So rather than looking at the potential winners or nominees, which this year includes everything from The Green Knight to Spider-Man, instead we’re looking at previous winners and seeing where the Best Picture winners of the last 10 years rank against each other based on their IMDb and Metacritic ratings

10. The Shape of Water (2017)

Guillermo Del Toro’s homage to Creature From The Black Lagoon is a love story between the creature (Doug Jones) and Elisa (Sally Hawkins), a mute cleaning lady. One of the stranger films to have won, critics seemed to love it more than audiences, as it sits at a 7.3 on IMDb, but has 87 on Metacritic. The film was also nominated in several other categories for a total of thirteen nominations, winning four, including Best Picture, Best Director for Del Toro, Best Production Design and Best Orginal Score.

9. Moonlight (2016)

Widely considered one of the more progressive choices to win Best Picture. Based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical play, it shows the life of Chiron, at three separate stages of his life. Beginning as a child, through into adolescence and ending in early adulthood. While it may not have made a huge impression on audiences, judging by its 7.4 on IMDb, critics loved it, as it sits at a 99 on Metacritic. It was the first LGBTQ film to win Best Picture, as well as first to win featuring an all-black cast.

8. Nomadland (2020)

Another historic win at the Oscars. Based on a non-fiction book about the rise of older people living nomadic lifestyles in the US. The film follows Fern (Frances McDormand) as she loses both her job and her house after the death of her husband, and her life on the road living in a van and travelling the country. Most of the cast is made up of real-life nomads, who play themselves. While it only has a 7.4 from audiences on IMDb, it was the third highest-rated film of 2020 on Metacritic. Director Chloe Zhao became the second woman and first woman of colour to win Best Director.

07. Argo (2012)

Based on true events, although sometimes criticised for its historical accuracy. This dramatisation of the “Canadian Caper” was written by Chris Terrio, who also wrote the screenplays for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Terrio won the Best Adapted Screenplay, while Ben Affleck won Best Director, as well as starring. Critics loved Argo more than audiences, with a 7.7 on IMDb compared to a 86 on Metacritic.

06. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance) (2014)

The Oscars love a film with a huge technical challenge and a film about the arts. Birdman has both. Micheal Keaton lampshades his own career as an actor famous for playing a superhero tries to be taken seriously. Set in and around a theatre, the film is shot so that (with one exception) it appears to be done in one take. Interestingly this fared about as well as Argo with audiences and critics, also having a 7.7 rating and 87 respectively. As well as Oscars for Directing, Orginal Screenplay and Cinematography, director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s next film The Revenant finally won Leonardo DiCaprio his Oscar.

05. The Artist (2011)

Despite being released in 2011, The Artist invokes the silent film era of the 1920s. Shot in 4:3, black and white, as well as being mainly silent, it was certainly the most unique amongst the nominees of its year. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards it won five, including Best Director and Best Actor. It was the first mostly silent winner since the first-ever Academy Awards, back in 1929. Loved by both audiences and critics, with a 7.9 on IMDb and 89 on Metacritic.

04. Spotlight (2015)

Another film based on true events, this time focused on the power and importance of journalism. The script was based on various accounts and articles from the Spotlight team. The Boston Globe published several news pieces that revealed the widespread child sex abuse in the Catholic church in the Boston area in 2003. Praised for its screenplay and performances as well as its historical accuracy, it has an impressive 93 on Metacritic, as well as an 8.1 from audiences.

03. 12 Years A Slave (2013)

Based on the memoir of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The book details his experiences at market, cotton and sugar farming, as well as the life and experiences of being a slave. He was eventually freed, after getting information from friends and family. Widely praised by critics and audiences, it also won for its screenplay and a supporting actress win for Lupita Nyong’o. It also sits at 8.1 on IMDb, while it has a 96 on Metacritic.

02. Green Book (2018)

Another film about race relations in the US, and also based on a true story. The eponymous “Green Book” was a guide written for African-Americans and other non-whites, to help aid safe travel. Focusing on the friendship between pianist Don Shirley and his chauffuer/bodyguard Frank Vallelonga. Although there was some controversy, it was very positively received with an 8.2 from audiences. Interestingly most critics were not as impressed, with it only scoring a 69 on Metacritic.

