie Breakthroughs, and Crowd-Pleasers

The 1990s saw a blend of traditional epics and the rise of independent cinema, as well as a focus on emotional, uplifting storytelling.

Key Trends:

• The return of grand historical dramas (Schindler’s List, Braveheart).
• The rise of indie films gaining Oscar recognition (The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love).
• Blockbusters with emotional weight (Titanic, Forrest Gump).
  
  

Defining Winner: Titanic (1997)

A global box office sensation and technical marvel, Titanic won over the Academy with its mix of romance, spectacle, and historical drama.

2000s: Diversity in Genre and Style

The 2000s saw the Academy becoming more open to genre diversity, with fantasy, crime dramas, and musicals winning Best Picture.

Key Trends:

• Fantasy films breaking through (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King).
• Neo-noir crime dramas (No Country for Old Men, The Departed).
• Biographical dramas with emotional depth (A Beautiful Mind, Million Dollar Baby).
  
  

Defining Winner: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The first fantasy film to win Best Picture, this marked a shift toward recognising blockbuster filmmaking with artistic ambition.

2010s–Present: Socially Conscious and Genre-Breaking Winners

The last decade has seen the Academy recognising a more diverse range of films, with a stronger focus on social issues and genre-defying winners.

Key Trends:

• Socially relevant films gaining recognition (Moonlight, Parasite, Nomadland).
• Genre films breaking barriers (The Shape of Water, Everything Everywhere All at Once).
• A move away from traditional Oscar-bait and biopics.
  
  

Defining Winner: Parasite (2019)

As the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture, Parasite signalled the Academy’s shift toward global storytelling and greater diversity in its selections.