No One Asked Me to, But I Watched All 95 Best Picture Winners — Here’s My Ranking

Becoming an Oscars obsessive didn’t happen overnight. When I was a child, my mother loved watching the Oscars, and some of my earliest memories are of her trying to avoid spoilers for the show.

“Turn down the volume!” she’d yell from the kitchen when the news came on in the lounge room — this was before they switched to broadcasting the show live, of course.

I’d always try to stay up to watch the show, but would eventually get bored and head off to bed. That is, until Titanic came out. I was 11, Titanic was everything, and finally, I got it — the Oscars were the best day of the year. I was hooked.

From there, my love for the Oscars has only grown. I began hosting my yearly Oscar party in 2016. In 2021, I upped the ante and decided to partake in the Oscars Death Race, in which you watch every nominee before the ceremony.

This year, I decided to up the ante again, and challenged myself to watch Oscars Best Picture winner from 1929 to 2023. Then, I decided I would write about it, without thinking about the gargantuan task I was signing myself up for. By the time I realised, I was in far too deep, and the rest is history!

Before we get started…

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are You Doing This?

Look, that’s a great question, and one that I asked myself many times along the way! I love a good challenge, I love the Oscars, and this felt like a good incentive to branch out of my cinematic comfort zone. Now that I’ve seen all the Best Picture winners, I do feel a great sense of accomplishment, but yes, at times it was a real slog and I did question whether it was worth it.

How Are You Ranking Them?

Being completely honest, I rank mostly on vibes. I’m not a film critic, but I do love movies — it’s why I got into media and why I write about entertainment for a living. But I’m not going to claim that this is an objectively correct ranking based on the vast scope of technical elements that go into making a film good, bad, or anything in between.

Instead, my ranking system is pretty simplistic: how much I enjoyed it and how good I think it is, for whatever reason stands out to me. Admittedly, this is a very subjective “system”, so I’ve also noted whether I’d seen the film before embarking on this journey. I did this because there are some films in my ranking that would be sitting higher (or lower), if I had watched them for the first time in the last few months. Consider this my disclaimer!

What’s Been the Biggest Surprise?

Overall, I think the biggest surprise was how many films from the 1940s ended up ranking so highly (spoilers, I guess). That decade really did cinema well, and I was surprised by how many of the stories of that era held up.

What About Cancel Culture?

It’s a valid question! Look, the unfortunate reality is that this list is essentially a land field full of people whose behaviour ranges from questionable to predatory and felonious, and stories that run the gamut from dated, to questionable, to outright racist. Some of it is a product of the time, some of it is inexcusable.

I decided pretty early on that I would have to try to separate the art from the artists in order to complete this ranking, but in saying that, it’s sometimes easier said than done, and equally, sometimes easier done than you’d think. But more on that later.

Without further ado…

Every Best Picture Winner Ranked From Worst to Best

95. Cimarron (1931)

Directed by: Wesley Ruggles
Written by: Howard Estabrook, with contributions from Louis Sarecky (uncredited), based on the novel by Edna Ferber
Starring: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Estelle Taylor
Synopsis: A newspaper editor settles in an Oklahoma boom town with his reluctant wife at the end of the nineteenth century.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Writing — Adaptation, Best Art Direction
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? There’s no way
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Cimarron:

I can’t stress this enough — this is garbage. Aside from the fact that it’s overtly racist and deeply boring, it also looks and sounds terrible. There’s so much background noise that you have to strain to hear the dialogue, and when you do hear it, it’s not worth it! Skip!

94. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Directed by: Michael Anderson and John Farrow (Spanish sequences, uncredited)
Written by: James Poe, John Farrow and S.J. Perelman, based on the book by Jules Verne
Starring: David Niven, Cantinflas, Finlay Currie
Synopsis: A Victorian Englishman bets that with the new steamships and railways he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Anderson), Best Screenplay – Adapted, Best Cinematography – Colour
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Absolutely not
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Around the World in 80 Days:

For people who had only 80 days to make it around the world, they sure didn’t seem like they were in much of a rush?! This movie is three hours long and is essentially like one of those slow TV travelogues, but with interludes where they’ll stop to have a 10 minute dance sequence or a 15 minute bull fighting sequence.

The way it’s filmed will tell you that it’s packed to the brim with celebrity cameos, but the appeal of that is completely lost when you’re bored and also don’t care about any of them.

93. Cavalcade (1933)

Directed by: Frank Lloyd
Written by: Reginald Berkeley, based on the play by Noël Coward (uncredited)
Starring: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Una O’Connor
Synopsis: A portrayal of the triumphs and tragedies of two English families, the upper-crust Marryots and the working-class Bridgeses, from 1899 to 1933.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Frank Lloyd), Best Art Direction
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No, but I might show someone the Titanic scene.
Where to watch: Currently unavailable to stream.
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Cavalcade:

Okay, most of this film is an absolute slog to get through, but there’s one sequence in here that’s so diabolical I’ll be thinking about it for months.

Spoilers, here’s what happens: They tell you it’s April 14, 1912, and we see a newlywed couple on the deck of a ship. They’re celebrating their honeymoon, and talking about their plans for the future, and how they’ve got the rest of their lives ahead of them. This goes on (for far too long), and then they decide to head back inside. This is when the camera zooms in on the ship’s life ring — they are, of course, on the ill-fated Titanic, and it’s played like a big reveal? Even though we already know that they’re on a ship that looks exactly like the Titanic, and also that it’s the date that the Titanic sank?

It’s very strange, but it made me think about how bizarre it would be if a film did a modern-day equivalent of this. Picture this: a couple sitting in an airport, about to go on their honeymoon, having this same conversation about what the future has in store for them. Only, surprise! The camera zooms in on their tickets. They’re about to get on MH370. Would that not be bizarre? Anyway. Maybe humour was different in 1933?

92. Crash (2004)

Directed by: Paul Haggis
Written by: Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Thandiwe Newton
Synopsis: Los Angeles citizens with vastly separate lives collide in interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? To show someone else how bad it is? Maybe!
Where to watch: Currently unavailable to stream.
Trailer:

Thoughts on Crash:

I watched this back in the day specifically because Oprah Winfrey spoke so highly of it on her show, which I must have seen while skipping uni one day (very likely thing for me to do at that point). I remember thinking it was fine, and being surprised when it won Best Picture, and I remember there being a ton of backlash that Brokeback Mountain didn’t win.

Rewatching it… I don’t even know where to begin. This film is bad. It’s so bad. Comically bad. I really can’t stress enough how much it feels like you’re watching a school play, or this TikTok parody of a church youth group anti-vaping production.

The film tries to solve racism by first acting as though the audience is coming into the film thinking that we live in a post-racist society. We’re supposed to be shocked and sickened to learn that people are actually still being racist. But the film does this by making every single character in this incredibly large cast be outwardly, obnoxiously racist, in every single scene. It’s like Love, Actually but everyone is being racist. It’s Racism, Actually. It feels like the writers wrote it as a joke to see how many racist stereotypes they could fit into the film (kind of like the plot of American Fiction, actually).

All in all, this is indeed a car crash. At the same time, it would make for a great drinking game if you’re in the mood to go to hospital for alcohol poisoning. Watch at your own peril!

