As a movie connoisseur, when I envision a Best Picture winner, I often picture a specific genre of film. Typically, the Academy honors its top prize to an epic, grandiose drama, frequently inspired by a true rags-to-riches narrative, occasionally weaving a spellbinding tale of cinematic enchantment. These films are often helmed by esteemed directors and boast a stellar ensemble cast, many of whom are well-known faces in the entertainment industry. It’s no wonder these types of movies instantly spring to mind when one mentions “Best Picture.
On occasion, not all Best Picture winners adhere to this conventional image. The Academy occasionally broadens its perspective and bestows the top award upon a film that defies typical expectations, belonging to a unique genre, having a minimal budget, or being helmed by and featuring newcomers unfamiliar even to ardent movie enthusiasts prior to their breakthrough. These ten films snatched the grand prize on Oscar night, bucking traditional notions of what constitutes an “Oscar film.
In the latest narrative, we find ourselves following the titular character, a mesmerizing dancer who unexpectedly marries a wealthy Russian benefactor. Yet, Anora’s storybook romance may be cut short due to her in-laws’ disapproval of the union. Immersed in poignant scenes, sharp exchanges, and an exceptional portrayal by Mikey Madison, Anora is certainly a strong contender for the Best Picture award.
| Oscars Ceremony | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 5 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 5 |
| Genre | Comedy |
Despite its high status, the movie stumbles slightly as it experiments with a fresh kind of humor, setting it apart from typical Best Picture winners. Although Anora remains hilarious, its brand of comedy takes on a unique twist compared to other comedic Best Picture recipients. Upon initial examination, Anora appears less like a Best Picture contender than its fellow nominees such as Conclave or The Brutalist.
Everything Everywhere All at Once became the unexpected hit of the 2023 Oscar season, leaving many surprised by its success. Although it’s a multiverse-hopping action film, something that wasn’t widely expected to win Oscars, it managed to captivate both critics and audiences, establishing itself as the clear front-runner long before the Academy Awards ceremony.
| Oscars Ceremony | 2023 Oscars |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 7 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 11 |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Action |
Everything Everywhere All at Once made groundbreaking history at this year’s Oscars, as it essentially swept all the top-tier categories. The film received recognition for Best Picture, Best Director, Original Screenplay, and even multiple acting awards – a rare feat for a Best Picture winner. Additionally, if there exists a scene in On the Waterfront that has been overlooked, then Everything Everywhere All at Once stands as the first Best Picture winner to include a raccoon chef named “Raccacoonie,” another significant milestone.
Initially, not many movie enthusiasts anticipated that “CODA” would stand against the overwhelming might of “The Power of the Dog” during the Oscars season. In reality, “CODA” is a heartwarming film that revolves around Ruby, who is the only one in her deaf family who can hear. As she endeavors to spread her passion for music to her deaf parents and sibling, it has since become known as a comforting movie that radiates warmth at every corner since its release.
| Oscars Ceremony | 2022 Oscars |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 3 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 3 |
| Genre | Coming-of-Age Dramedy |
Contrary to expectation, most films that win Best Picture tend to be more serious or thought-provoking rather than as warm and inviting as CODA. In an ironic twist, winning this prestigious award might have actually tarnished CODA’s image, given its unique character among typical winners. Furthermore, the fact that it originated from a streaming service is significant, marking a trend towards online streaming in 2022.
In the beloved film “Parasite,” which garnered much acclaim during the 2020 Academy Awards, we follow the struggling Kim family as they gradually insinuate themselves into the wealthy Park family’s household by deceiving them into offering jobs. Within this opulent home, they uncover the Parks’ hidden flaws while grappling with the biases inherent in class distinctions. Witty, emotional, and masterfully crafted, “Parasite” is already being hailed as a standout among Best Picture winners.
| Oscars Ceremony | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 4 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 6 |
| Genre | Thriller |
Among all the Best Picture winners, Parasite is unique because it’s the first, and currently the only, winner that was entirely in a language other than English. Alongside its Best Picture win, Parasite also claimed the Best International Feature award, paving the way for more international non-English films to contend for significant Oscar awards. During an acceptance speech, the film’s creators urged American audiences to overcome the minor obstacle of reading subtitles. It’s hoped that other remarkable non-English films will emulate Parasite‘s success and win Best Picture, eventually becoming global classics.