01. Parasite (2019)

Sitting at number 31 on IMDb’s top 250 Movies of all time, Korean director Bong Joon-ho made history by directing the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. Telling the story of a poor family who slowly infiltrate a wealthy one, the film was universally acclaimed. Focusing on class relations and the wealth gap in Korea, it struck a chord with audiences and critics around the world, with a 8.6 and 96 respectively.

Also Read: Parasite Director Bong Joon-Ho Once Described The Oscars As “Very Local” Does He Have A Point?

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5. The King’s Speech (8.0)

The winner of the 2011 Best Picture award concerns Britain’s King George VI (Colin Firth) working with speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) to overcome his stammer and allow him to deliver his messages to the people of the UK and those in high positions with his own voice.

Despite some critics calling it Oscar bait, The King’s Speech charmed audiences. Not only scoring an 8 on IMDb but also becoming the highest-grossing British independent film of 2011. Initially, it was also involved in controversy because the BBFC gave the film a 15 certificate due to strong language. Despite the swearing serving the point of helping King George through his stammer. Ultimately thanks to the distributor’s appeal, the BBFC re-rated the film as a 12a. It also won Best Director for Tom Hooper, Best Actor for Colin Firth, and Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler.

4. Spotlight (8.1)

2016’s best picture recipient deals with another story based on true events. This time looking at several reporters working for the Boston Globe. Who uncover a series of child abuse crimes within the catholic church.

Spotlight was the first Best Picture winner since The Greatest Show on Earth to only win one other award at the ceremony. The other being Best Original Screenplay for Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy. It also was viewed as a surprise win, with many believing The Revenant would take the award home. Spotlight may have been a surprise winner but its high audience rating and great reviews from many critics show that it’s still something special.

3. 12 Years a Slave (8.1)

Steve McQueen’s dark drama is about the horrors experienced and witnessed by Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man of colour living in New York who is captured, sold into slavery and must spend 12 years trying to survive.

12 Years a Slave was not only well-received by critics and general audiences but it also marked the first time that a film made by a black director won Best Picture. And it also earned statues for John Ridley’s screenplay and Lupita Nyong’o’s supporting performance. Showing that while 12 Years a Slave was a hard watch, it was also impactful and important.

2. Green Book (8.2)

Undoubtedly the most controversial Best Picture winner of the past decade. The story follows Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) who makes friends with Dr. Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali) as he ferries him around the southern United States in the 1960s, ensuring he is safely able to play music at venues.

Green Book received several negative responses upon its release for its dated use of the white saviour narrative to tell the story of African American persecution. But it became even more controversial when it won the Best Picture Oscar, even though films from prominent black filmmakers like Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) and Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) were also nominated. Although Green Book clearly won over many, as evidenced by its award wins (also winning Best Original Screenplay for Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly and Best Supporting Performance for Mahershala Ali), and IMDb rating, its win remains an embarrassing moment for the modern film industry.

1. Parasite (8.6)

This South Korean masterpiece focuses on the relationship between two families, the rich Parks, and the poor Kims. Asking many pointed questions about class and inequality in an odd, funny, dark, and enthralling way.

Parasite, the highest-rated Best Picture winner of the decade is also one of the highest-rated Best Picture Winners of all time on IMDb and was a trailblazer in so many ways. It was the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture, on top of winning Best International Film, Best Original Screenplay for Bong Joon-ho and co-writer Han Jin-won and Best Director for Bong Joon-ho. Along with this, it became the highest-grossing foreign-language film of all time in the UK. And despite the many controversies with the Academy Awards these past 10 years, seemingly all agree that Parasite deserved to win.

This ends our brief look back at the highest-rated Best Picture winners of the past 10 years. What is your favourite Best Picture winner from the past decade? Let’s hope that the next 10 years bring more Best Picture winners that audiences will love.

Also Read: Parasite Director Bong Joon-Ho Once Described The Oscars As Very Local

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What’s the film about?

A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.

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