91. Forrest Gump (1994)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Written by: Eric Roth, based on the novel by Winston Groom
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
Synopsis: The history of the United States from the 1950s to the ’70s unfolds from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, who yearns to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), Best Actor (Tom Hanks), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly… I could see myself agreeing to rewatch this with someone who loves it, but with the understanding that I would be there to fight. I would be a hater from start to finish, and my companion could try to defend it.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Forrest Gump:

Okay, okay. We’ve arrived at my first potentially controversial ranking (there will be more to come). Look, I know this film is beloved by millennials and their parents, but I hated it! Maybe if I’d watched it as a child I would feel differently, but I can’t change that now.

My issue with Forrest Gump is mostly in its politics. It’s a conservative Boomer’s dream film, in which the lessons are to do as you’re told, don’t ask questions, and surrender to the powers that be. If you follow the rules, you’ll be rewarded — the American Dream will be yours for the taking! If you don’t, you’ll be abused, you’ll be mentally ill, struggle with addiction and eventually, you’ll get AIDS.

Aside from that, I also just feel like if someone started telling me their life story at a bus stop, I would be so mad.

90. Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Directed by: Bruce Beresford
Written by: Alfred Uhry
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd
Synopsis: An old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actress (Jessica Tandy), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Makeup
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Streaming on SBS on Demand
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Driving Miss Daisy:

It’s not just that Driving Miss Daisy has aged poorly — although it certainly hasn’t aged well — but the fact that this won Best Picture when Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing wasn’t even nominated? Maybe Academy members don’t deserve rights, just saying!

89. Tom Jones! (1963)

Directed by: Tony Richardson
Written by: John Osborne, based on the novel by Henry Fielding
Starring: Albert Finney, Susannah York, George Devine
Synopsis: The romantic and chivalrous adventures of adopted bastard Tom Jones in 18th-century England.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Tony Richardson), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Music, Score – Substantially Original
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Tom Jones!:

To be honest, I found this film deeply annoying. There’s also a moment when Tom breaks his arm and faints, and as someone who once shattered her elbow into seven pieces on the way into a concert and attended the entire thing before going to the hospital? I’m sorry, I don’t want to be judgemental, but it gave me the ick!!!

88. Unforgiven (1992)

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Written by: David Webb Peoples
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
Synopsis: Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The “Schofield Kid.”
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman), Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Definitely not
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Unforgiven:

Look, westerns aren’t really my thing, so this was never going to rank highly on my list, but the premise of this film is basically “the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” and it’s just so American (derogatory). Sorry!

87. The Broadway Melody (1929)

Directed by: Harry Beaumont
Written by: Story by Edmund Goulding, with dialogue by Norman Houston and
James Gleason, and titles on the silent version by Earl Baldwin (uncredited)
Starring: Bessie Love, Anita Page, Charles King
Synopsis: A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.
Oscars Won: Best Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Pass
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Broadway Melody:

You know that feeling you get when you see old clips from the Olympics and you can’t believe that someone doing a little jump is the same sport as the physics-defying moves that Simone Biles can do?

This is kind of like that, in that when I was watching them do their scrappy little numbers I was like “damn, the girls from Dance Moms would’ve eaten them up, huh”.

It’s also basically two hours of women screaming about men, so… pass!

86. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Directed by: Ron Howard
Written by: Akiva Goldsman, based on the book by Sylvia Nasar
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly
Synopsis: A mathematical genius, John Nash made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a harrowing journey of self-discovery.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Ron Howard), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published,
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe out of spite to point out how bad Russell Crowe is in it?
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer:

Thoughts on A Beautiful Mind:

The success of this film is so BAFFLING to me because it is bad. I’m struggling to think of any actor who would have been more miscast as a mathematical genius than Russell Crowe… maybe Mark Wahlberg? And I don’t say that to be a hater! I failed maths, too, it’s not for everyone! But ol’ Russ just gives off the energy of someone who solves all his problems with his fists, so the fact that he was nominated for an Oscar for this film?! Well… it’s more confusing to me than maths is!

Anyway, Jennifer Connelly is great, the movie is bad.

85. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Directed by: William Dieterle
Written by: Screenplay by Norman Reilly Raine, Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg, based on Zola and His Time by Matthew Josephson
Starring: Paul Muni, Gale Sondergaard, Joseph Schildkraut
Synopsis: The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Joseph Schildkraut), Best Writing — Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Currently unavailable to stream
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Life of Emile Zola:

Hated this, sorry! I wish I’d rewatched Zola (2020) instead. While I’m here, I may as well point out that the poster is catfishing the audience, because the main character literally does not look like that. At all!!!

84. Hamlet (1948)

Directed by: Laurence Olivier
Written by: William Shakespeare, adapted for the screen by Laurence Olivier (uncredited)
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, John Laurie
Synopsis: Prince Hamlet struggles over whether or not he should kill his uncle, whom he suspects has murdered his father, the former king
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actor (Laurence Olivier), Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Black and White, Best Costume Design — Black and White
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Methinks not
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Hamlet:

Have you ever watched two-and-a-half hours of Hamlet with COVID? I wouldn’t recommend it, but I was on a deadline, so I persevered!

Here’s the thing. I never studied Hamlet in school, and I’ve never seen any other adaptation of it. In fact, the fullest extent of my knowledge of Hamlet going into this was probably that one episode of Daria where Daria tells Kevin that he might like Hamlet because it “has a skull in it“.

Anyway. Was it good? I can’t really say. I’m glad it’s over though! Sorry!

83. Patton (1970)

Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
Written by: Story and screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, based on factual material from Ladislas Farago (Patton: Ordeal and Triumph) and Omar N. Bradley (A Soldier’s Story)
Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young
Synopsis: The World War II phase of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Franklin J. Schaffner), Best Actor (George C. Scott, although he refused the award), Best Writing — Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced, Best Sound, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? I wish I could unwatch this, so no
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Patton:

You’re going to figure this out sooner or later, so I may as well be upfront about it — I kind of hate war movies, in general. I’ve seen a decent amount, mostly because the Academy loves them, and I try to keep an open mind, but sometimes a genre just isn’t for you, and that’s okay!

My main issue with Patton is that Patton himself sucks. He’s awful, and I hated him! On the other hand, the cinematography and production design was great, so there’s that. I will never watch this again.

82. How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Directed by: John Ford
Written by: Philip Dunne, based on the novel by Richard Llewellyn
Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O’Hara, Anna Lee
Synopsis: At the turn of the century in a Welsh mining village, the Morgans — he stern, she gentle — raise coal-mining sons and hope their youngest will find a better life.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (John Ford), Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp), Best Cinematography — Black and White, Best Art Direction — Interior Decoration — Black and White
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Highly unlikely, but I do own it on Apple TV now because it wasn’t available to rent, so… never say never, I suppose!
Where to watch: Purchase on Apple TV
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on How Green Was My Valley:

Look, maybe this is a spectacular technical achievement of filmmaking, but this was so boring to me personally.

Also — and I’m definitely not the first person to make this joke — the film is in black and white, so I guess I’ll never know just how green that valley was!

81. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

Directed by: Frank Lloyd
Written by: Screenplay by Talbot Jennings, Jules Furthman and Carey Wilson, based on the book by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, with Margaret Booth and John Farrow (uncredited)
Starring: Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone
Synopsis: First mate Fletcher Christian leads a revolt against his sadistic commander, Captain Bligh, in this classic seafaring adventure, based on the real-life 1789 mutiny.
Oscars Won: Best Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Mutiny on the Bounty:

Maybe this film just isn’t for me, but I just couldn’t connect with this. The captain is so awful that it’s kind of like… you know that clip from Dance Moms where Abby Lee Miller is yelling at JoJo Siwa, and then when JoJo starts crying, Abby gets even more mad at her and yells at her about that, and JoJo replies, “Well if you yell at me, I’m gonna cry”?

