The Best Picture category has always sparked debate, and not every Oscar winner is seen as deserving. In the 21st century, we have witnessed many films take home the Academy Award, from historical epics to intimate character-driven dramas, but even years later, their victories remain controversial among fans.
With the 2026 Oscars inching closer, we’ve ranked these Best Picture winners by the overall quality of the film, its larger cultural impact, whether it shaped conversations, and how much it inspires creatives. So, here is how we would place every movie that earned the prestigious award, from the most debated to the most celebrated!
25. Crash (2005)
Crash is one of the most controversial winners at the Oscars and features intersecting stories set in Los Angeles. The Paul Haggis-directed film delves into themes of racism and social tension. In the movie, several characters cross paths, and the central message is that prejudice can exist in all communities.
At the time, most favored Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger’s Brokeback Mountain to be awarded. So Crash’s victory was disappointing and raised questions about the Academy’s choices.
24. Green Book (2018)
A still from Green Book | Credits: Universal Pictures
A road-trip drama between a pianist and his bodyguard, inspired by a real-life friendship, sounds wholesome. But not everyone was happy to see Green Book win, even though it showed the struggles and bond of two very different people. Roma was the top choice for Best Picture that year, and Green Book was criticized for simplifying complex racial issues, despite its big win.
23. Birdman (2014)
A still from Birdman | Credits: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Birdman is known for its great technical style and for appearing as if it were all shot in one continuous take. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s unusual filmmaking approach, along with the sharp satire of Hollywood and an artist’s ego, made the film stand out during award season.
It didn’t just win Best Picture, but also Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, which was shot over 12 years and captures the transition of a boy into adulthood, was the public’s first choice for the award.
22. Chicago (2002)
A still from Chicago | Credits: Miramax Films
Roxie Hart is a performer who craves fame and a glamorous life. But she ends up murdering her lover after discovering that he can’t help her achieve stardom, and so begins the dazzling crime comedy, Chicago!
She develops a rivalry in jail with another star, fighting for public attention, and there’s also a lawyer in the mix, who knows how to manipulate the press. It won six Oscars, including Best Picture, and is the first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! (1968).
21. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A still from A Beautiful Mind | Credits: Universal Pictures
Russell Crowe starrer A Beautiful Mind is based on the life of John Nash, a mathematician. The biographical drama follows Nash in his early years, where he is brilliant but socially awkward, and then becomes obsessed with finding an original mathematical idea.
We see his breakthrough in game theory, his recruitment by the secret government to decode Soviet messages, and the pressures he faced. The relationship he shares with his wife is the film’s emotional core, and while it won Best Picture, the narrative has been criticized for simplifying Nash’s actual story.
20. The Artist (2011)
A still from The Artist | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
If you’re a cinephile and would love to experience a film that pays tribute to Hollywood’s silent-movie era, add The Artist to your watchlist. The story unfolds between 1927 and 1932 as we follow George Valentin, a renowned silent film star at the height of his fame, who meets Peppy, an aspiring young actress.
This leads to Peppy’s career launch, and she adapts to the major transformation in the film industry with synchronized sound, but Valentin refuses to embrace the change, and his career collapses. To some, the movie is an experiment that should’ve been treated as such, and The Pianist should have won Best Picture instead, while others see it as a lasting classic, well worth the honor!
19. CODA (2021)
A still from CODA | Credits: Apple TV+
CODA is a coming-of-age drama about family, identity, and finding your voice. Emilia Jones plays Ruby Rossi, a teenager who is the only hearing member of a Deaf family, and that’s what the title stands for: ‘Child of Deaf Adults.’
Most of her life is spent interpreting for her parents and older brother. But things begin to change when she joins her school’s choir and learns that she has a genuine talent for singing! CODA made history by winning Best Picture, becoming the first film distributed by a streaming service (Apple TV+) to do so, thanks to its warmth and actors’ moving performances.
18. The King’s Speech (2010)
A still from The King’s Speech | Credits: UK Film Council
Colin Firth stars as Prince Albert, aka Bertie, in this historical drama known as The King’s Speech. He unexpectedly becomes king after his older brother abdicates, and throughout the movie, we see Bertie’s struggle with stammering.
But with the help of an expert, he confronts all the fears and problems behind his speech impediment, and ascends the throne as King George VI. During awards season, the film was a major success, yet it’s sometimes called ‘Oscar-bait’ despite all the accolades.
17. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
A still from Million Dollar Baby | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
Million Dollar Baby is directed by Clint Eastwood, and it revolves around a hardened boxing trainer named Frankie Dunn, played by the actor-filmmaker himself. He keeps people at a distance, except his loyal friend, and follows a quiet routine.