Over the years, some truly enchanting romantic films have walked away with the prestigious Best Picture award at the Oscars, such as Titanic, The English Patient, and Annie Hall. However, none of these classic love stories could compare to the peculiar charm that Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water brings to the table. In this unique retelling of a romantic tale, The Shape of Water unfolds the heartwarming story between a compassionate mute woman named Elisa and an extraordinary amphibious creature affectionately referred to as “The Amphibian Man.
| Oscars Ceremony | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 4 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 13 |
| Genres | Romance, Fantasy |
scarcely any films have claimed the title of Best Picture, so The Shape of Water’s surprising victory creates quite a ripple in its genre. This film, which is usually overlooked by the Oscars, captivates audiences so deeply due to Guillermo del Toro’s exquisite storytelling that even the Academy, often wary of fantasy, found it hard to turn away. With an unusual plot, The Shape of Water proves to be a moving film and a well-deserved Best Picture winner.
Generally speaking, Best Picture winners tend to have grand productions and hefty price tags. Indeed, a film like Titanic doesn’t come at a small cost. However, Moonlight bucked this trend with its minuscule budget of $1.5 million, which, when factored for inflation, sets it apart as the smallest production budget ever for a Best Picture winner.
| Oscar Ceremony | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 3 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 8 |
| Genre | Coming-of-Age Drama |
Moonlight chronicles Chiron’s life across three distinct periods: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Notably, this film, with a limited budget, made history by becoming the first to claim the Best Picture award, featuring an all-Black cast and exploring LGBT themes. Moreover, Moonlight underscores the significance of recognizing independent films, as its box office earnings significantly increased following its Best Picture win.
Unlike many other fantasy series, the Academy had a profound affection for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Notably, each film in the trilogy was nominated for Best Picture, and remarkably, the final film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, not only received the Best Picture award but also won every one of its 11 nominations, making it a historic achievement.
| Oscar Ceremony | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 11 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 11 |
| Genre | Fantasy |
The film “The Return of the King” was the first fantasy movie to win the Best Picture award, showcasing Peter Jackson’s remarkable directorial accomplishments across all three films in the series. Since then, numerous science fiction and epic fantasy franchise movies have been nominated for Best Picture, such as the first two “Avatar” films, “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two”, “Mad Max: Fury Road”, and “Black Panther”. However, none have achieved the same level of success as “The Return of the King.” In fact, it’s rare to find a film that resonates with both die-hard fantasy enthusiasts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as much as this one does.
The Academy has bestowed the title of Best Picture upon numerous historical epics and war films, including “Braveheart,” “Platoon,” and “Ben-Hur.” However, among these, “Gladiator” stands out as one of the most action-packed winners in history. This film revolves around Maximus, a reluctant gladiator forced to engage in combat within the arena of Ancient Rome. It primarily focuses on Maximus’s intense battles across multiple thrilling action sequences.
| Oscar Ceremony | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 5 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 12 |
| Genres | History, Action |
Besides the movie “Gladiator” winning the Best Picture award, its lead actor Russell Crowe also received the Best Actor accolade for an unusual, impressive performance. Interestingly, other epic films that won Best Picture, like “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Braveheart,” achieved this feat without any acting nominations. However, it was Crowe who triumphed alongside his movie, demonstrating the film’s powerful impact on cinema.
The Academy typically prefers to steer clear of horror films, but exceptions have been made with some recent contenders like “Get Out” and “The Substance,” which were even nominated for Best Picture. Some enthusiasts are optimistic that this trend might continue at the upcoming ceremony. So far, only “The Silence of the Lambs” has managed to secure the Best Picture award among all horror movies. Starring outstanding performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, it’s not hard to understand why “The Silence of the Lambs” resonated with the Academy, despite being significantly scarier than its fellow nominees.
| Oscars Ceremony | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 6 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 7 |
| Genres | Psychological Horror, Thriller |
In contrast to other movies that have won the major five awards, such as the romantic comedy “It Happened One Night” and the drama set in a mental institution “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “The Silence of the Lambs” stands out as a unique horror film. This groundbreaking movie has demonstrated its well-deserved Best Picture win, paving the way for more horror films to possibly share this distinction in future Oscar ceremonies.
In 1975, when it was revealed that “The Godfather: Part II” had won the Best Picture award, many cinephiles experienced a sense of familiarity. This was because its prequel, “The Godfather,” had received the same accolade just a few years prior. Therefore, “The Godfather: Part II” became the first sequel to win Hollywood’s most prestigious prize.
| Oscars Ceremony | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Total Oscar Wins | 6 |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 11 |
| Genre | Crime Drama |
Generally speaking, sequel films tend not to receive as many awards as their original counterparts. This could be due to factors such as audience fatigue with a franchise, a less compelling second installment, or the fact that the types of movies typically recognized for Best Picture often don’t have sequels. In fact, only two sequels have ever won the prestigious Best Picture award: The Godfather: Part II and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
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2025-05-19 03:38