This whole movie was kind of like that, in that, yeah, if you abuse all the workers on the ship, you’re gonna have a mutiny! I just don’t think that’s very surprising, personally. But I do acknowledge that it’s weird that I’ve mentioned Dance Moms twice in this article.

80. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Directed by: Robert Z. Leonard
Written by:William Anthony McGuire
Starring: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Luise Rainer
Synopsis: The ups and downs of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., famed producer of extravagant stage revues, are portrayed.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actress (Luise Rainer), Best Dance Direction
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? I’d watch the “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” sequence again, but not the rest.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Great Ziegfeld:

This three-hour endurance test of a film feels a bit like a prank at some points, because how did they manage to make a film about spectacular Broadway musicals this boring?! It feels like it would have been more work to make it this lifeless and dull.

With that being said, the “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” number is great, and the set and stage production of it is truly spectacular. That part is worth a watch (just skip the rest).

79. Out of Africa (1985)

Directed by: Sydney Pollack
Written by: Screenplay by Kurt Luedtke and David Rayfiel (uncredited), based on Out of Africa and other writings by Karen Blixen, as well as Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Story Teller by Judith Thurman and Silence Will Speak by Errol Trzebinski
Starring: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer
Synopsis: In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Sydney Pollack), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Music — Original Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe on mute in the background?
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Out of Africa:

Great views, beautiful views, but my God, when they talk about boring Oscar biopics, Out of Africa is Exhibit A.

78. Chariots of Fire (1981)

Directed by: Hugh Hudson
Written by: Colin Welland
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell
Synopsis: Two British track athletes, one a determined Jew and the other a devout Christian, are driven to win in the 1924 Olympics as they wrestle with issues of pride and conscience.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Writing — Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Best Costume Design, Best Music — Original Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Chariots of Fire:

Vangelis had absolutely no business going this hard on a score for a movie this forgettable and dull?! The only logical conclusion is that the song tricked Academy members into thinking Chariots of Fire was a more interesting film than it actually is??

77. Braveheart (1995)

Directed by: Mel Gibson
Written by: Randall Wallace
Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
Synopsis: Scottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Mel Gibson), Best Cinematography, Best Effects.  — Sound Effects Editing, Best Makeup
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Please be serious
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer:

Thoughts on Braveheart:

Hated this, sorry! With that being said, I enjoyed the score a lot, mostly because parts of it it are very similar to Titanic‘s score. James Horner really said “copy/paste” from Braveheart to Titanic, and he won an Oscar for it! Love that for him.

76. Dances With Wolves (1990)

Directed by: Kevin Costner
Written by: Michael Blake
Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene
Synopsis: Lieutenant John Dunbar, assigned to a remote western Civil War outpost, finds himself engaging with a neighbouring Sioux settlement, causing him to question his own purpose.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Kevin Costner), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Original Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Definitely not
Where to watch: Currently unavailable to stream
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Dances With Wolves:

I watched this on Christmas day, and the only version I could find was Kevin Costner’s four-hour Director’s Cut. I have suffered for this project of mine! It wasn’t my worst Christmas, though. One time I was violently ill with food poisoning all day, so I can confidently say this: Dances With Wolves — It’s better than food poisoning.

75. Going My Way (1944)

Directed by: Leo McCarey
Written by: Screenplay by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, with story by Leo McCarey and treatment by Lloyd C. Douglas (uncredited)
Starring: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh
Synopsis: When young Father O’Malley arrives at St. Dominic’s, old Father Fitzgibbon doesn’t think much of the church’s newest member.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Leo McCarey), Best Actor (Bing Crosby), Best Supporting Actor (Barry Fitzgerald), Best Writing — Original Story, Best Writing — Screenplay, Best Music — Original Song (“Swinging on a Star”)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Going My Way:

I’m sure this is very good if you’re a fan of Bing Crosby… but I’m not, and I found it dull.

74. The English Patient (1996)

Directed by: Anthony Minghella
Written by: Anthony Minghella, based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe
Synopsis: At the close of World War II, a young nurse tends to a badly-burned plane crash victim. His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Anthony Minghella), Best Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Original Dramatic Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Eh… no
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The English Patient:

The English Patient more like the English test of my patience am I right ha ha ha. (It’s long!)

73. My Fair Lady (1964)

Directed by: George Cukor
Written by: Alan Jay Lerner, based on the play by George Bernard Shaw
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway
Synopsis: In 1910s London, snobbish phonetics professor Henry Higgins agrees to a wager that he can make crude flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, presentable in high society.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (George Cukor), Best Actor (Rex Harrison), Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Colour, Best Costume Design — Colour, Best Sound, Best Music — Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer:

Thoughts on My Fair Lady:

You know when Netflix released the 2022 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and there was that viral tweet that said Dakota Johnson was miscast because she “has the face of someone who knows what an iPhone is”? That’s how I felt about Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady.

Look at that bone structure! I’m supposed to believe she’s poor?! In what world? Sorry, I’m not buying it. Audrey Hepburn just has Rich Face — the face of of someone who summers abroad and could offer great advice on where to take your next ski vacation if you were specifically trying to avoid the middle class.

72. Green Book (2018)

Directed by: Peter Farrelly
Written by: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini
Synopsis: A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), Best Original Screenplay
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Green Book:

Congrats to Green Book for making it this high up the list, to be honest! A real tribute to how much I disliked some of the other Best Picture winners, because this is still one of the more baffling winners of the last decade.

I think Spike Lee put it best on the red carpet when he said that it “wasn’t [his] cup of tea“.

71. A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Written by: Robert Bolt
Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw
Synopsis: The story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Fred Zinnemann), Best Actor (Paul Scofield), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Costume Design — Colour
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on A Man for All Seasons:

The first half of this is a real snooze, to be honest, but if you can make it through that, it picks up in the second half and delivers in the end!

70. Platoon (1986)

Directed by: Oliver Stone
Written by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe
Synopsis: Chris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and the other evil. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Oliver Stone), Best Sound, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Nah
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Platoon:

It’s not so much that this is bad, but more that this is the kind of war film that sends my brain into screensaver mode, so I didn’t get much out of it.

69. Gandhi (1982)

Directed by: Richard Attenborough
Written by: John Briley
Starring: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi
Synopsis: The life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Richard Attenborough), Best Actor (Ben Kingsley), Best Writing — Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Unlikely
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Gandhi:

Gandhi is the kind of biopic that buffs the rough edges (in this case, racism and misogyny) of the story down until you’re left with nothing but a shiny film about a true hero. It’s fine for what it is, but personally I think it would have been more interesting to see the film try to navigate a more complete depiction of Gandhi and his legacy.

68. Grand Hotel (1932)

Directed by: Edmund Goulding
Written by: Vicki Baum, based on the play by William A. Drake, with uncredited contributions to the adaptation by Béla Balázs, William A. Drake and Edgar Allan Woolf
Starring: Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford
Synopsis: A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas.
Oscars Won: Best Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Probably not
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Grand Hotel:

This cast is so unbelievably stacked I don’t even know where to begin. Greta Garbo AND Joan Crawford, and TWO Barrymores? This film had me Googling Drew Barrymore’s family tree, because it has both her grandfather John and her great uncle Lionel in it. Wild.