But all of that is disrupted when Hilary Swank’s Maggie walks in with the dream of becoming a professional boxer. Maggie and Frankie form a father-daughter-like bond, as he becomes her mentor, and she rises through the ranks as a boxer. Million Dollar Baby won four Oscars, despite controversies, and to this day, it remains one of the most devastating Best Picture winners!
16. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire follows Jamal Malik, who grows up in the city slums of India and works as a chai server at a call center. He becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
People grow suspicious of how he could answer each question, and as the film unfolds, his flashbacks reveal how every level in the show connects to a moment from his life. While some opposed the way it portrayed India, others found it to be the most satisfying Best Picture win.
15. Argo (2012)
A still from Argo | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
Argo tells the story of the Iran hostage crisis, and how CIA operative Tony Mendez rescued six American diplomats with an unusual plan. He posed as a Hollywood film producer and pretended to scout locations for a fake sci-fi film titled Argo. While the movie takes its liberties and deviates a bit from the true story, it is an excellent thriller that turns a real-life mission with high stakes into entertaining cinema!
14. The Hurt Locker (2009)
A still from The Hurt Locker | Credits: Summit Entertainment
For the ones who love an intense war drama, tune in and watch Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker. The movie explores the psychological toll that the Iraq War took on soldiers, and in today’s war-infested environment, it’s become more relevant than ever.
Bigelow doesn’t opt for a traditional war narrative, but the daily tensions and nerve-racking battles people face due to time and uncertainty. It features Marvel stars like Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie in the lead, with Bigelow becoming the first woman to ever win a directing award!
13. The Shape of Water (2017)
A still from The Shape of Water | Credits: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Guillermo del Toro continues his streak of dark romance and fantasy with The Shape of Water. We follow Sally Hawkins, a mute and lonely cleaner who bonds with a mysterious amphibious creature who is ill-treated at a secret government facility. The movie essentially celebrates outsiders who struggle to be understood through its imaginative storytelling, and its dreamlike tone is what makes it the most distinctive Best Picture winner!
12. Spotlight (2015)
A still from Spotlight | Credits: Open Road Films
Spotlight makes you realize the importance of accountability and investigative journalism, making it one of the most powerful and socially relevant movies to have won an Oscar. It features the true story of how The Boston Globe reporters exposed the Catholic Church and its systematic cover-ups! Unlike many other films in the genre, it avoids heroism and drama, only focusing on the methodical process of journalism.
11. Anora (2024)
A still from Anora | Credits: Neon
Anora is a dark, funny, and romantic drama starring Mikey Madison. She plays a young s*x worker whose life takes a dramatic turn when her transactional relationship with an oligarch’s son turns into something far more complicated. Essentially, the movie explores themes of class and power with a mix of chaotic energy, keeping its indie film spirit alive! Viewers usually consider Anora to be an unconventional Best Picture winner.
10. Gladiator (2000)
Gladiator is about Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe. He’s a respected Roman general who is betrayed after the emperor’s death. After being sentenced to death, Maximus somehow escapes, only to find his life has been destroyed by Commodus.
Then, Gladiator becomes a story of vengeance and honor, culminating in an epic final confrontation. The film was a commercial and critical success, but sadly, its second installment didn’t live up to the name.
9. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
A still from Everything Everywhere All at Once | Credits: A24
Among A24’s many gems is Everything Everywhere All at Once, which swept the Oscars clean and made history by becoming the first sci-fi film to win Best Picture! The movie brings us multiversal chaos with an intimate family story. The feature spans action, comedy, and drama, and features a heartfelt narrative about a struggling Chinese-American immigrant who runs a laundromat.
8. Nomadland (2020)
A still from Nomadland | Credits: Searchlight Pictures
Before Chloé Zhao received all the praise in the world for Hamnet, she had proved her mettle before with Nomadland. The film stars Frances McDormand as Fern, who loses her family and sets out across the American West in a van, searching for seasonal work. It’s as meditative and humanistic a story as could be, and is certainly one of the most introspective movies of all time.
7. The Departed (2006)
A still from The Departed | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
The Departed is a gripping crime thriller with an all-star cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. It’s directed by none other than the legendary Martin Scorsese, who centers on the story of two men living double lives.
One is an undercover agent within the mob, and the other is secretly working for the mob while serving in the police force. The tensions rise as the two escalate towards the truth, leading to a violent confrontation!
6. No Country For Old Men (2007)
A still from No Country for Old Men | Credits: Miramax Films
The Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a bleak western thriller with Josh Brolin as a man who stumbles upon loads of cash after a drug deal goes wrong. But the highlight of the movie is Javier Bardem, playing a psychopath who violently hunts down Brolin’s character. More than crime, the film is about existential dread, the evils of the world, and how justice is increasingly failing in this violent world.
