As we reach the end of 2019, cinephiles are making their lists of the best films of the year as well as beginning to predict which movies will be winning Oscars in the upcoming awards ceremony. While the award for Best Picture is voted on by the members of the Academy, the final choice, of course, does not reflect everyone’s opinion.
Though there is usually controversy, many of the films crowned as Best Picture are great films worth seeing. And in some cases, the critics and Oscar voters see eye to eye with hugely acclaimed films winning the ultimate award. Here are the best Oscar Best Picture Winners, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
On The Waterfront (98%)
Marlon Brando has been called the greatest actor who ever lived by many, and On the Waterfront is the movie that convinced people of that fact. Brando plays Terry Malloy, an ex-boxer struggling to find steady work as a dock worker. After a man is murdered, Terry must decide if he’ll keep his head down or finally confront the criminals who run the dockyard.
Brando gives a mesmerizing performance that ushered in a new style of acting in films. As powerful as Brando is, the film itself is worthy of such a performance. The script is a tight, well-constructed look at unconventional heroism that inspires without being melodramatic.
Lawrence Of Arabia (98%)
Films of large scale tend to catch the Oscar voters’ attention and you don’t get much bigger than Lawrence of Arabia. The David Lean film stars Peter O’Toole as T.E. Lawrence, an English officer who successfully brought together and led the warring Arab tribes in battle against the Turks in World War I.
The movie defines the term “epic” as it relates to filmmaking; the huge scope of the story is engrossing, O’Toole is a captivating lead and the film looks gorgeous. It is a sweeping adventure that has inspired countless filmmakers.
The French Connection (98%)
Films from all kinds of genres can have a chance at Oscar glory if they are good enough. The French Connection took what could have been a straight-forward cop movie and made it into something truly special. Gene Hackman plays Popeye Doyle, a violent and unconventional New York City cop attempting to foil a drug-smuggling operation.
The movie makes its gritty style felt in every scene. Hackman makes for a fantastic anti-hero who is often hard to root for. The movie is a grounded crime story with intensity, thrills and one of the best car chases in cinema history.
The Godfather (98%)
Many people consider The Godfather to be the best movie ever made, so maybe it’s not such a surprise that it’s made this list. It is another crime film, though on a bigger scale than The French Connection. The Godfather is the saga of a mafia family led by Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his son Michael (Al Pacino) who is brought into the world of crime after an attempt on his father’s life.
Once again, Brando gives an incredible and legendary performance, and he and Pacino are backed by an amazing cast that includes Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall and John Cazale. Francis Ford Coppola’s powerful script and engrossing direction make it a movie worth revisiting again and again.
The Artist (98%)
Though it hasn’t had the same lasting impact as some of the other films on this list, The Artist is another Best Picture winner that received nearly unanimous praise from critics. The black-and-white silent film is a throwback to the movies that ushered in the film industry as we know it, and tells the story of a silent film star who sees his career fading as the business begins to change.
Movies about Hollywood are often fascinating love letters to the industry while looking at some of the darker aspects of the world. Jean Dujardin makes for a charming lead in this light, fun and satisfying romp.
Moonlight (98%)
Moonlight was at the center of one of the most memorable moments in Oscar history, but that shouldn’t distract from the brilliance of the film. From filmmaker Barry Jenkins, this small film tells the story of a young African American boy growing up with a drug addict mother and a criminal mentor while trying to find his own identity.
The movie is a beautiful, heartbreaking story expertly told in three separate sequences. Moonlight never misses a beat moving from one era to the next, and keeps you invested in this amazing story.
Rebecca (100%)
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most famous directors in Hollywood history but never won an Oscar for directing. He did receive his first of many nominations for Rebecca, which might be a movie people wouldn’t expect from the filmmaking icon.
The story concerns a self-conscious woman who becomes the new wife of a charming aristocrat but finds herself competing with the memory of his first wife. This is a sweeping romance in the old Hollywood fashion though it does feature a compelling mystery that would be at the center of many of Hitchcock’s films.
The Lost Weekend (100%)
Billy Wilder is another filmmaking great with a handful of movies that would be considered some of the best of all time. The Lost Weekend is one of Wilder’s darker tales. It follows an out-of-control alcoholic going on a destructive bender while the people in his life try to help.
Though the years since its release might have taken away some of the impact of the film, it is still a powerful story working checking out. Wilder’s depiction of this illness is honest and unflinching, making it a bold movie of its time.
All About Eve (100%)
All About Eve is a Hollywood classic that remains remarkably entertaining for modern audiences. The film stars Bette Davis as an aging Broadway star who meets a young actress who claims to be her biggest fan. However, it soon becomes clear that the young actress is trying to take over her idol’s latest role in a play.
The movie is the kind of sharp, sophisticated and rich movie that represents the best of this period of filmmaking. Davis is iconic and devastatingly funny in the lead role.
Marty (100%)
Marty is a film that holds the distinction of being the shortest Best Picture winner in Oscar history. However, the 90-minute length should not be an indication of a lack of substance. The film is a unique love story about a lonely butcher who meets a shy schoolteacher and forms a kinship.
Starring Ernest Borgnine in an Oscar-winning role and based on a brilliant script by Paddy Chayefsky, it is a simple and charming story. This is also considered one of the films to inspire independently produced filmmaking.
