10 Most Important Best Picture Winners, Ranked

Since the first ceremony took place in 1929, the Academy Awards have long celebrated excellence, with the Best Picture category standing out the most as the pinnacle of filmmaking achievement. Throughout the years, some features have understandably left an imprint on audiences and critics alike, not only for their incredible quality production but also for their ability to shape filmmaking, as they broke boundaries and pushed the limits of visual storytelling.

From epic dramas that left global audiences in tears thanks to the real-life events they delve into, like Schindler’s List, to horror films that have proved the genre has a lot to offer, as is the case for The Silence of the Lambs, these groundbreaking films represent some of the most significant milestones in cinematic history. We look back at how these Best Picture winners have redefined genres, influenced filmmakers, and left unshakable marks on pop culture, ranking them by greatness and importance.

10

‘Shakespeare in Love’ (1998)

Directed by John Madden

John Madden‘s period drama romance starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes sees the world’s greatest-ever playwright as a young and uninspired boy out of cash. When he meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays, his fortune soon takes a turn for the better.

Shakespeare in Love was a major milestone in cinema because it marked the rise of unprecedented campaigning to cultivate media buzz. Its win demonstrates how important campaigning is and how it can persuade Academy voters even when competing against critically acclaimed epics like Saving Private Ryan. For this reason, Shakespeare in Love remains one of the most debated wins in Oscar history, cementing its legacy as a film that defied traditional mold and reshaped how nominees are evaluated for the award.

9

‘Moonlight’ (2016)

Directed by Barry Jenkins

Barry Jenkins‘ directorial debut is a heart-wrenching coming-of-age drama about a young African-American man grappling with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and finally adulthood. The character is played by three different actors, with Trevante Rhodes being the oldest of the three.

Featuring astounding acting and stunning cinematography, the moving Moonlight was a landmark in Oscars history not only because it became the first LGBTQ+ Best Picture winner but also because it showcased that independent cinema can triumph over big-budget Hollywood productions. The way it tackles the struggles of growing up—especially as a queer POC—in a non-sensationalized or stereotypical way but rather offers a compelling and humanistic perspective, makes the acclaimed film an authentic and enjoyable viewing.

8

‘Gone With the Wind’ (1939)

Directed by Victor Fleming

Despite its status as one of the most controversial films of all time, Gone With the Wind is still one of the most famous and influential cinematic achievements. Featuring great acting performances, the period movie follows a sheltered and manipulative Southern belle (Vivien Leigh) and a roguish profiteer (Clark Gable) undergoing a turbulent romance as the society around them crumbles with the end of slavery and is rebuilt during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras.

A “product of its time,” Gone With the Wind did not age well, mostly due to its harmful stereotypes, which have understandably sparked both important conversations about race and representation and criticism for its romanticized portrayal of such a complex era. However, it is still regarded as an important Oscar win because of its large-scale, ambitious filmmaking and innovation. At the time, it went on to become the most-awarded film at the Oscars. Furthermore, it is worth noting that Hattie McDonald’s win—as the first Black person to take home an Academy Award—was groundbreaking, too.

7

’12 Years a Slave’ (2013)

Directed by Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen‘s 12 Years a Slave is a groundbreaking film that deserved the flowers it got from the Academy. The biographical drama film based on the 1853 slave memoir of the same name by Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in an astounding performance) tells the heartbreaking story of an African American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C. by two conmen and sold into slavery.

12 Years a Slave‘s win was a nod to diverse storytelling in Hollywood, paving the way for other movies and challenging viewers to engage with stories about race, inequality, and justice. Tackling themes of identity, sacrifice, survival, and resilience at its core, McQueen’s movie is a profound and genuinely impactful watch that does not shy away from brutally depicting the dehumanizing experiences that enslaved individuals went through during an era of such cruel hardship.

6

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)

Directed by Peter Jackson

Directed by Peter Jackson, the innovative third installment The Return of the King sees Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) lead the World of Men against Sauron’s army to draw his gaze from Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.

The Return of the King was an important Best Picture, demonstrating how franchises had just as much potential to achieve artistic and critical acclaim. Sweeping 11 Oscars, the Peter Jackson film immediately set a benchmark for future installments and was the first fantasy film to ever win Best Picture—with The Shape of Water standing as its only companion today—and has helped break the genre’s exclusion from prestigious recognition, solidifying its place in cinematic history.

5

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Directed by Jonathan Demme

The first horror movie to take home the award for Best Picture, The Silence of the Lambs is a masterclass in filmmaking and performing. Adapted from Thomas Harris’ 1988, it stars Jodie Foster as a young FBI trainee hunting a serial killer who skins his female victims. To catch him, she recruits the help of the imprisoned Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in a chilling performance).

Featuring three-dimensional characters, captivating performances, and a suspenseful storyline, The Silence of the Lambs is an iconic, perfectly acted film that shattered perceptions about the horror category, proving that it can be more than just thrills and scares. As such, this intellectually stimulating and psychologically complex film is a fantastic achievement. Not only did it influence countless film and television projects that have followed due to its refreshing approach to the thriller-horror genre, but it also had a lasting impact on culture as a whole.

4

‘Casablanca’ (1942)

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Michael Curtiz‘s Casablanca is one of the most important and influential films of all time for several reasons, including the timeless themes of love and sacrifice it tackles and its cinematic influence. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the story centers around a cynical expatriate American cafe owner who struggles to decide whether to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.

Casablanca set new standards for filmmaking, resulting in one of the most important Best Picture wins at the Oscars. Whether we’re talking about its stellar performances, memorable dialogue—”Here’s looking at you, kid”—or its lasting influence, this romance film (even fit for those who dislike the genre) perfectly showcased that a film could excel artistically, becoming an acclaimed picture while also capturing the zeitgeist of its time.

3

‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Directed by none other than the incredible Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List is a historical epic based on the real-life story of a German industrialist, played by Liam Neeson. The film chronicles his efforts to save more than a thousand mostly Polish–Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II.

Schindler’s List‘s unforgettable and unflinching portrayal of the Holocaust made it one of the most important films in history, shaping the way that movies about tragedies were made. Not only was it an astounding film to begin with, but it has also become an outright historical document guaranteed to play at the audience’s heartstrings with its beautifully shot black-and-white visuals and genuinely moving narrative.

2

‘The Godfather’ (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola‘s iconic piece of filmmaking endures as the most beloved gangster film to this day. Starring Marlon Brando in the lead role, the franchise’s first installment centers around an aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty as he transfers control of his clandestine empire to his unsure son (Al Pacino).

The Godfather elevated the gangster genre to new levels of critical and audience acclaim, and its Best Picture win is proof. Featuring astounding acting, directing, and writing, Ford Coppola’s movie is a trailblazer in film history and is still regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. Its release transformed how the Academy viewed genre films, and its ultimate win proved that darker storylines with morally ambiguous characters could thrive at the award event.

1

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

The first non-English film to take home the big prize at the Academy Awards, Parasite certainly deserves a distinction as one of the most groundbreaking and important Best Picture wins. Bong Joon-ho’s movie, which examines class disparity and inequality, follows the unemployed Kims family clan who take a special interest in the Park family, which originates a symbiotic relationship.

Featuring incredible acting performances, top-notch direction, and clever writing, this astounding South Korean film has deservedly made history as the first international movie to win the biggest award at the ceremony. It broke barriers and challenged the long-standing domination of English-language movies in the category. On top of being internationally acclaimed, Parasite’s win was even more important considering the social commentary it provided, resonating with global audiences for its ability to speak to universal issues.

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