Greatest Image Oscar Winners Of The twenty first Century, Ranked

Every time one other Oscars ceremony comes and goes, film followers throughout the globe both have a good time the institutional recognition of their favourite motion pictures of the yr or critically query the judgment of the Academy. Will these honored by the Greatest Actor and Greatest Actress trophies see their performances stand the check of time? Did Greatest Director go to probably the most deserving filmmaker? Did the Greatest Image winner actually earn the prize? There’s just one approach to discover out.

Greatest Image winners age with wild unpredictability. Some are hailed as immediate, revolutionary classics within the second and later dismissed as overhyped or quietly forgotten completely. In the meantime, others are denounced the very night they take the stage. Having a look again at current historical past, we have ranked each Greatest Image winner of the twenty first century thus far. Right here, we’ll not solely decide which movies have fallen by the wayside however have a good time these which stay the very best of the very best.

“Crash’s” Greatest Image upset in 2005 is so notorious and derided that not even director Paul Haggis thinks it was actually higher than its competitors. Via this work that units out to deal with racism (in probably the most self-important means attainable), he mockingly betrays a basic misunderstanding of the difficulty, lowering it to dangerous language and particular person actions (a lot simpler for the Academy to digest than a severe confrontation with the institutional and systemic nature of racism in America). It is like a Bizarro-world model of “The Wire.”  

Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” was the clear and celebrated favourite getting into, and continues to be remembered as one of many century’s landmark motion pictures. Haggis’ cringe-inducing morality story has been mercifully forgotten outdoors of its Oscars victory. “Crash” was nominated for six Oscars whole, together with a Greatest Supporting Actor nod for Matt Dillon. His efficiency as a corrupt however sophisticated (by this film’s requirements) police officer is admittedly one of many extra defensible features of the movie, as are the performances of the remainder of the main ensemble.

Probably the most memorable factor about “The King’s Speech” is its R score. Elevated by a genuinely stunning efficiency from Colin Firth, it is in any other case a protected historic drama that pales subsequent to its competitors — specifically David Fincher’s “The Social Community,” which it beat in a number of key classes together with Greatest Director and Greatest Actor. 

Firth beating Jesse Eisenberg can no less than be contextually defined — Hooper beating some audacious, career-best work from established administrators like Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”), and the Coen Brothers (“True Grit”) has at all times been a little bit laborious to swallow. Whereas the tight, psychological thriller about Mark Zuckerberg feels extra insightful, prescient, and helpful as he and tech overlords of his ilk amass energy, “The King’s Speech” was at all times apparent Oscar-bait aiming for the low-hanging fruit of satisfying previous Academy voters.

Ben Affleck’s free strategy to historical past in “Argo” turns into extra damning by the yr. Sure, the movie proved the actor was as technically expert a director as virtually anybody working in Hollywood. That does not change the truth that his movie stands at this time as a jingoistic and unforgivable (if unwitting) puff piece for the CIA that valorizes and ahistorically facilities American operatives whereas demonizing Iranian residents. 

Even when the movie was first launched, officers from the Canadian authorities had been involved in regards to the movie’s rewriting of historical past. Should you assume the movie’s affect is being overstated, you want solely stroll into the favored Worldwide Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., the place Affleck’s work is prominently featured a number of instances to movie-wash the CIA’s shameful historical past in Iran. 

Talking of sanitized biopics — Ron Howard’s “A Stunning Thoughts” is in no way a nasty movie, nevertheless it’s at most the third-best in a category that included “Gosford Park,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” and “Moulin Rouge!” It turns the sophisticated real-life mathematician John Nash (performed by Russell Crowe) right into a forgettable protagonist that nonetheless serves as a dependable anchor for Oscar-bait dramas like this. 

Crowe and his co-star (Greatest Supporting Actress-winner Jennifer Connelly) are the one actually memorable features of the movie. Every little thing else — the hazy, flattering arc of Nash boot-strapping schizophrenia, and the irresponsibly unrealistic depiction of his psychological sickness general — hardly registers as noteworthy at this time. 

