Recent Best Picture Oscar Winners, Ranked From Worst to Best

Despite its surprisingly low score from critics, this 1988 film won four Academy Awards and was the highest-grossing movie of the year.

"In every detail - the superb soundtrack, the rich cinematography, the distinctively edgy editing - Rain Man reveals itself as a movie made with care, smarts, and a refreshing refusal to settle for the unexpected." — David Ansen, Newsweek

Should Paul Haggis' racially charged film have won the best picture award? Probably not when films like Munich 74 and Brokeback Mountain 87 were also nominated with higher Metascores.

"Ultimately, Crash succeeds in spite of itself. Its color war starts to feel obvious and schematic. Its coincidences and clichés become like a pile up on the 405 freeway, but there it is -- you find yourself rubbernecking and can't manage to look away." — Joanne Kaufmann, Wall Street Journal

It didn't matter if he was facing an armed soldier, a tiger or even the emperor of Rome: There was no slowing down Maximus Meridius (Russell Crowe). The 2000 film was full of raucous action that didn't hinder the story, but it still received a barely positive Metascore of 64. However, Gladiator was the big winner at the 73rd Academy Awards, where the film won five Oscars.

"Like an aging athlete who knows how to husband strength and camouflage weaknesses, it makes the most of what it does well and hopes you won't notice its limitations." — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

After his bride is brutally murdered, Sir William Wallace (Mel Gibson) leads a rebellion against the evil King Edward I of England. The 1995 film was full of stellar performances and a beautiful soundtrack. Braveheart won five Academy Awards, including Gibson's first Oscar as a director.

"A completely adequate modern facsimile of the classic romantic epic." — Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Equal parts drama and comedy, Green Book re-tells the true story of Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a Black concert pianist, and Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), his Italian-American bodyguard and chauffeur. As they drive through the Deep South, the men deal with racism and conflict while forming a unique lifelong bond.

"If there is a big studio movie that's more generally crowd-pleasing than Green Book this season, I have yet to find it." —Lindsey Bahr, AP

A Beautiful Mind was excoriated in the lead-up to the 74th Academy Awards because of its inaccurate portrayal of mental illness. Despite the loud criticism, the Ron Howard-directed film won four Oscars.

"This is another brilliant performance by Russell Crowe, who is to body language what Meryl Streep is to accents." — Jami Bernard, New York Daily News

This film beat Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas 89 for best picture in 1990. Let that sink in. Kevin Costner directed and starred in the 1990 film that became the first western to win best picture at the Oscars since Cimarron 59 years earlier.

"Ultimately, this film is more interesting than rousing; missing is a John Ford-ian wealth of idiosyncratic characters." — Mike Clark, USA Today

A crowd-pleasing drama from director Sií¢n Heder about the sole hearing member (Emilia Jones) of a deaf Gloucester fishing family who decides to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer, CODA made an auspicious debut at Sundance, where it swept the top prizes in early 2021. Though it was nominated for just three Oscars—far short of the 12 nominations collected by one-time Best Picture favorite, The Power of the Dog—CODA won all three, including Best Picture. Apple's first-ever Best Picture nominee became the first streaming film of any kind to win Oscar's top honor in a ceremony overshadowed by an on-stage incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock.

"The climactic emotional beats are telegraphed almost from the beginning, but they still hit hard, effectively leaving viewers who can suspend their disbelief feeling uplifted and dewy-eyed." —Noel Murray, AV Club

The James Cameron-directed epic was a massive spectacle when it was released in 1997. At the time, the tear-jerking film was the highest-grossing movie ever, and it beat out L.A. Confidential 90 and Good Will Hunting 70 for the best picture award. The 11-time Oscar-winning film was a star maker, as it helped transform Leonardo DiCaprio into the king of the world and a household name.

"Like the doomed vessel from which it takes its tale, Cameron's film is a behemoth, svelte, streamlined, and not the least bit ponderous." — Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle

The winner of the best picture at the 60th Academy Awards tells the riches-to-rags story of the final emperor of China, Pu Yi (John Lone). This historical epic is stunningly beautiful, especially in the rarely-filmed Forbidden City locations. The Last Emperor won all nine Oscars for which it was nominated.

"Bernardo Bertolucci's visually ravishing spectacle about the life of Pu Yi is a genuine rarity: a blockbuster that manages to be historically instructive and intensely personal at the same time." — Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

What's more fun than women singing, dancing, and kicking ass? This Rob Marshall-directed film was a fresh take on the musical genre. Chicago even became the first musical to win best picture since Oliver! in 1968.

"Throw bouquets at Marshall, who instead of dissecting it to death, neatly resurrects the Hollywood musical." — Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

This award-winning film shows the 25-year relationship between an elderly Jewish woman (Jessica Tandy) and her African-American chauffeur (Morgan Freeman) in the deep south. At 80, Tandy became the oldest woman to win an Oscar for best actress.

