The Academy Awards are not just one of the most-watched events worldwide. They are a phenomenon of the modern world. People tune in by the millions to watch Hollywood’s biggest stars walk down the red carpet, and Oscar winners present their acceptance speeches live on air. The Oscars have been taking place since 1929 and have become an integral part of pop culture, with memorable moments and the celebration of the best movies, actors, actresses, and filmmakers.
The Best Picture Award is the most prestigious, anticipated, and often the most unpredictable and debated. All the nominated movies are great, but the winner is not necessarily the most popular movie among the public audience. This award goes to the film producers and is the only category where every member is eligible to submit a nomination and vote on the final ballot. Sam Spiegel and Saul Zaentz are currently the only film producers to have won this award three times, while Steven Spielberg is the one with the most Oscar nominations. Today, we’ll share with you the best Academy Award winning movies. We listed them in no particular order, as they all deserve a special place on this list!
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#1 Forrest Gump
1994 | 2h 22m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
It’s not uncommon for people to consider Forrest Gump an all-time great film. The movie is full of unforgettable scenes and quotes that are still popular today. Forrest Gump tells the story of a slow-witted but kind-hearted guy from Alabama living through some significant American historical events, like Kennedy’s presidency, the Vietnam war, and the Watergate scandal. His only friend is Jenny Curran, with whom he has been friends since they were kids. As they go through school together, they fall in love, but her troubled past keeps her from having a real relationship with Forrest. With their incredible performance, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright significantly contributed to the movie’s success.
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44points
#2 Schindler's List
1993 | 3h 15m | Directed by Steven Spielberg
“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” Set in Krakow during World War II, Schindler’s List tells the true story of industrialist Oskar Schindler, who becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis. He gradually involves himself in their lives through bribes and favors, ultimately saving over 1000 Jews from certain death in concentration camps. Steven Spielberg was able to get permission to film inside Auschwitz but chose not to, out of respect for the victims, so the death camp scenes were filmed outside the gates on a set constructed in a mirror image of the real location on the other side. This masterpiece earned 91 wins (including 7 Academy Awards) and 49 nominations.
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40points
#3 One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
1975 | 2h 13m | Directed by Milos Forman
Randle McMurphy, accused of raping a teenager, pleads insanity and manages to get admitted to a mental institution, led by the tyrannical head nurse Mildred Ratched. The film was the second to win all five major Academy Awards following It Happened One Night in 1934, an accomplishment not repeated until 1991 with The Silence of the Lambs.
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39points
#4 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
2003 | 3h 21m | Directed by Peter Jackson
Visually breathtaking and emotionally powerful, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a moving and satisfying conclusion to a great trilogy. Its scale and grandeur made it the most highly anticipated event of 2003. With its predecessors having won several awards, it had a lot to live up to, and it did not disappoint. The final installment in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy centers on the War of the Ring, with Frodo Baggins close to completing his quest to destroy the One Ring. You’ll never miss it among movie recommendations lists!
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36points
#5 The Godfather: Part II
1974 | 3h 22m | Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
The sequel to one of the most influential films of all time is a staggering achievement and something as great as its predecessor, if not more. The movie guides the audience deeper into the world of the Corleone family. It’s both a continuation of Michael Corleone’s story and a prequel to his father’s, covering a wider span of time and cast of characters. The film received universal acclaim from critics and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1993. It also became the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, establishing itself as one of the major works in American cinema.
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35points
#6 The Silence Of The Lambs
1991 | 1h 58m | Directed by Jonathan Demme
The Silence Of The Lambs is the psychological horror thriller that continues to be celebrated by movie lovers and critics alike. It’s one of the only three movies to have won Academy Awards in all the top five categories – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. When it was released in 1991, the critics praised its tense atmosphere, intelligent story, and exceptional performances from Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, who played Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, respectively.
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34points
#7 Gone With The Wind
1939 | 3h 58m | Directed by Victor Fleming
Gone With the Wind is an epic historical romance film adapted from the novel written by Margaret Mitchell. Set in the American South, on the eve of the American Civil War, the plot follows Scarlett O’Hara, the strong-willed but manipulative daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, and her obsessive romance with Ashley Wilkes. It’s regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and became one of the twenty-five inaugural films selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
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29points
#8 Casablanca
1942 | 1h 42m | Directed by Michael Curtiz
World War II. Rick Blaine, an American expatriate in Casablanca, owns a nightclub where refugees can obtain letters that will help them escape to America. His life gets turned upside down when his ex-lover, together with her fugitive husband, asks for his help. Exceeding expectations, Casablanca went on to win three Academy Awards. In 1989, the United States Library of Congress selected the film as one of the first for preservation for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
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28points
#9 The Bridge On The River Kwai
1957 | 2h 41m | Directed by David Lean
The movie follows a group of British prisoners in Southeast Asia who are forced to build a bridge over the River Kwai by their Japanese captors, not knowing that the Allies are planning a raid through the jungle to destroy it. Not only is the movie renowned as one of the best movies ever made, but it’s also notable for a particular event. Director David Lean almost died during filming by being swept away by the river current, but it was rumored that actor Geoffrey Horne was the one to save his life.
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28points
#11 Rocky
1976 | 1h 59m | Directed by John G. Avildsen
The Rocky movies are the ultimate sleeper hit and have been a staple in worldwide pop culture for the past 40 years. They are based on an underdog trying to make it to the top of his career. The training scenes are epic and high-energy, and the dramatic boxing matches win the audience with their suspenseful outcomes. It was incredible to see Sylvester Stallone write and act this movie because it made the whole franchise much more personal.
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25points
