Twenty-First Century Favorites
Hollywood's golden statue tells fascinating stories. Recent decades brought international breakthroughs, streaming revolutions, and long-overdue recognition for overlooked talent. So, it's time for a quick knowledge test.
2004
Peter Jackson's epic fantasy trilogy reached its climactic conclusion as Frodo and Sam journey to Mount Doom while Aragorn leads the final battle.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Official Trailer #1 - (2003) HD by Movieclips
And The Oscar Goes To...
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This became only the second sequel to win Best Picture and swept all 11 categories for which it was nominated.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Official Trailer #1 - (2003) HD by Movieclips
2005
Which film tells the story of Maggie Fitzgerald, a determined waitress from Missouri?
Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Trailer by KewlBeans - Movie Trailers
And The Oscar Goes To...
Million Dollar Baby. It was released on December 15, 2004. Hilary Swank's performance as Fitzgerald earned her a second Oscar for Best Actress.
Million Dollar Baby (2004) - The final fight scene. by GURGEN YENOKYAN
2006
Considered a highly controversial Best Picture winner that upset the heavily favored Brokeback Mountain.
Crash (2005) Official Trailer - Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser by Lionsgate Movies
And The Oscar Goes To...
Crash. The film opens with a car accident and then backtracks to follow the preceding 36 hours, revealing how the lives of several strangers intersect in unexpected ways.
Crash (2005) Official Trailer - Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser by Lionsgate Movies
2007
Martin Scorsese finally claimed his long-overdue Oscar with this Boston crime saga.
And The Oscar Goes To...
The Departed. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon starred in this remake of the Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. It also stars Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello.
2008
Cormac McCarthy's brutal novel comes to life in this neo-Western, portraying an unstoppable hitman.
The Coin Toss | No Country for Old Men | Max by Max
And The Oscar Goes To...
No Country for Old Men. Javier Bardem's chilling portrayal of Anton Chigurh became an iconic movie villain, while the Coen Brothers delivered their most acclaimed work here.
The Coin Toss | No Country for Old Men | Max by Max
2009
A loose adaptation of the book Q & A by Indian author Vikas Swarup, which received eight Oscars in 2009.
Slumdog Millionaire | #TBT Trailer | 20th Century FOX by 20th Century Studios
And The Oscar Goes To...
Slumdog Millionaire. Dev Patel plays Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old from the Mumbai slums who competes on the Indian edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Slumdog Millionaire | #TBT Trailer | 20th Century FOX by 20th Century Studios
2010
Kathryn Bigelow shattered glass ceilings as the first woman to achieve Best Director fame for her intense military thriller.
The Answer
The Hurt Locker. The movie emphasizes the personal struggles of its characters, particularly Sergeant James, as they tackle the chaos and moral ambiguities of modern conflict.
2011
Struggling with a severe stutter, King George VI seeks help from an unconventional Australian speech therapist.
And The Oscar Goes To...
The King's Speech. Colin Firth bagged the Best Actor award for his portrayal of the reluctant monarch in this crowd-pleasing historical drama by Tom Hooper.
2012
Hollywood's golden age of silent films comes alive in a black-and-white homage featuring a fading movie star and a rising starlet.
And The Oscar Goes To...
The Artist. Jean Dujardin became the first French actor to win Best Actor for this 2012 movie. It is set in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932.
2013
Despite Affleck not receiving a directing nomination, his film upset Lincoln to achieve Best Picture in one of the ceremony's biggest surprises.
Argo Official Trailer #1 (2012) Ben Affleck Thriller Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon
And The Oscar Goes To...
Argo. The screenplay by Chris Terrio is based on the 1999 book The Master of Disguise by Tony Mendez and a 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman.
Argo Official Trailer #1 (2012) Ben Affleck Thriller Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon
2014
The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup, with supporting performances by Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o.
12 YEARS A SLAVE - Official Trailer (HD) by SearchlightPictures
And The Oscar Goes To...
12 Years a Slave. In 2023, this masterpiece was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
12 YEARS A SLAVE - Official Trailer (HD) by SearchlightPictures
2015
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's innovative camerawork and Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography created the illusion of one long, flowing sequence throughout.
BIRDMAN - Official Worldwide Trailer by SearchlightPictures
And The Oscar Goes To...