Michel Hazanavicius’ black-and-white silent movie “The Artist” is an undeniably endearing, distinctive, and audacious love letter to Hollywood. It is also light from view with the very movies that impressed it, providing little novelty past its presentation. 

It ought to definitely be acknowledged that, in executing one thing so full, stunning, and clear in its storytelling, Hazanavicius displayed a degree of technical mastery that deserves to be acknowledged and arguably remembered greater than it at the moment is. On the similar time, the shortage of present curiosity in an age the place communities on websites like Letterboxd exist factors towards the Academy selecting type over substance on this occasion. Jean Dujardin’s Greatest Actor win over Gary Oldman (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) has aged particularly poorly, and it exemplifies the voting physique’s bias towards showy restraint over the real restraint of the subtler work seen in different opponents like “The Tree of Life” and “Hugo.” 

“CODA’s” Greatest Image win was controversial amongst leisure pundits. “The Energy of the Canine” was the frontrunner getting into, although there have been additionally these apprehensive about both movie lastly conceding the highest prize to a streamer. Because the trade was reckoning with the affect of COVID on the theatrical launch mannequin, it felt like an institutional loss to many who had been combating for the cultural, skilled, and monetary significance of the normal, communal moviegoing expertise. 

Placing that context apart, “CODA” nonetheless underwhelms in comparison with its competitors. As candy as coming-of-age tales come, it is also each bit as protected and predictable, and it has a fairly contested repute amongst non-hearing audiences vital of its climactic scene.

An argument could possibly be made that any of the 77th Greatest Image Class may’ve received. “Million Greenback Child” has some passionate followers (like Stephen King), however to most it is, for higher and for worse, a Clint Eastwood film. It is environment friendly, efficient, and revered, however not revolutionary outdoors the sports activities style.  

The central performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman are genuinely award-worthy, and we’re even prepared to concede that Eastwood’s craftsmanship as a filmmaker is so plain right here that he deserved Greatest Director. On the similar time, their work has to do a whole lot of heavy lifting for Paul Haggis’ screenplay. Like his script for “Crash,” it is so drawn to easy, maudlin concepts that it sacrifices lasting psychological complexity. 

Whether or not or not you want “Chicago” comes down as to whether or not you possibly can abdomen film musicals. The 2002 movie embraced the subgenre in a extra literal and putting means than most, all whereas killing it on the home field workplace. 

If you cannot get swept up within the music and dance of all of it, it could be as a result of the satirical angle “Chicago” presents on fame feels much less revelatory the extra we develop into saturated in movies and collection that discover the identical concept. That mentioned, the eclectic musical numbers and performances stay timeless — Renée Zellweger, John C. Reilly, Queen Latifah, and Catherine Zeta-Jones had been all nominated for appearing honors, with Zeta-Jones successful, they usually actually make the film razzle dazzle. Richard Gere’s omission in Greatest Actor has lengthy been thought-about a notable Academy snub, although there was doubtless no beating Adrien Brody for “The Pianist.” 

Chloé Zhao’s pensive Greatest Image-winner “Nomadland” is likely one of the most understated movies to take residence the award. With a forged of largely non-actors anchored by an expertly delicate main efficiency from Frances McDormand, it has an immersive high quality that justifies a difficult tempo which may put some viewers off. 

Some might take problem with simply how reserved McDormand is at instances, however her Greatest Actress win nonetheless feels deserved. If there’s any severe, enduring criticism to be fairly leveled at “Nomadland,” it might be its uneven engagement with the unstable financial context of its story. One may additionally argue, nonetheless, that Zhao’s determination to foreground hope and humanity permits her movie to meaningfully add to the lengthy historical past of movies that confront poverty in America.  

The vital reevaluation of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Birdman” has been quiet however notable. The arresting tempo, humor, and performances of this Michael Keaton-led tragicomedy nonetheless maintain up extraordinarily effectively. Emmanuel Lubezki, the cinematographer chargeable for the movie’s signature “one-take” type, additionally received Greatest Cinematography — gimmick or not, his execution is plain. 

