Oscar Winners Who Truly Deserved It—and Those Who Didn’t

1.Rebecca

An all time classic Noir film that came out in 1940, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This definitely deserved best picture especially, setting the standard for noirs to come.

2.All about Eve

This 1950 film with arguably one of the greatest screenplays of all time by Joseph Mankiewicz uses dramatic irony so well Shakespeare himself would be proud. One of the greatest films of all time and a well earned best picture.

3.The Apartment

Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon collaborated yet again to make this 1960 film that blew away audiences and created one of the best comedy dramas that you will ever see.

4.Lawrence of Arabia

An epic delivered in 1962 by David Lean, a director known for his epics yet this had to be his magnum opus. A grand film in every aspect and blew away its competition to win best picture.

5.The Godfather Part 2

Possibly Coppola’s greatest film in the 70s when all his films were certified bangers. The only sequel to win best picture and for good reason. This surpassed its predecessor in every aspect delivering a masterpiece.

6.Amadeus

This could win best picture in any year and in 1984, it was unmatched. A film that covered the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the visuals, the production design and the music all delivered.

7.The Silence of the Lambs

Again, a film unmatched in the year 1991, this was a thriller to end all thrillers. With a haunting performance from Anthony Hopkins and topped by the lead Jodie Foster, this film lingers in your mind for a long time.

8.Schindler’s List

A year lined up with stiff competition, Spielberg made the most Oscar bait film you could imagine. A jew directing a film about a man who saved jews. Despite how Oscar bait it may seem, this thoroughly deserved best picture with Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes delivering a performance of a lifetime.

9.No 🔗 Country for Old men

This was a hard entry. A year where the nominees were so good that The Dark Knight and Zodiac didn’t even get nominated. In fact, this was the year that made the Academy increase the number of nominees. Despite all this, rising from all that smoke was this masterpiece directed by the Coen brothers. Beating out films like There will be blood, Juno and Atonement, it has cemented its place as possibly the greatest best picture winner.

10.Birdman

Competing with films like Whiplash, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel and others, this was a tough winner but all together deserved one. Directed by Alejandro Innaritu, this film was perfect from start to finish and had to be to win in a year with such decorated nominees.

11.Parasite

Yet another winner in a year filled with winners. You hate to see films like Ford vs Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Once upon a time in Hollywood, 1917, and others all lose… but they had to. When Bong Joon-Ho made Parasite, there could be no other winner. As great as the others were, this was one of those films that could win despite any competition. A masterclass in social commentary using the simple rule of show, don’t tell.

12.Oppenheimer

Another stacked list of nominees but Oppenheimer was always going to win. A deserved Oscar to a man who had to wait a long time. Nolan took home a full collection of awards on this night and boy did he deserve them.

13.Everything everywhere all at once

A year with a lot of underwhelming films, this one stood out on every front. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schenart, this film took a simple concept and made it a whole new thing, giving the audience a fresh look. A masterpiece and set the standard for how original films can be made in the future.

5 Undeserving winners

1.Anora

As good as this was and Sean Baker certainly deserves a lot of acclaim, this was not worthy of that prize. In a year with films like The Brutalist, Dune 2, Conclave among others, this was barely worth a nominee.

2.Nomadland

Not a bad film by any means but certainly not best picture. Again, just proof of how Oscar bait topics and the right campaigning can get you an award. The year was stacked with great films that could have taken home the prize.

3.Argo

In a year with Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Amour, Lincoln, Les Miserables, Silver Linings Playbook, there was really no way Argo should win. It was a good film, yes but not Oscar worthy. Just politics again.

4.Crash

One of the most controversial wins and justifiably so. Probably didn’t even deserve to be nominated.

5.Shakespeare in love

Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red line. Yep, those were the films that lost out to this. As Oscar baity this was, you would think a war movie would beat it but nope. This still baffles me.