67. You Can’t Take It With You (1938)

Directed by: Frank Capra
Written by: Robert Riskin, based on the play by George S. Kaufman and
Moss Hart
Starring: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore
Synopsis: The son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family not realising that his father is trying to force her family from their home for a real estate development.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Frank Capra)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe one day?
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on You Can’t Take It With You:

On the one hand, it’s always a welcome inclusion when the Academy decides to recognise a comedy, because it happens so rarely. On the other, this is just fine. It kind of bashes you over the head with its morals and saccharine sweet vibes, but hey — there are worse fates to suffer than that, and many of them are on this very list!

66. Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Directed by: John Madden
Written by: Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush
Synopsis: The world’s greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow), Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Best Writing — Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Music — Original Musical or Comedy Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Probably not
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Shakespeare in Love:

One of the most controversial Best Picture winners on the list, Shakespeare in Love isn’t a bad film, but it is — above all else — a win that can be attributed solely to the Oscar campaigning tactics of now-convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein.

I hadn’t seen Shakespeare in Love before now, but I was aware that Weinstein’s campaigning around the film was notorious, so much so that a 2019 Hollywood Reporter article dubbed it “the nastiest Oscar campaign ever”.

Overall, Shakespeare in Love is fine. Did it deserve to win Best Picture over Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan? Probably not. Either way, I screamed when Ben Affleck turned up in this, because I don’t know how I knew so much about the politics of this win but had absolutely no idea Affleck was in this film?

65. Gladiator (2000)

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Synopsis: A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Effects — Visual Effects
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Gladiator:

Men may think about the Roman Empire every day, but I certainly don’t! This is all just so… much. I don’t know. It’s not for me! I did enjoy Joaquin Phoenix playing a devious, snarky, petty little weasel, but for the most part, it’s safe to say that I think the Pepsi ad with Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Pink and Enrique Iglesias is superior.

64. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
Written by: Screenplay by Fredric M. Frank, Barré Lyndon and Theodore St. John, with story by Fredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John and Frank Cavett, and additional writing by Jack Gariss (uncredited)
Starring: James Stewart, Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton
Synopsis: The dramatic lives of trapeze artists, a clown, and an elephant trainer are told against a background of circus spectacle.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Writing — Motion Picture Story
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Greatest Show on Earth:

This was long, but fine! The costumes were incredible, and the last act had a plot twist that hooked me back in. Overall, not as good as The Circus Starring Britney Spears.

63. The Hurt Locker (2008)

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Written by: Mark Boal
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty
Synopsis: During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow), Best Writing — Original Screenplay, Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? … Maybe? I guess?
Where to watch: Rent on Apple TV
Trailer:

Thoughts on The Hurt Locker:

This didn’t do it for me, but I can see why it won Best Picture. What it did remind me of, though, was that Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win Best Director, and there have only been two since her (Chloé Zhao and Jane Campion in 2021 and 2022, respectively). So, good for her!

62. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Directed by: David Lean
Written by: Screenplay by Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson (both originally uncredited), based on the novel by Pierre Boullé
Starring: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins
Synopsis: British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (David Lean), Best Actor (Alec Guinness), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Scoring
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly if it were playing at a cinema, because I don’t think I gave it my full concentration watching it at home.
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Bridge on the River Kwai:

Not as good as my favourite film about a bridge (The Mothman Prophecies), but still quite good! The cinematography was great.

61. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Directed by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Written by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo, based on the play by Raymond Carver
Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton
Synopsis: A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Alejandro G. Iñárritu), Best Writing — Original Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly?
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance):

There are a lot of cool elements to this film that I like individually, but for some reason, I find the film as a whole to be quite grating.

60. The Artist (2011)

Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
Written by: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
Synopsis: When George, a silent movie superstar, meets Peppy Miller, a dancer, sparks fly between the two. However, after the introduction of talking pictures, their fortunes change, affecting their dynamic.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Michel Hazanavicius), Best Actor (Jean Dujardin), Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures — Original Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe!
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer:

Thoughts on The Artist:

This is fun, fine, and kind of forgettable. There is one part where George takes his yappy little dog to the cinema though, and for that, he deserves prison.

59. Oliver! (1968)

Directed by: Carol Reed
Written by: Screenplay by Vernon Harris, based on the stage musical by Lionel Bart and the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Starring: Mark Lester, Ron Moody, Shani Wallis
Synopsis: After being sold to a mortician, young orphan Oliver Twist runs away and meets a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor in 1830s London.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Carol Reed), Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Music — Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation), Honorary Award (Onna White, Choreography)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Unlikely
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Oliver!:

There’s absolutely no reason this should be so long, but in saying that, some of the songs are fun! I wouldn’t go out of my way to rewatch it, but I wouldn’t be vehemently opposed to it either, you know?

58. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Directed by: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan (co-director: India)
Written by: Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Vikas Swarup
Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Saurabh Shukla
Synopsis: A teenager from the slums of Mumbai becomes a contestant on the show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’ When interrogated under suspicion of cheating, he revisits his past, revealing how he had all the answers.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Danny Boyle), Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures — Original Score, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures — Original Song, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Twice is enough
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Slumdog Millionaire:

I hadn’t seen this since it was first released, and I remembered really enjoying it at the time, so I was looking forward to rewatching it. However, on rewatch, I felt like it was completely fine. Maybe it’s because some of the air is let out of the story once you know how it all plays out, but either way, I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this one again in the future.

57. Rain Man (1988)

Directed by: Barry Levinson
Written by: Ron Bass and Barry Morrow
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino
Synopsis: After a selfish LA yuppie learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother in Ohio that he didn’t know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Barry Levinson), Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Writing — Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to do so.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Rain Man:

These days, it’s easy to forget that Tom Cruise used to act in films that didn’t involve death-defying stunts, so it was a welcome (but almost jarring?) change to see him in this.

Rain Man certainly hasn’t aged well, but it still made me cry, so that’s something!

56. The French Connection (1971)

Directed by: William Friedkin
Written by: Screenplay by Ernest Tidyman and William Friedkin (uncredited), based on the book by Robin Moore
Starring: Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey
Synopsis: A pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (William Friedkin), Best Actor (Gene Hackman), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The French Connection:

This wasn’t for me, but I think it was good.

55. The Sting (1973)

Directed by: George Roy Hill
Written by: David S. Ward
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw
Synopsis: Two grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (George Roy Hill), Best Writing — Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? No
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Sting:

Much like The French Connection, this wasn’t for me. But if it’s for you, I respect that!

54. On the Waterfront (1954)

Directed by: Elia Kazan
Written by: Budd Schulberg, based on articles by Malcolm Johnson, with Robert Siodmak (uncredited)
Starring: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb
Synopsis: An ex-prize fighter turned New Jersey longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses, including his older brother, as he starts to connect with the grieving sister of one of the syndicate’s victims.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Supporting Actress (Eva Marie Saint), Best Writing — Story and Screenplay, Best Cinematography — Black and White, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Black and White, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on SBS on Demand
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on On the Waterfront:

I’ll be completely honest and say that I watched this with peak COVID-brain and I could barely concentrate, so I can’t really tell you what happens in this or what it was about. But in saying that, this has the vibes of a Capital G, Good Movie, so here we are! (I should probably rewatch this at some point).

53. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

Directed by: Elia Kazan
Written by: Screenplay by Moss Hart, based on the novel by Laura Z. Hobson, with screenplay revisions by Elia Kazan (uncredited)
Starring: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield
Synopsis: A reporter pretends to be Jewish in order to cover a story on anti-Semitism, and personally discovers the true depths of bigotry and hatred.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan), Best Supporting Actress (Celeste Holm),
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe, if only because I had to buy it.
Where to watch: Available to purchase on Apple TV
Trailer: Watch here

I watched this with COVID and I’ll be honest — all I could think was, ‘Imagine the Twitter discourse if someone did this, or if this was released now’.

52. Gone With the Wind (1939)

Directed by: Victor Fleming, with George Cukor and Sam Wood (both uncredited)
Written by: Screenplay by Sidney Howard, based on the story by Margaret Mitchell, with uncredited contributions from Oliver H.P. Garrett, Ben Hecht, Jo Swerling and John Van Druten
Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Thomas Mitchell
Synopsis: A sheltered and manipulative Southern belle and a roguish profiteer face off in a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Victor Fleming), Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Best Writing — Screenplay, Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Honorary Award (William Cameron Menzies), Technical Achievement (R.D. Musgrave)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly on the big screen
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Gone With the Wind:

Notably, this was the only film of the 95 that began with a content warning for its racist, outdated contents, and for good reason. There’s absolutely no getting around the fact that this is a romantic depiction of life in the Antebellum South that invites the viewer to ignore the fact that it’s entirely built on racist ideals.

It’s a tricky one to rank, but it lands at number 50 because the colossal technical achievements of the film are as undeniable as the racism, and because the costumes are really spectacular.

51. Rocky (1976)

Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Written by: Sylvester Stallone
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young
Synopsis: A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (John G. Avildsen), Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? Okay, I thought I had but after watching it for this, I’m not so sure?
Would I watch it again? No, but I’d watch the other Rocky films.
Where to watch: Streaming on Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Rocky:

Imagine my disappointment when I got to the end of this film and realised (after Googling it) that “Eye of the Tiger” doesn’t become the theme song until Rocky III! Brutal.

Anyway! This is good, if a little dated in some of its gender politics. If I got punched in the face like that I’d cry for sure.

50. Ben-Hur (1959)

Directed by: William Wyler
Written by: Screenplay by Karl Tunberg, based on A Tale of Christ by Lew Wallace, with uncredited writing contributions from Gore Vidal, Maxwell Anderson, S.N. Behrman and Christopher Fry
Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd
Synopsis: After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Charlton Heston), Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith), Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Colour, Best Costume Design — Colour, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects — Special Effects, Best Music — Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? The race? Yes. The rest? No.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Ben-Hur:

Um… is this a safe space for me to say that I didn’t know this film was about Jesus??? Up until a few weeks ago, I honestly thought this was just about some guys preparing for a big chariot race. Imagine my surprise!!!

Anyway, the chariot race is as spectacular as everyone says it is, but I did find myself Googling “how many horses died filming Ben-Hur“, and yes, the answer did dampen the experience of watching it a bit!

49. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Directed by: David Lean
Written by: Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson (originally uncredited)
Starring: Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn
Synopsis: The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (David Lean), Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Colour, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Score — Substantially Original
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Unlikely, but maybe?
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Lawrence of Arabia:

Look, I fully recognise that this should probably be higher on the list, but it just didn’t grab my attention the way I wanted it to. Is that biased and unfair? Probably! But here we are.

48. Marty (1955)

Directed by: Delbert Mann
Written by: Paddy Chayefsky
Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair, Esther Minciotti
Synopsis: A middle-aged butcher and a school teacher who have given up on the idea of love meet at a dance and fall for each other.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Delbert Mann), Best Actor (Ernest Borgnine), Best Writing — Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Marty:

This film is kind of wild because throughout the film, they keep telling you that Clara (Betsy Blair) is ugly and that’s why she’s still single. She’s not even ugly!

Going into this, I was expecting it to give off big incel vibes, but in the end, it’s actually quite sweet and it won me over.

47. The Last Emperor (1987)

Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci
Written by: Screenplay by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci, with Enzo Ungari (initial screenplay collaboration), based on From Emperor to Citizen, The Autobiography of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi by Pu Yi (uncredited)
Starring: John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole
Synopsis: Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning dramatisation of the life story of China’s last emperor, Pu Yi.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Bernardo Bertolucci), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Original Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly? But maybe once is enough.
Where to watch: Streaming on SBS on Demand
Trailer:

Thoughts on The Last Emperor:

Stunning, gorgeous, showstopping! A technical masterpiece.

46. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Written by: Paul Haggis, based on stories by F.X. Toole
Starring: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
Synopsis: Frankie, an ill-tempered old coach, reluctantly agrees to train aspiring boxer Maggie. Impressed with her determination and talent, he helps her become the best and the two soon form a close bond.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Nah
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Million Dollar Baby:

I won’t spoil it here, but the end of this film is so questionable and I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I probably won’t watch this again, but I will rewatch the “Hundred Dollar Baby” episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia!

45. The King’s Speech (2010)

Directed by: Tom Hooper
Written by: David Seidler
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Synopsis: The story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Writing — Original Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Probably not
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The King’s Speech:

Sorry but when they all applauded him for making it through his big speech, in which he was announcing that they were going to war, I did think that maybe they needed to get some perspective???

44. In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Directed by: Norman Jewison
Written by: Stirling Silliphant, based on the novel by John Ball
Starring: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates
Synopsis: A Black Philadelphia police detective is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared is reluctantly asked by the police chief to investigate the case.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actor (Rod Steiger), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Sound, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on In the Heat of the Night:

Some light spoilers: There’s a part in this film where a racist white man slaps Sidney Poitier, only to start crying when he gets slapped back. It’s what he deserves!!!

43. Terms of Endearment (1983)

Directed by: James L. Brooks
Written by: James L. Brooks, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson
Synopsis: Follows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter’s family problems.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (James L. Brooks), Best Actress (Shirley MacLaine), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Sure
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Terms of Endearment:

In the interest of not trauma dumping in an article about Best Picture winners, I’ll leave it at this: My therapist will be hearing about this one!

42. From Here to Eternity (1953)

Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Written by: Daniel Taradash, based on the novel by James Jones
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr
Synopsis: At a U.S. Army base in 1941 Hawaii, a private is cruelly punished for not boxing on his unit’s team, while his commanding officer’s wife and top aide begin a tentative affair.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Fred Zinnemann), Best Supporting Actor (Frank Sinatra), Best Supporting Actress (Donna Reed), Best Writing — Screenplay, Best Cinematography — Black and White, Best Sound — Recording, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Possibly, yes.
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on From Here to Eternity:

This was good; I might even watch it again one day! The beach kiss is indeed as good as you expect it to be.

41. Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Directed by: John Schlesinger
Written by: Waldo Salt, based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles
Synopsis: A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (John Schlesinger), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Midnight Cowboy:

It took me awhile to get on this film’s wavelength, but by the end I was completely hooked. On another note, I never realised how much Angelina Jolie really looks like her father Jon Voight before watching this, but the resemblance is quite uncanny. Genetics, hey!