With all that being mentioned, this self-examination of movie star feels rather less psychologically compelling yearly. Whereas Keaton’s character is so totally realized (and bolstered by the meta-narrative of the actor’s parallel skilled trajectory), the remainder of the forged — significantly Riggan’s daughter, performed by Emma Stone — really feel noticeably underwritten compared. General, it is nonetheless almost unimaginable to not get captured by the vitality of “Birdman.”

“Anora” divided audiences greater than most keep in mind. To some, it was a surprisingly hilarious but biting and essentially humanizing look into the lives of intercourse staff. However to others, it was jarring, uneven, and exploitative of the folks and occupation it claimed to uplift. 

At /Movie, we lean towards the previous evaluation, although the criticism from intercourse staff is important to the dialogue “Anora” intends to catalyze. If that is probably the most humanity this intercourse work is ever afforded on digicam, the movie’s recognition may hardly be thought-about meaningfully constructive. Dramatically, it is also comprehensible that the tonal shifts between scenes of chaotic, virtually slapstick bodily comedy and genuinely upsetting emotional beats (significantly the movie’s difficult and considerably controversial ultimate scene) do not land for all audiences. 

Sean Baker’s breakthrough from indie cinema to mainstream awards recognition ought to nonetheless be celebrated, particularly as main Hollywood studios consolidate into, probably, propaganda machines. Mikey Madison’s efficiency additionally navigates probably the most tough features with a fascinating fearlessness that finally deserved Greatest Actress.

The Academy began off the brand new millennium with a bang by awarding Greatest Image to a crowd-pleasing epic that’s nonetheless pretty outstanding at this time. On the very least, it is among the best motion pictures of Russell Crowe’s profession.  

Certainly, a lot of the brilliance of Ridley Scott’s movie might be attributed to casting. Crowe fought laborious for that Greatest Actor win, beating out Tom Hanks in “Forged Away” with a bodily demanding efficiency that instructions each single body Scott captures him in. In the meantime, his villain — the just about cartoonishly evil Commodus — may’ve been rendered with laughable simplicity within the arms of any actor much less expert than Joaquin Phoenix. He was nominated for Greatest Supporting Actor however misplaced to Benicio del Toro for “Visitors.”

As nice as Crowe and the forged are, nonetheless, that is additionally Scott at his very best as a filmmaker. His mix of emotional gravity and grand motion set items virtually single-handedly revived swords-and-sandals motion pictures as a viable blockbuster subgenre. 

Danny Boyle’s entrancing “Slumdog Millionaire” is undeniably entertaining and well-made. It additionally bears one of many extra sophisticated legacies on this checklist. 

On the time of its launch, commentators described it negatively as “poverty tourism,” permitting American audiences to “immerse” themselves in an simply digestible model of Indian slums. Boyle himself has conceded that, if the movie had been made at this time, he would not be the suitable filmmaker to inform a narrative about poverty within the nation. 

Partaking solely with its deserves as a piece of leisure, Boyle’s vibrant rendering of the story — led by a career-making efficiency from Dev Patel — makes the movie fascinating, regardless of its flaws. And let’s not overlook the Oscar-winning rating by A.R. Rahman, which masterfully blends musical influences in a way that paved the way in which for the now-dominant work of Ludwig Göransson.

“Every little thing All over the place All at As soon as” hasn’t been out lengthy sufficient for a full vital reevaluation, however the emotionally and stylistically unrestrained multiversal epic nonetheless packs a severe punch. It’s in no way a delicate film — it is also probably not attempting to be. That is kinda okay with us, given how persistently it kicks butt for over two hours.  

At worst, the absurd visuals (hotdog fingers, every little thing bagels, rocks with googly eyes) can really feel disarming in a means that may frustrate these attempting to attach with its deeper emotional throughline. There’s some credibility to the argument that the maximalist storytelling of The Daniels usually conflicts with the humanity of the story they’re attempting to inform, as is most evident within the script’s tendency towards emotionally literal dialogue. On the similar time, is there a line extra iconic from the final 5 years than “In one other life, I’d have actually appreciated simply doing laundry and taxes with you”? 