Birdman. Here, Riggan Thomson is haunted by the voice of his alter ego, Birdman, and struggles with self-doubt, family issues, and the pressures of staging his play.
BIRDMAN - Official Worldwide Trailer by SearchlightPictures
2016
The Boston Globe's investigative team exposed decades of systematic cover-ups within the Catholic Church's child abuse scandal in this journalism drama.
Spotlight TRAILER 1 (2015) - Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon
And The Oscar Goes To...
Spotlight. Starring Michael Keaton, Tom McCarthy's creation chronicled the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation that revealed over 250 priests had been accused of abuse in Boston.
Spotlight TRAILER 1 (2015) - Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton Movie HD by Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon
2017
The film made history as the first LGBTQ-themed Best Picture winner.
Moonlight | Official Trailer HD | A24 by A24
The Answer
Moonlight. Barry Jenkins's coming-of-age triptych follows a young Black man's journey through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Moonlight | Official Trailer HD | A24 by A24
2018
Guillermo del Toro's fairy tale, featuring Sally Hawkins, won despite competing against popular films like Three Billboards.
THE SHAPE OF WATER | Official Trailer | FOX Searchlight by SearchlightPictures
And The Oscar Goes To...
The Shape of Water. After conquering the Golden Lion at the 74th Venice International Film Festival, it went on to have a successful run at the box office.
THE SHAPE OF WATER | Official Trailer | FOX Searchlight by SearchlightPictures
2019
Viggo Mortensen played an Italian-American bouncer driving a Black concert pianist through the segregated American South.
Green Book - Official Trailer [HD] by Universal Pictures
And The Oscar Goes To...
Green Book. The movie is notable for its exploration of race relations, friendship, and dignity during a turbulent period in American history.
Green Book - Official Trailer [HD] by Universal Pictures
2020
Bong Joon Ho's masterpiece about class warfare between rich and poor families became the first non-English film to claim cinema's top prize.
Parasite - Official Trailer (2019) Bong Joon Ho Film by IGN
And The Oscar Goes To...
Parasite. This South Korean black comedy thriller swept four Oscars, including Best Director, Original Screenplay, and International Feature, making Academy Awards history.
Parasite - Official Trailer (2019) Bong Joon Ho Film by IGN
2021
In which Chloe Zhao drama did Frances McDormand portray a woman travelling across the American West while living in a van?
NOMADLAND | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures by SearchlightPictures
And The Oscar Goes To...
Nomadland. The story is based on Jessica Bruder’s nonfiction novel titled Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century and features real-life nomads.
NOMADLAND | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures by SearchlightPictures
2022
Apple TV+ made history when a heartwarming tale of a hearing teenager in a deaf family became the first film on a streaming platform to win.
CODA — Official Trailer | Apple TV+ by Apple TV
And The Oscar Goes To...
CODA. This blockbuster starred Emilia Jones and featured Troy Kotsur. He became the first deaf male actor to receive an Oscar.
CODA — Official Trailer | Apple TV+ by Apple TV
2023
Michelle Yeoh's genre-bending adventure through the multiverse combined martial arts, family drama, and absurdist comedy in an ambitious A24 production.
Everything Everywhere All At Once | Official Trailer HD | A24 by A24
And The Oscar Goes To...
Everything Everywhere All at Once. Director Daniels created a surreal journey where Yeoh plays multiple versions of herself across universes. The film secured seven Oscars.
Everything Everywhere All At Once | Official Trailer HD | A24 by A24
2024
Cillian Murphy personified the physicist whose atomic bomb research changed warfare forever in Christopher Nolan's biographical epic.
Oppenheimer | New Trailer by Universal Pictures
And The Oscar Goes To...
Oppenheimer. Nolan’s film is notable for its non-linear storytelling, using dual timelines to juxtapose Oppenheimer’s scientific achievements with his later political persecution.
Oppenheimer | New Trailer by Universal Pictures
2025
Not a major box office hit as it earned $15.6 million, making it one of the lowest-grossing Best Picture winners in recent years.
Anora Trailer #1 (2024) by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
And The Oscar Goes To...
Anora. It blends comedy and drama, touching upon themes of class, ambition, and the unexpected consequences of impulsive decisions.
Anora Trailer #1 (2024) by Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
