As the Oscars approach in 2026, a retrospective look at the Best Picture winners reveals that nearly every selected film remains in active circulation today. From William Wellman's pioneering 1927 winner Wings, available on DVD and Blu-Ray, to early classics like Cimarron and Broadway Melody, these titles continue to captivate audiences. Most Best Picture recipients are instantly recognisable to any film enthusiast, yet notable blind spots persist. The Academy has historically avoided foreign language films and, in recent decades, has largely shunned comedies.
The Oscars' Enduring Legacy
While genre pictures like The Shape of Water managed a victory in 2018, voters typically remain wary of science fiction or martial arts films. A growing chasm exists between Oscar winners and box office champions, yet the Best Picture award remains a reliable indicator of films destined for enduring legacy. Below, we explore the ten finest films to have ever claimed Hollywood's most prestigious trophy.
10. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
William Wyler's poignant exploration of three veterans returning home after war retains a powerful emotional resonance. These men, hailing from diverse classes and backgrounds, grapple profoundly with reintegrating into civilian life. Though some critics label the film as pious, it confronts the soldiers' struggles and their families' misunderstandings with frank, moving sincerity. Remarkably, it triumphed in a year that also featured the nomination of It's a Wonderful Life.
9. An American in Paris (1951)
Representing the pinnacle of MGM musical artistry, this film dazzles not only through Gene Kelly's electrifying performance as an aspiring artist in postwar Paris but also via its masterful use of colour and sound. The climactic ballet sequence rivals that of The Red Shoes, showcasing filmmaking where every element harmonises perfectly.
8. Casablanca (1942)
Producer Hal Wallis at Warner Bros excelled at crafting films that balanced mainstream appeal with social conscience. Featuring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains, Casablanca delves into themes of refugees, betrayal, and wartime politics. Its script, penned by Julius and Philip G Epstein, delivered immortal lines about gin joints and "usual suspects" that remain quotable today. Few Best Picture winners have embedded themselves so deeply into public consciousness.
7. On the Waterfront (1954)
Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront serves as a complex, politically charged justification for his testimony during the communist witch hunts. Despite its controversial underpinnings, the film shines through magnificent performances, notably Marlon Brando's career-defining portrayal of Terry Molloy, a dockworker whose potential was thwarted by familial betrayal.
6. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Often mischaracterised as jingoistic, David Lean's epic about T.E. Lawrence becomes a transcendent experience in 70mm. It offers a nuanced, probing depiction of Lawrence, portrayed by Peter O'Toole, as both a quintessential English hero and an outsider, revealing layers of masochism and complexity.
5. All About Eve (1950)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz's drama about theatrical ambition features some of the most caustic dialogue in Oscar history. Bette Davis and Anne Baxter deliver brilliant performances as the established star and ruthless young pretender, complemented by George Sanders' acidly perfect turn as critic Addison DeWitt.
4. The Godfather Part II (1974)
Widely regarded as the greatest sequel ever made, this film surpassed its predecessor in craftsmanship and performance. From Gordon Willis's cinematography to the parallel narratives of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone and Robert De Niro's young Vito, every element operates near flawlessly. It triumphed in a fiercely competitive year that included nominees like Chinatown and The Conversation.
3. Unforgiven (1992)
Clint Eastwood's blood-soaked masterpiece revitalised the western genre at a time when both it and its star were considered anachronisms. Eastwood plays Will Munny, a reformed gunman forced back into violence, delivering brutal, elegiac commentary on myth and morality. Its Oscar victory felt inevitable.
2. Parasite (2019)
Bong Joon Ho's South Korean satire made history as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. A sharp exploration of class and wealth that morphs into horror, it defied Oscar conventions by blending festival prestige with mainstream appeal. Its success signalled a more inclusive, outward-looking approach from Academy voters, captivating global audiences with its dark humour and macabre twists.
1. The Apartment (1960)
Only Billy Wilder could transform a romantic comedy centred on infidelity, office politics, and drudgery into such a delightful film. Despite accusations of prudery among voters, the Academy rightly honoured The Apartment, cementing its status as a timeless classic that finds humour and humanity in unlikely places.