All through the awards season, “Every little thing All over the place All at As soon as” was, effectively, all over the place. It dominated the Oscars specifically with 11 nominations and 7 wins. 

Definitely the very best Kathryn Bigelow movie of the century thus far, “The Damage Locker” maintains its standing as a standard-bearer for the struggle subgenre. It is well-deserved, given Bigelow’s cautious, aware examination of American troopers combating in Iraq. 

There are comparable points current to these present in “Argo.” Centering the expertise of American troopers in Iraq with out confronting the illegality of the invasion or the humanity of Iraqis is morally and dramaturgically unsuitable. Nevertheless, a case might be made for “The Damage Locker” that the specificity of its narrative goal — which is finally to distill the oft-ignored psychological toll of warfare — justifies its reductive scope. 

“The Damage Locker” tied with “Avatar” with 9 nominations every — the previous movie walked away with six wins. It was a historic night time for the trade, with Bigelow not solely turning into the primary lady to direct a Greatest Image-winning movie however the first lady to win Greatest Director as effectively. 

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” could possibly be argued as the best trilogy finale within the historical past of movie. It is an epic of the very best order with groundbreaking visible results that proceed to carry up on the entire. Whether or not it received by itself steam or in acknowledgement of the trilogy as an entire, it greater than deserved its crown. 

By our rely, “Return of the King” nonetheless holds the report for the most important good sweep in Oscars historical past. It received all 11 awards it was nominated for, together with Greatest Image, Greatest Director, and Greatest Tailored Screenplay. It is tied for many wins with the unique “Ben-Hur” and “Titanic,” whereas “Sinners” just lately shattered the report for nominations by incomes 16 in 2026. 

Guillermo del Toro’s “The Form of Water” is a bit unusual. It is actually not even the very best del Toro movie to be nominated for an Oscar, nor was it decisively the highest of its personal Greatest Image class. 

In a yr of remarkably sturdy competitors, the argument stays that “Get Out” or “Name Me By Your Title” deserved the award — and, certainly, each would’ve positioned greater on this checklist. However with all that being true, del Toro’s singular romantic fairy story is a masterpiece each bit as unimaginable to shake because it was in 2017. 

Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones are merely magic collectively, dancing their means by a world that makes fantasy really feel grounded and emotionally tangible. The context of the movie’s competitors speaks to the power of each that particular Oscars class and the director’s filmography as an entire. 

Like “The Form of Water,” “The Departed” is much from the head of Martin Scorsese’s filmography, regardless of being the movie that lastly broke his Oscars curse. Even so, it is rightfully thought to be one of many century’s greatest motion pictures. 

“The Departed” solely misplaced one award on the 2007 Oscars — although with each Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) and Eddie Murphy (“Dreamgirls”) within the race for Greatest Supporting Actor, we’re prepared to chop Mark Wahlberg some slack. It is unlikely even a near-miss at a sweep may dampen Scorsese’s temper, as he lastly earned his first and solely Greatest Director win that night time.

The newest entry on this checklist, “One Battle After One other” was probably the most crucial movie of 2025, a marvel of storytelling that provoked each emotion one may think about, and a transparent alternative for the Academy to lastly give Paul Thomas Anderson the flowers he deserved. Regardless of coming in second in nominations to the record-breaking “Sinners,” the movie was overwhelmingly favored to win in nearly each one of many 13 classes during which it was nominated.

Anderson walked into the theater with no Oscars and left with three — Greatest Image, Greatest Director, and Greatest Tailored Screenplay. Teyana Taylor misplaced Greatest Supporting Actress to “Weapons” villain Amy Madigan, and Leonardo DiCaprio misplaced Greatest Actor to Michael B. Jordan. Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro competed towards each other for Greatest Supporting Actor, with Penn finally successful in absentia.

Whereas a lot of the reputations of most Greatest Image winners both maintain or falter, “Highlight” has arguably develop into more practical. Its story in regards to the efforts of some tireless truth-seekers to reveal horrific, systemic abuse was informed with such easy, slicing ethical readability that it feels much more pressing at this time. 