"Here's an "˜opened-up' film of a fragile, sentimental play that doesn't overemphasize every dramatic point, and doesn't tromp on every minefield in the material." — Mike Clark, USA Today

Directed by the Daniels duo (Swiss Army Man) and produced by the Russo brothers, Everything follows a woman (Michelle Yeoh) who is dealing with two crises: an audit by the IRS, and the potential destruction of the multiverse. The resulting trip through parallel universes involves a parallel journey through multiple genres as the film blends martial arts action, comedy, sci-fi, drama, and even animation into a wildly inventive and exhilarating whole. Taking home a 2023-leading seven Oscars in total, including wins for directing, screenplay, Yeoh's lead performance, and supporting turns by Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything is indie studio A24's highest-grossing film to date—and possibly the strangest film ever to win Best Picture.

"Without question, 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' is a remarkable piece of work, one of the most original and creative films of the past couple of years." —Mick LaSalle

The year 1994 was easily one of the best in cinema. Forrest Gump managed to beat out Pulp Fiction 94 and The Shawshank Redemption 80 for best picture at the Academy Awards.

"At its best, Forrest Gump is a gentle, elegiac fantasy about love and trust." — Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

In one of Kevin Spacey's best roles yet, he plays Lester Burnham, a frustrated advertising executive who experiences a midlife crisis when he becomes fascinated with his teenage daughter's BFF, Angela (Mena Suvari). In his debut feature, Sam Mendes won the Oscar for best director.

"A blood-chilling dark comedy with unexpected moments of both fury and warmth, a strange, brooding and very accomplished film that sets us back on our heels from its opening frames." — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

After a long childhood struggle with poverty and bigotry, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) finds himself one question away from winning 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?". Slumdog Millionaire makes this list thanks to its masterful direction from Danny Boyle, inventive structure and great performances all around.

"Boyle, one of the premier stylists in the world fills Slumdog with ebullient energy and ceaseless invention." — Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian

This flick is arguably the greatest work in Clint Eastwood's legendary career. Eastwood, who both starred in and directed Unforgiven, takes a gritty, uncompromising look at the brutality and violence of the western genre. The 1992 film was just the third western to win best picture, along with Cimarron and Dances With Wolves.

"It is the last great Western ever made, and it will always remain so." — Rob Fraser, Empire

It's not his greatest film, but this 2006 flick was Martin Scorsese's first win for best director at the Oscars, along with his first best picture win. The dynamic between Matt Damon and DiCaprio is exhilarating, while Mark Wahlberg steals every scene he's in.

"This is a dream cast for both Scorsese and the viewer, and everyone is working at the peak of their craft. Nicholson's flawless performance as the increasingly unhinged crime boss is a marvel of manic, paranoid ruination." — Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle

It's hard to find a creepier villain to grace the big screen than Hannibal Lecter. Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) might be a cannibalistic serial killer, but you cannot take your eyes off of him when he's on the screen. The 1991 film also was the first and only horror film to win the Academy Award for best picture.

"Chilling and creepy, and there's no denying that the most celebrated aspect of the film -- the Clarice/Hannibal connection -- could not have been accomplished with greater skill." — James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Based on the events of the Iran hostage crisis, Argo depicts the daring rescue of six Americans from Tehran. If you didn't like this movie, well, you can Argo f-- ... never mind.

"A marvel of cunning, an irresistible blend of cool realism and Hollywood hokum." — David Edelstein, Vulture

The Clint Eastwood-directed film focuses on the relationship between a boxing trainer (Eastwood) and an amateur fighter (Hilary Swank) who wants to achieve her dream of becoming a professional boxer. The unexpected plot twist will have you wiping away the tears.

"It is a rich and challenging motion picture that both affirms life and emphasizes its fragility. Eastwood touches our hearts and energizes our minds without resorting to overt manipulation." — James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Elaine Benes of Seinfeld might be right when it comes to this movie: "It's too long!" However, Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas both give performances of a lifetime in this nine-time Oscar winner.

"Awash in heart-rending emotions and gorgeous images, this is a movie to lose yourself in." — Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Set in Cold War-era Baltimore, The Shape of Water follows Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a mute cleaning woman at a top-secret government lab. Her otherwise-mundane life is shaken up when she discovers and falls in love with a mysterious half-human, half-amphibious creature being held at the facility.

"Like the best bath you've ever had, it sends tingles coursing through every part of you that other films don't reach." —Robbie Collin, The Telegraph

No, it shouldn't have beaten Saving Private Ryan 90 for best picture, but Shakespeare in Love is a fun take on historical revisionism. Fun fact: Dame Judi Dench's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I won her an Oscar with roughly eight minutes of screentime.

"I was carried along by the wit, the energy and a surprising sweetness." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

After losing her husband and job, Fern (Frances McDormand) sets out as a nomad, leaving small-town Nevada behind in Nomadland, which also earned the awards for Best Actress (McDormand) and Best Director (writer/director Chloé Zhao). It takes a fascinating look at American nomad culture and the people behind it.