40. All the King’s Men (1949)

Directed by: Robert Rossen
Written by: Robert Rossen, based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren
Starring: Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Joanne Dru
Synopsis: The rise and fall of a corrupt politician, who makes his friends richer and retains power by dint of a populist appeal.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actor (Broderick Crawford), Best Supporting Actress (Mercedes McCambridge)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Sure
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on All the King’s Men:

Wow, at the end of the day it really is all just a little bit of history repeating, huh? This is the kind of film you could watch today and apply to any number of recent politicians, which makes for a rather bleak realisation about life… but a good film!

39. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)

Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson, based on the novel by J.R.R Tolkien
Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen
Synopsis: Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron’s army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Jackson), Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Music — Original Score, Best Music — Original Song, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? To be honest, probably not.
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Lord of the Rings: Return of the King:

Okay, let’s talk about it. I’m kind of allergic to fantasy as a genre, so I’d never seen any of the Lord of the Rings films before now. And yes, I watched Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers before I watched Return of the King.

I’ll say this: It’s definitely not my thing, but I can appreciate that it’s a masterpiece. It’s the only film to ever win every award it was nominated for (it won 11 awards, although All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land all received 14 nominations each), and it deserved to sweep the Oscars for being such a monumental moment in cinema and (by all accounts) a worthy adaptation of a beloved book series.

Personally, my favourite character is Gollum, because I am on the side of little freaks everywhere. Do with that what you will!

38. No Country for Old Men (2007)

Directed by: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Written by: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Synopsis: Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen), Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on No Country for Old Men:

This is a wild ride, but nothing is crazier than Anton’s villainous bob. The hair alone makes this worthy of Best Picture, to be honest!

37. Casablanca (1942)

Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Written by: Screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch, based on a play by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison, with additional writing by Casey Robinson (uncredited)
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
Synopsis: A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Curtiz), Best Writing — Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Casablanca:

Casablanca is just one of those films that everyone should see at some point in their life. It’s a classic for a reason, it’s a masterpiece, and its impact on culture to this very day really can’t be understated.

36. An American in Paris (1951)

Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Written by: Alan Jay Lerner
Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant
Synopsis: Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become more complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Writing — Story and Screenplay, Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Colour, Best Costume Design — Colour, Best Music — Scoring of a Musical Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Sure!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on An American in Paris:

Aside from the fact that I love movies about beautiful people with beautiful problems, I really enjoyed watching some of these old technicolor musicals.

I happened to watch this around the same time as the trailer for Wicked was released, and the criticism of its flat colour grading and dull visuals played on a loop in my mind as I watched it. Bring back Technicolor!!!

35. West Side Story (1961)

Directed by: Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise
Written by: Screenplay by Ernest Lehman, based on works by Arthur Laurents (book), Jerome Robbins (play), and William Shakespeare (play, uncredited)
Starring: Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, Richard Beymer
Synopsis: Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise), Best Supporting Actor (George Chakiris), Best Supporting Actress (Rita Moreno), Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Colour, Best Costume Design — Colour, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Scoring of a Musical Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on West Side Story:

Again I say “bring back Technicolor!”

My first introduction to West Side Story was when I watched Steven Spielberg’s remake a few years ago. I enjoyed it, but there’s something about the original that’s just so special.

34. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Directed by: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Written by: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis
Synopsis: A middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Achievement in Directing (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Original Screenplay, Best Achievement in Film Editing
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Maybe?
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer:

Thoughts on Everything Everywhere All At Once:

I was thrilled for this to win Best Picture because I think it’s a really cool, current choice, but in general, it leans a bit too sci-fi for my personal taste.

33. The Shape of Water (2017)

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Written by: Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor
Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
Synopsis: At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo del Toro), Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score), Best Achievement in Production Design
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Sure!
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Shape of Water:

I went into this quietly expecting to hate it, so it was a very pleasant surprise to find that I enjoyed it! The lush colour palette and the theatre set are what won me over, enough for me to rank it higher than other sci-fi and fantasy films.

32. Annie Hall (1977)

Directed by: Woody Allen
Written by: Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman
Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts
Synopsis: Alvy Singer, a divorced Jewish comedian, reflects on his relationship with ex-lover Annie Hall, an aspiring nightclub singer, which ended abruptly just like his previous marriages.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Woody Allen), Best Actress (Diane Keaton), Best Writing — Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Look… probably not at this point.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Annie Hall:

Unfortunately… it’s still a great film, and its impact on romantic comedies is undeniable.

31. Nomadland (2020)

Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Written by: Chloé Zhao, based on the book by Jessica Bruder
Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May
Synopsis: A woman in her sixties, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Chloé Zhao), Best Actress (Frances McDormand)
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer:

Thoughts on Nomadland:

Frances McDormand, what can’t she do?! I love a quiet, contemplative drama, so this really hit for me.

30. CODA (2021)

Directed by: Siân Heder
Written by: Screenplay by Siân Heder, based on the film La Famille Belier written by Victoria Bedos, Stanislas Carré de Malberg, Éric Lartigau and Thomas Bidegain
Starring: Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur
Synopsis: As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her passion at Berklee College of Music and her fear of abandoning her parents.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur), Best Adapted Screenplay
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+
Trailer: Watch here

CODA is just such a nice film to watch. It’s earnest, it’s heartwarming, it’s sweet, and I really enjoy it.

29. Argo (2012)

Directed by: Ben Affleck
Written by: Screenplay by Chris Terrio, based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Tony Mendez, and Wired Magazine article “The Great Escape” by Joshuah Bearman
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman
Synopsis: Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Film Editing
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Argo:

This is just a great film, and it gave us the line “Ar-go f**k yourself”. If that’s not cinema, I don’t know what is!

28. Amadeus (1984)

Directed by: Milos Forman
Written by: Peter Shaffer, with Zdenek Mahler (uncredited)
Starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge
Synopsis: The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart’s talent and claimed to have murdered him.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Milos Forman), Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Makeup
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Oh yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Trailer:

Thoughts on Amadeus:

Maybe all biopics should be told from the perspective of the person’s pettiest, most jealous hater, because I’m obsessed with this.

For my fellow chronically online folk, this is how I imagine the Ryan Murphy series about Natalie Beach and Caroline Calloway would have turned out if Calloway had agreed to sign over her life rights.

27. Ordinary People (1980)

Directed by: Robert Redford
Written by: Alvin Sargent, based on the novel by Judith Guest, with Nancy Dowd (uncredited)
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch
Synopsis: The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father and the guilt-ridden younger son.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Redford), Best Supporting Actor (Timothy Hutton), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Ordinary People:

There’s a part in this where Calvin (Donald Sutherland) is at a psychologist’s office and admits, “I came here to talk about me”, and then it cuts to him sitting in his car after therapy looking absolutely miserable, and honestly, what’s more real than that?!

26. Gigi (1958)

Directed by: Vincente Minnelli and Charles Walters (uncredited)
Written by: Screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner, based on the novella by Colette, with Niven Busch (uncredited)
Starring: Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan
Synopsis: Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Vincente Minnelli), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography — Colour, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Black and White or Colour, Best Costume Design — Black and White or Colour, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Original Song (“Gigi”), Best Music — Scoring of a Musical Picture
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Oh absolutely!!!
Where to watch: Currently unavailable to stream
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Gigi:

This film is completely unhinged, chaotic, and diabolical. I loved it!!!