5. Moonlight (2016)
One of the most tender and deeply personal coming-of-age dramas you will ever watch is Moonlight. It tells the story of a young Black man who is struggling to understand his identity and s*xuality, while he grows up in a rough neighborhood.
As the three chapters unfold, we see the different stages of the protagonist’s life. Moonlight’s Best Picture announcement was a historical mix-up moment because they declared La La Land the winner at first, and then it was corrected to Barry Jenkins’ movie!
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
A still from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Credits: New Line Cinema
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was certainly a groundbreaking conclusion to the fantasy trilogy that viewers loved endlessly! The storyline continued with Frodo and his companion Sam journeying to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. They build towards a beautiful and spectacular climax, and The Return of the King became the most celebrated film of its era with 11 Oscar wins!
3. Oppenheimer (2023)
A still from Oppenheimer | Credits: Universal Pictures
Oppenheimer chronicles the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who played a central role in the creation of the atomic bomb. With Cillian Murphy in the lead, the Christopher Nolan movie also features Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., and more renowned actors.
In the film, we see his rise from a troubled physicist to the leader of the Manhattan Project. It all builds to the Trinity test, which is the first successful detonation of an atomic bomb, marking a turning point in our history. With its grand scale and philosophical depth, Oppenheimer was destined to win Best Picture!
2. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
A still from 12 Years a Slave | Credits: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Steve McQueen-directed harrowing historical drama is based on the true story of Solomon Northup. It’s adapted from his memoir, and the film delivers an unflinching portrayal of what slavery looked like! 12 Years a Slave is about the time he spends as a slave to plantation owners, but he refuses to lose hope. The movie is among the most important and impactful Best Picture winners of this century so far!
1. Parasite (2019)
A still from Parasite | Credits: CJ Entertainment
Parasite frequently tops the ‘best movies of all time’ or ‘21st century,’ and more such lists. The dark comedy satire explores the divide between wealth through the struggles of the Kim family. They do low-paying jobs, live by scraps, but somehow trick a wealthy family into hiring them all.
The arrangement is almost comedic at first, but no one’s truly ready for how the film ends! When Parasite won Best Picture, it made history as the first non-English-language film to win this award!
Here’s an overview of the ranking:
RankTitleWhere to Watch(USA)Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)25Crash (2005)Fubo (stream)85% 24Green Book (2018)Fubo (stream)77% 23Birdman (2014)Hulu (stream)91% 22Chicago (2002)Paramount+ (stream)87% 21A Beautiful Mind (2001)Prime Video (rent and buy)74% 20The Artist (2011)Roku and Hoopla (stream)95% 19CODA (2021)Apple TV+ (stream)94% 18The King’s Speech (2010)Kanopy (stream)94% 17Million Dollar Baby (2004)Roku (stream)90% 16Slumdog Millionaire (2008)Apple TV+ (rent and buy)92% 15Argo (2012)Peacock (stream)96% 14The Hurt Locker (2009)Fubo and Netflix (stream)96% 13The Shape of Water (2017)HBO Max (stream)92% 12Spotlight (2015)Peacock (stream)97% 11Anora (2024)Hulu (stream)93% 10Gladiator (2000)Fubo (stream)80% 9Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)HBO Max (stream)93% 8Nomadland (2020)Prime Video (rent and buy)93% 7The Departed (2006)AMC+ and Philo (stream)91% 6No Country for Old Men (2007)Fubo (stream)93% 5Moonlight (2016)HBO Max (stream)98% 4The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)HBO Max (stream)94% 3Oppenheimer (2023)Prime Video (rent and buy)93% 212 Years a Slave (2013)Hulu (stream)95% 1Parasite (2019)Kanopy (stream)99%
These winners show the evolving taste of the film industry and viewers. Now, whether these movies have truly earned the award is up for debate, but they’ve still etched their names in cinema’s vast history.
Has a sequel ever won the Best Picture Oscar?
Yes, in the past, sequels have won Best Picture. Two prime examples of the same are The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Godfather Part II.
How many films are nominated each year for the Best Picture award?
The Academy is allowed to nominate up to 10 films for Best Picture every year. The number of nominees usually varies, ranging between five and ten, because it depends on the voting results.
Does the Academy favor specific genres for the Best Picture category?
Dramas and historical films are usually favored by the Academy because they are seen as ‘serious’ cinema. Meanwhile, the overlooked genres include: horror, science fiction, and superhero films.
So, out of all these titles, which ones do you think are the most and least deserving of the Best Picture Oscar?
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