"Nomadland, with its beautiful simplicity, and wonderful performances, manages to be an elegant, profoundly moving film which shows the real value of living, rather than just surviving." —Zoe Margolis, CineVue

This flick has it all. It's full of dazzling cinematography, especially the one long tracking shot seemingly without a cut. And it has some top-notch performances from the ensemble cast, including Michael Keaton. On top of that, Keaton mutters "balls" with maximum gravitas. See, it does have it all.

"Spectacular, star-powered cinema that makes us ask anew what cinema is for. Call it a Dark Knight of the soul." — Robbie Collin, The Telegraph

The title of the film might make it sound boring. Of course, a king gives a speech, but this film, starring Colin Firth, was actually really good, too. The Social Network 95, which was also nominated for best picture, actually had a higher Metascore than The King's Speech.

"It's the kind of absorbing, attractive, unfailingly tasteful enterprise that a critic can recommend without caveat." — Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Back in 2011, nobody expected a silent, black-and-white film to be the big winner at the Oscars, but that's exactly what happened. Plus, the dog steals every scene he's in, which helped him earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"The Artist is anything but mute, with a lush orchestral score and a little sonic wink at the the end; fewer movies this year reward listening - and watching - so lavishly." — Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

While most Christopher Nolan films are filled with action, the 2023 summer sensation Oppenheimer is a character study focusing on Manhattan Project physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) as he works to develop the world's first nuclear weapons. But Nolan structures the first-person (and partially black-and-white) biopic as a thriller (or even, at times, like a horror film), which makes the three-hour epic fly by, according to critics. And it's designed for the big screen, not home viewing—all the better to showcase Nolan's love for practical effects including a simulated atom bomb explosion filmed without CGI. The result is the most Oscar-nominated film in Nolan's filmography—bringing his first career Best Director trophy in addition to winning Best Picture and five additional categories—even if it was outgrossed at the box office by its "Barbenheimer" partner Barbie.

"Not just the definitive account of the man behind the atom bomb, Oppenheimer is a monumental achievement in grown-up filmmaking. For years, Nolan has been perfecting the art of the serious blockbuster – crafting smart, finely-tuned multiplex epics that demand attention; that can't be watched anywhere other than in a cinema, uninterrupted, without distractions. But this, somehow, feels bigger." —Paul Bradshaw, NME

This cat-and-mouse thriller represented the Coen brothers' first and only Oscar for best director. No Country For Old Men edged out There Will Be Blood 92 for the best picture award, thanks to the wonderful performances from Javier Bardem as the stoic Anton Chigurh and Tommy Lee Jones as the sorrowful Sheriff Bell.

"As pure craftsmanship, No Country for Old Men is as good as we've ever gotten from Joel and Ethan Coen. Only Fargo is more satisfying (it's also a comedy, which this one isn't)." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

This film, based on the true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation of the allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, earned the Best Picture award at the 88th Academy Awards. Slate said Spotlight "provides a wealth of exceptional performances."

It wasn't until third film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy that LOTR won the Academy Award for best picture. And, boy, did it win big. The Return of the King won all 11 Oscars it was nominated for, which was the biggest sweep in the show's history.

"Like all great fantasies and epics, this one leaves you with the sense that its wonders are real, its dreams are palpable." — Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

It's never easy to make a film about the Holocaust, but this movie might be Steven Spielberg's best and most important work. The Liam Neeson-led drama won seven Oscars at the 66th Academy Awards.

"Spielberg restages the Holocaust with an existential vividness unprecedented in any non-documentary film: He makes us feel as if we're living right inside the 20th century's darkest and most defining episode." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

This gripping combat-action thriller showed what it was like to be a bomb disposal specialist during the Iraq War. Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker beat out Avatar 83 for the best picture award. Beyond that, Bigelow became the first and only woman to win the Oscar for best director.

"The most literally exciting film you will see this year. Forget the off-putting banner of another Iraq movie -- go, watch, marvel, endure and book in the palliative of a stiff drink afterwards." — Ian Nathan, Empire

The top film to take home the best picture award since 1987 is Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave. It's an important movie that pulls no punches when it comes to 19th-century slavery in America. With the film's Oscar victory, McQueen became the first black director to have helmed a best picture winner.

"Brutal yet elegant, 12 Years a Slave is a beautifully rendered punch to the gut about the most shameful chapter in American history." — Steve Davis, Austin Chronicle

Directed and co-written by Bong Joon-ho, Parasite is the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture. All at once, the film is dark, funny, chilling, and utterly unforgettable, as it explores the themes of wealth, class, and fraud.

"Parasite begins in exhilaration and ends in devastation, but the triumph of the movie is that it fully lives and breathes at every moment, even when you might find yourself struggling to exhale." —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

Following a mistaken announcement that La La Land won the Oscar for best picture, Moonlight rightfully took its place on stage to accept the Academy Award. The highest-scoring best picture winner, "Moonlight is a beacon of hope for the prospects of speaking up," says Indiewire.