“Highlight” solely received one different Oscar — Greatest Unique Screenplay for McCarthy and Josh Singer. In a yr dominated by sturdy, flashy contenders like “The Martian,” “Mad Max: Fury Highway,” “The Revenant,” and even “The Massive Brief” (with Adam McKay’s intrusive visuals and fourth-wall-breaking narrative type), the simplicity of “Highlight” feels admirably defiant. It knew how vital its story was and rightfully trusted the forged and the viewers to speak and perceive that reality respectively. 

“12 Years a Slave” stays a vitally jarring masterpiece. Many Academy Award-winning movies declare to be vital, however none are as inherently in order Steve McQueen’s unyielding and expertly-told biography of Solomon Northup (performed within the movie by Chiwetel Ejiofor). 

Matthew McConaughey’s efficiency in “Dallas Consumers Membership” was sturdy, and it is a contender for his career-best towards “True Detective,” nevertheless it nonetheless feels just like the Academy robbed Ejiofor. Whereas most over-acted Greatest Actor-winners appear to be they wish to carry out the act of “leaving all of it on the body,” McQueen’s movie calls for such visceral dedication for its star. It is undoubtedly one of the essentially demanding roles of the century, on the very least. Lupita Nyong’o meets that effort in her function movie debut and earned a Greatest Supporting Actress win consequently. 

McQueen himself turned the primary Black filmmaker to win Greatest Image. If it is surprising that that Academy did not cross that milestone earlier, you may doubtless be extra shocked to be taught they nonetheless have but to take action within the Greatest Director class.

Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” has been hailed as the best movie of the twenty first century. It is a compelling and defensible argument, bolstered by its enduring leisure worth and cultural relevancy, in addition to its unprecedented efficiency on the 92nd Oscars. From its set design to the names of its characters, each side of the movie is meticulously constructed to assist Bong’s central argument about class mobility. 

“Parasite” received 4 of the six awards it was nominated for in 2020. It proved the Academy was able to difficult its bias towards status and prominence to genuinely honor the very best work of the yr.

Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is so efficient in its deconstruction of its central determine’s lasting affect on the world that it transcends the historic biopic subgenre into the realm of psychological horror. Visually and narratively breathtaking with a stylistic contact that is unmistakably Nolan, it additionally forces warfare and the specter of nuclear proliferation to the middle of contemporary American mythology.  

Between the rapturous vital reception, the “Barbenheimer” cultural phenomenon, and the movie’s decisive efficiency all through the awards season, it was apparent going into the 96th Oscars that this could be the ceremony that lastly acknowledged Nolan as one of many greats. As of writing, it fairly stands to be remembered as an important movie of the last decade.  

With an Oscars story sadly overshadowed by a flub and some bittersweet historic context, we’ll by no means waste a second to remind readers how highly effective “Moonlight” is. Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-age drama set a brand new commonplace for the subgenre, imbuing it with refreshing emotional complexity and formal precision. 

Mahershala Al’s portrayal of Juan, the deeply flawed father-figure who almost steals the complete movie, continues to be among the best performances of the 2010s. His win for Greatest Supporting Actor cemented him because the yr’s greatest breakthrough expertise and set him as much as be one of the in-demand actors within the following years. 

Constructed on the unmistakable storytelling of Cormac McCarthy, an Academy Award-winning and career-defining flip from Javier Bardem, and the Coen Brothers’ unimpeachable mastery of the craft, “No Nation for Outdated Males” is a haunting and thrilling neo-Western that stands alone. Its surprising field workplace success proved that audiences had been prepared for the darkish, psychologically difficult work it got down to do, and it continues to be endlessly dissected and devoured at this time. 

The Oscars story of “No Nation for Outdated Males” has at all times been informed by its contest with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood.” The movies had been tied with eight nominations, and each had been thought-about to be not solely career-best achievements from their respective filmmakers however immediate classics that might certainly be remembered among the many century’s biggest movies (the latter assumption has held true). Anderson walked away empty-handed, whereas the Coens took residence Greatest Tailored Screenplay, Greatest Director, and Greatest Image.