This film starts with an old man singing a song as a piece to camera that is called — I’m not kidding — “Thank Heaven for Little Girls“, a song about how nice it is that little girls grow up and become sexy????? It also features an old woman who never leaves the house but is always dressed to the nines, a cat that just lounges about the set, seemingly at random, and so many gorgeous costumes and sets it’s quite captivating.

It’s aged terribly, but after watching so many war films and boring epics, this was a welcome change of pace on my journey.

25. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Directed by: Lewis Milestone
Written by: Screenplay by George Abbott, adaptation by Del Andrews and Maxwell Anderson, with supervising story chief C. Gardner Sullivan, based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, with titles for the silent version by Walter Anthony (uncredited) and contributions by Lewis Milestone (uncredited)
Starring: Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, John Wray
Synopsis: A German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Lewis Milestone)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe!
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on All Quiet on the Western Front:

Okay, being honest, I did miss the INTENSE score of the 2022 version of All Quiet on the Western Front — specifically the part where they’re going to war and the score sounds like Australian Survivor‘s Tribal Council music. With that being said, for a film made in 1930, this really holds up. It’s just as compelling, and packs as much of an emotional punch as the more recent adaptations.

24. The Lost Weekend (1945)

Directed by: Billy Wilder
Written by: Screenplay by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, based on the novel by Charles R. Jackson
Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry
Synopsis: The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Actor (Ray Milland), Best Writing — Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Lost Weekend:

Fantastic! The Lost Weekend is a really compelling watch, and tells a story of addiction that remains relevant to this day. With great performances to boot, I’d recommend it!

23. Wings (1927)

Directed by: William A. Wellman, with Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast (uncredited)
Written by: Screenplay by Hope Loring and Louis D. Lighton, based on a story by John Monk Saunders, with ideas by Byron Morgan (uncredited), and titles by Julian Johnson
Starring: Clara Bow, Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, Richard Arlen
Synopsis: Two young men — one rich, one middle class — who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Effects — Engineering Effects
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Surprisingly, maybe!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Wings:

The very first Best Picture winner! I’ll be completely honest, when I realised that this — my fourth movie of that day and my very last Best Picture winner to watch — was a two-and-a-half hour silent film, I nearly screamed. Twenty minutes later, I was hooked! The story is engaging, the characters are great, and for its time, the magnitude of the production is really quite spectacular. It’s worth a watch!

22. The Apartment (1960)

Directed by: Billy Wilder
Written by: Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray
Synopsis: A Manhattan insurance clerk tries to rise in his company by letting its executives use his apartment for trysts, but complications and a romance of his own ensue.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Writing — Story and Screenplay — Written Directly for the Screen, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration — Black and White, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Apartment:

This is great! It’s a perfectly timed film that charms, entertains and holds your attention from start to finish. It’s timeless. Watch it!

21. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Directed by: William Wyler
Written by: Robert E. Sherwood, based on the novel by MacKinlay Kantor
Starring: Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Fredric March
Synopsis: Three World War II veterans, two of them traumatised or disabled, return home to the American midwest to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Fredric March), Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell), Best Writing — Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Honorary Award (Harold Russell, For bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in The Best Years of Our Lives)
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on The Best Years of Our Lives:

What a film! I loved this. It’s an emotionally complex, compelling, poignant story that will captivate your attention from start to finish. It’s the kind of film that could be released today and still perform well at the Oscars, but made even more remarkable by its proximity to World War II. To be able to address the issues of returning veterans in such a well-executed manner while still being so close to end of the war is such an achievement.

20. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Directed by: Milos Forman
Written by: Screenplay by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, and the play adaptatioon by Dale Wasserman
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Michael Berryman
Synopsis: In the Fall of 1963, a Korean War veteran and criminal pleads insanity and is admitted to a mental institution, where he rallies up the scared patients against the tyrannical nurse.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Milos Forman), Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Best Writing — Screenplay Adapted From Other Material
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest:

Boy, Interrupted! Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher are incredible; I loved this!

19. It Happened One Night (1934)

Directed by: Frank Capra
Written by: Robert Riskin, based on a short story by Samuel Hopkins Adams
Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly
Synopsis: A renegade reporter trailing a young runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York, and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Frank Capra), Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Writing — Adaptation
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on It Happened One Night:

Watching this was like looking at the blueprint for every single enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy film, which was a great experience in itself. But the film is so fun! Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert are fantastic, and the story holds up well enough that a modern-day adaptation wouldn’t take too much work to pull off!

18. Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)

Directed by: Robert Benton
Written by: Screenplay by Robert Benton, based on the novel by Avery Corman, with dialogue collaboration by Meryl Streep (uncredited, and additional writing by Jay Christian (uncredited)
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander
Synopsis: After his wife leaves him, a work-obsessed Manhattan advertising executive is forced to learn long-neglected parenting skills, but a heated custody battle over the couple’s young son deepens the wounds left by the separation.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Benton), Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Supporting Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Kramer Vs. Kramer:

I watched this in high school and loved it, and for the most part, it still holds up! Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman, can you really go wrong, though?

17. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Directed by: Steve McQueen
Written by: John Ridley, based on the book by Solomon Northup
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender
Synopsis: In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o), Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe one day?
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on 12 Years a Slave:

This is by no means an easy watch — it’s unflinching and often harrowing, but it’s also gripping and visually stunning, with incredible performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o.

16. Schindler’s List (1993)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, based on the book by Thomas Keneally
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
Synopsis: In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Steven Spielberg), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Original Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Maybe one day?
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Schindler’s List:

When it comes to Schindler’s List, there are critiques and defences written by people who are smarter and more eloquent than I am, and I would encourage you to read them!

Instead, what I’ll say is this: Isn’t it wild that when people say “I like movies”, they could be talking about this, or they could be talking about Dude, Where’s My Car, and you’ll never know until you ask a follow up question?

15. The Deer Hunter (1978)

Directed by: Michael Cimino
Written by: Screenplay by Deric Washburn, with story by Michael Cimino,
Deric Washburn, Louis Garfinkle and Quinn K. Redeker and dialogue collaboration from Meryl Streep (uncredited)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale
Synopsis: An in-depth examination of the ways in which the Vietnam War impacts and disrupts the lives of several friends in a small steel mill town in Pennsylvania.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Cimino), Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Walken), Best Sound, Best Film Editing
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Rent on Google Play
Trailer:

Thoughts on The Deer Hunter:

This is fantastic, and it’s a war film I can get behind because it only spends about one of the three hours actually at war. The performances are fantastic and it’s so well-paced that you really care about all the characters and their stories.

14. The Sound of Music (1965)

Directed by: Robert Wise
Written by: Screenplay by Ernest Lehman, from the stage musical book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and the book by Maria von Trapp (uncredited), with partial use of ideas from Georg Hurdalek
Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker
Synopsis: A young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise), Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Music — Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment
Had I seen it before? I’d seen the first half?
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Sound of Music:

The thing about The Sound of Music is that until recently, I’d never seen the whole thing. As a child, I’d seen up to the part where the kids sing “So Long, Farewell“, but I must have also gone to bed not long after that, because I had never seen the part where the Nazis turn up???

Anyway, this is a masterpiece, obviously, but I will say this: the idea of singing and dancing away from the Third Reich is something that I find deeply funny. Good on them!

