Although the Academy Awards often ignite intense discussions, there are several Best Picture winners that remain uncontested. The Oscars held their inaugural ceremony in 1929, and the Best Picture category (originally known as Outstanding Picture) has been a staple of the event ever since. Given its objective to recognize the best film of the year, it is naturally contentious.
The Oscars have a reputation for occasionally missing the mark, resulting in Best Picture winners that have not endured over time. Many major award shows tend to overlook genre films, leading to the exclusion of some of the finest movies each year. This has resulted in some peculiar winners, particularly during decades rich in quality genre films.
On the other hand, the Oscars have also made commendable choices, with some of the most celebrated films in history justifying their numerous accolades. The title of “Best Picture” is entirely subjective; however, certain winners were undeniably deserving in their respective years. Not only did they merit the award, but they faced minimal competition on their journey to Oscar success.
Parasite (2019)
Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite was a groundbreaking film in 2019, and it paved the way for foreign films at the Oscars. This unsettling black comedy thriller received six nominations and won four, including Best Director. Not only was it the first Korean film to win an Oscar, but it was also the first foreign language film to ever win Best Picture.
Parasite faced formidable competition that year, including legitimate Best Picture contenders like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917. However, its victory remains indisputable due to the depth of its narrative and its significance to global cinema as a whole. Legacy plays a crucial role in Oscar discussions, and Parasite‘s legacy continues to evolve.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
Blockbuster genre films like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King typically do not receive consideration for major awards, yet Peter Jackson’s epic was exceptional. This trilogy-concluding film wrapped up Frodo’s remarkable journey with the finest film of the series and achieved a perfect score of 11 for 11 at the Oscars.
While there were other outstanding films nominated for Best Picture, such as Lost in Translation, there was no denying The Return of the King. In many respects, it epitomized Hollywood blockbuster cinema, making it fitting that it won the industry’s highest accolade. More than two decades later, its brilliance remains intact.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Steven Spielberg had already established a remarkable career by the time he directed Schindler’s List, but this war drama showcased his finest work. This powerful portrayal of redemption, heroism, and hope was meticulously crafted to win awards, resulting in seven wins out of its twelve nominations.
Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was not nominated for Best Picture.
The only contender that could have rivaled Schindler’s List was Philadelphia, but Tom Hanks’ film did not receive a nomination for Best Picture that year. Nevertheless, the significance and impact of this Holocaust film made it an obvious choice for the highest honor, and it rightfully earned its win. As its relevance continues today, its victory has only gained strength.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
The horror genre has historically been overlooked by major award ceremonies, yet The Silence of the Lambs straddled traditional horror and thriller elements. However, Jonathan Demme’s unsettling classic resonated with Academy voters, earning seven Oscar nominations. Stars Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster claimed major acting awards among others.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast made a strong case for winning Best Picture, but ultimately, Academy voters favored this live-action film. In hindsight, this decision proved correct asThe Silence of the Lambs opened doors for more unconventional films to be recognized. Additionally, it has been embraced as an all-time classic within horror and thriller genres.
The Godfather (1972)
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Generally regarded as one of
the greatest films ever made,
The Godfather was perhaps
the most obvious choice for Best Picture
in Academy Awards history.
The Frances Ford Coppola film not only achieved blockbuster status but also garnered universal acclaim,
resulting in ten nominations and three wins.
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Some great films were also nominated,
but
The Godfather was completely untouchable
in
the Best Picture category.
Its legacy continues to grow more than fifty years later,
and it remains by far
the most influential film within
the gangster genre.
The Oscars rarely get it right,
but awarding
The Godfather was undeniably
the only choice.
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Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
Arguably regarded as
the best historical epic ever,
Lawrence of Arabia represented
the pinnacle of Hollywood’s Golden Age just before things took a downturn.
David Lean’s nearly four-hour masterpiece told a character-driven story on an enormous scale,
prompting ten nominations from Academy voters.
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The thirty-fifth Academy Awards featured numerous classic films,
with an especially competitive Best Picture category.
However,
Lawrence of Arabia triumphed over titles like
To Kill a Mockingbird , rightly so.
The film’s influence solidified its legacy,
while its grandeur made
Lawrence of Arabia emblematic
of Hollywood’s golden age.
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Ben-Hur (1959)
Movie productions expanded dramatically during
the late fifties and early sixties,
with
Ben-Hur
serving as one prime example.
This biblical epic blended action and adventure with timeless religious narratives,
earning twelve nominations on its way to achieving
a then-record eleven total wins.
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Unlike many other indisputable wins,
Ben-Hur
faced little competition during
the sixtieth Academy Awards ceremony.
While history has revealed that
Some Like It Hot
is a defining cinematic gem from that era,
it received no recognition from Oscar voters.
Nonetheless,
Ben-Hur’s Best Picture win was flawless because it illustrated how far cinema had advanced over just a few decades..
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On The Waterfront (1954)
Spearheaded by Marlon Brando’s authentic acting style,
there emerged a counter-reaction against traditional Hollywood filmmaking during
the mid-fifties.
On The Waterfront
transformed its gritty narrative about moral ambiguity and violence into ten Academy Award nominations,
winning eight.
Notably,
<strong three stars from this movie received nominations for Best Supporting Actor..
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By exposing cracks within idyllic fifties America,
On The Waterfront
rightfully earned its Best Picture win over more optimistic contenders.
While many aspects were misjudged at
the twenty-seventh Academy Awards,
films like
Sabrina
and
Rear Window
were overlooked entirely regarding Best Picture consideration.
However,
Elia Kazan’s classic would likely have triumphed over those mentioned gems.
Casablanca (1942)
The early years of Academy Awards history saw many poor choices made regarding Best Picture selections;
however,
Casablanca
was not among them.
With its sweeping narrative and epic romantic storyline,
this Humphrey Bogart vehicle represented
< Old Hollywood at its finest..
Its victory as Best Picture came alongside two additional awards.
Twelve films contended for Best Picture at this sixteenth edition;
nevertheless,
none matched
C Casablanca’s influence or enduring popularity..
Given that
< it remains one of cinema’s most recognizable works,,
it is clear that Academy voters made an astute decision.
It Happened One Night (1934)
It Happened One Night
was one among earliest truly great films to receive
Best Picture honors,
signifying a pivotal shift in cinematic storytelling.
This film’s overt sexuality and raunchy humor shocked audiences while remaining ahead of its time;
its legacy has grown significantly since then.
however, It Happened One Night remains one among most deserving
Academy Award winners throughout history. …
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