13. Moonlight (2016)

Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Written by: Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, based on the story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Starring: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes
Synopsis: A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), Best Adapted Screenplay
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer:

Thoughts on Moonlight:

I am such a sucker for A24’s neon-lit dramas, and Moonlight is a perfect example of that (see also: The Florida Project). Part of me still can’t believe Moonlight actually managed to snag the win away from La La Land, but I’m personally very glad it did.

12. Spotlight (2015)

Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Written by: Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
Synopsis: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Writing — Original Screenplay
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on ABC iView
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on Spotlight:

A fantastic film about a really difficult subject matter, Spotlight is journalism cinema at its finest. What a film.

11. Mrs Miniver (1942)

Directed by: William Wyler
Written by: Screenplay by Arthur Wimperis, George Froeschel, James Hilton and Claudine West, based on the book by Jan Struther, with uncredited contributions by Paul Osborn, R.C. Sherriff, and Henry Wilcoxon (closing speech)
Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright
Synopsis: A British family struggles to survive the first months of World War II.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actress, Greer Garson, Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Wright), Best Writing — Screenplay, Best Cinematography — Black and White
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Mrs. Miniver:

I was completely caught off guard by how much I loved this. I went into it expecting yet another tediously long war epic, but soon enough, I was completely swept up in the world of this family. Maybe more war films should focus on the village’s upcoming flower show, because I was SOBBING through the last act of Mrs. Miniver!

10. The Godfather (1972)

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Written by: Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by Mario Puzo
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
Synopsis: The aging patriarch of an organised crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes, particularly if it was playing at the cinema
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Godfather:

It was definitely time for me to watch The Godfather, if only because I’d seen the terrible 2002 horror movie FeardotCom twice but had never watched this.

Anyway! The rumours are true, The Godfather is a masterpiece. It’s a good thing I’m not in the mafia, though, because if someone came to me and was like, “Okay, next steps: We’ll decapitate the horse and leave it in his bed while he sleeps”, I think I would assume they were kidding.

9. The Godfather Part Two (1974)

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Written by: Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by Mario Puzo
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
Synopsis: The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Francis Ford Coppola), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Writing — Screenplay Adapted From Other Material, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Music — Original Dramatic Score
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Yes, again, especially if I could see it on the big screen
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer:

Thoughts on The Godfather Part Two:

Honestly, I wasn’t sure which Godfather film I wanted to put first, but eventually I settled on this order because I like Robert De Niro more than Marlon Brando. Both films are masterpieces, though!

8. The Departed (2006)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: Screenplay by William Monahan, based on the film Mou gaan dou (Infernal Affairs) written by Alan Mak  and Felix Chong
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
Synopsis: An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Writing — Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Film Editing
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on BINGE
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Departed:

Look, is this better than the Godfather films? Probably not. But I love this movie and my cat is named Leo for a reason, so here we are.

7. Chicago (2002)

Directed by: Rob Marshall
Written by: Screenplay by Bill Condon, adapted from work by Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb and Maurine Dallas Watkins
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere
Synopsis: Two death-row murderesses develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity, celebrity, and a sleazy lawyer’s attention.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes!
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer:

Thoughts on Chicago:

LOVE. This is so fun, the songs are so great, the performances are incredible, I just love it.

6. Rebecca (1940)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Written by: Screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood and Joan Harrison, adapted by Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan from the novel by Daphne Du Maurier
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders
Synopsis: A self-conscious woman juggles adjusting to her new role as an aristocrat’s wife and avoiding being intimidated by his first wife’s spectral presence.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Cinematography — Black and White
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? Definitely!
Where to watch: Currently unavailable to stream
Trailer: Watch here

LOVED THIS! Personally I think that the new Mrs. De Winter is giving real pick me vibes, and that Mrs. Danvers did nothing wrong!!!

5. All About Eve (1950)

Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Written by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, based on the story The Wisdom of Eve by Mary Orr
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders
Synopsis: A seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theatre friends.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders), Best Writing — Screenplay, Best Costume Design — Black and White, Best Sound — Recording
Had I seen it before? No
Would I watch it again? ABSOLUTELY
Where to watch: Purchase on Apple TV
Trailer:

Thoughts on All About Eve:

Oh, this is incredible. Look, I’m biased, because I love films about diabolical women, but this is a masterpiece from top to bottom. The performances, the costuming, the sets, it’s all pitch perfect.

If you’re a fan of anything from Single White Female to Gone Girl or Pearl or Ingrid Goes West, it’s time to watch All About Eve!

4. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Written by: Ted Talley, based on the novel by Thomas Harris
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn
Synopsis: A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Demme), Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Writing — Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on The Silence of the Lambs:

Horror is one of my favourite genres, and it’s one that’s typically overlooked by the Academy, so despite the fact that there are some very dated and problematic elements to The Silence of the Lambs, I just think this is such a cool win. Also, this film is a very respectable one hour and 58 minutes, and there isn’t an ounce of fat to trim off that runtime — some of these films could take lessons!

3. Parasite (2019)

Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
Written by: Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin-won
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong
Synopsis: Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Bong Joon Ho), Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Trailer:

Thoughts on Parasite:

Masterpiece! Aside from being an incredible film, Parasite was a groundbreaking Best Picture win as the first non-English language Best Picture winner. Beyond that, the impact of Parasite and its popularity has seen a boom in stories about class inequality that’s still going strong (see also: Saltburn).

2. American Beauty (1999)

Directed by: Sam Mendes
Written by: Alan Ball
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch
Synopsis: A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter’s best friend.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Actor (Kevin Spacey), Best Writing — Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Best Cinematography
Had I seen it before? Yes
Would I watch it again? Yes
Where to watch: Streaming on Stan
Trailer: Watch here

Thoughts on American Beauty:

I know this is my most controversial ranking, for multiple reasons, and I get it! I’m sorry, but this is my truth: I just love this movie.

Putting American Beauty at number two is the entire reason I decided to list whether I’d seen a film prior to embarking on this journey before or not. You see, I was a teenager when I watched American Beauty for the first time (although, whether I should have been allowed to do so or not is a conversation for another day).

American Beauty was one of the first arthouse-adjacent adult dramas that I watched, and I just fell in love with it. And, like anything we become attached to at that age, it just has a special place in my heart for that.

In saying that, I’ll be the first to admit that if I watched this for the first time today, it would absolutely not be sitting here in the number two spot. In fact, early on in this project I was trying to be more objective, but as I was making my way through the films, American Beauty kept getting shuffled up and up the list, until eventually my 14-year-old self won the battle, and here we are.

1. Titanic (1997)

Directed by: James Cameron
Written by: James Cameron
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
Synopsis: A 17-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.
Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director (James Cameron), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction — Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects — Sound Effects Editing, Best Effects — Visual Effects, Best Music — Original Song (“My Heart Will Go On”), Best Music — Original Dramatic Score
Had I seen it before? Six times at the cinema, who knows how many times at home?
Would I watch it again? There’s no question about it.
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Trailer:

Thoughts on Titanic:

Titanic is my Roman Empire, so much so that I once tracked how often I thought about it for a month (and you can read about that here).

I’ve seen this film so many times that I can probably quote all three hours and 14 minutes of it by heart. Every time it makes its way back onto the big screen, I’m seated.

Titanic is a masterpiece from top to bottom. The scale of it, the attention to detail, the fact that it keeps you on the boat to the very last minute, the absolute gut punch that is the band scene — it’s James Cameron at his finest, and it’s my favourite film of all time.

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