It’s no secret that the Academy Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the film industry. Every year, the best and brightest in Hollywood come together to celebrate the year’s best films. TechTrends put together a list of the best Oscar-winning movies of all time.
While there are always a few snubs and surprises, the Oscars usually manage to get it right when it comes to the best movies of the year. These prestigious gold trophies are not given to just any movie. That is, you can trust the movies that won this as they will be worth your time and attention. But what about the all-time greatest Oscar-winning movies? Which films have managed to stand the test of time and remain popular? Considering the fact that there have been many ceremonies over the years, making a list of the best Oscar-winning films of all time is not an easy task. However, that is where TechTrends comes in. We have put together a list for those interested. So, keep reading to see whether your favorite is on the list or not.
Best Oscar-winning Movies of All Time
2023 is the 95th anniversary of this Hollywood event, which brings some really worth-while movies to watch. Despite the fact that enjoying movies can be subjective, it is possible to make a list of the most universally beloved ones that you do not want to miss. Without further ado, let’s get to the list of the best Oscar-winning movies ever made.
11. Moonlight 2016
- Genre: Drama/Indie Film
- Director: Barry Jenkins
- Stars: Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Naomie Harris
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 98%, IMDb 7.4
Moonlight follows the tale of a young black man who is trying to discover himself as he comes of age. The three actors that portray Chiron show off sensational performances as he takes a true emotional journey. As one of the best Oscar-winning movies of all time, it reminds us what the art form is able to do, rolling out his life with style and grace.
Read more: Best Drama Movies of All Time
10. Social Network 2010
- Genre: Drama/History
- Director: David Fincher
- Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 96%, IMDb 7.8
This revolutionary drama, The Social Network, showcases Jesse Eisenberg’s talent in playing the real-life role of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg along with his co-founder Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garfield. The duo’s relationship is one of the main aspects of the movie, and Garfield and Eisenberg were the perfect actors to display the complexity and difficulties the two partners shared. In addition, the dialogues are great, and the narrative is captivating, making it hard to think that The Social Network is based on facts. This is one of the greatest and best Oscar-winning movies of all time.
Read more: Best Jesse Eisenberg Movies of All Time
9. Titanic 1997
- Genre: Drama
- Director: James Cameron
- Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 88%, IMDb 7.9
James Cameron created an unforgettable epic romantic drama movie which is now considered one of the best Oscar-winning movies of all time. Titanic is crafted flawlessly, constructed intelligently, and acted strongly. As for the plot of the movie, it involves a woman named Rose, who is on the verge of sailing to her doom as she got engaged to a rich man by force. Filled with hatred for this prospect, she even tries to take her life. However, she is saved by Jack, portrayed by DiCaprio, with whom she falls in love. Ultimately, we all know what the outcome of Titanic is. The director, however, takes us beyond that and puts us in the skin of the ones who perished and the ones who survived. He also reminds us that no matter who we are, we are all in the same boat.
DiCaprio played his role with Charisma, with the movie that won 11 Academy Awards making him permanent global superstardom. He went from a respected movie star to a worldwide-known actor. He got his second Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance as well as his second nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Read more: Best Kate Winslet Movies of All Time
8. La La Land 2016
- Genre: Musical/Romance
- Director: Damien Chazelle
- Stars: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, J.K. Simmons, John Legend
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 91%, IMDb 8
La La Land is arguably Emma Stone’s best movie to date, where she plays the role of Mia. Stone and Gosling returned to the screen, and with their chemistry and skills, they proved why they are successful actors in the industry. Mia is an aspiring actress that has reached a dead-end, and Sebastian (Gosling) is a romantic who is obsessed with classic jazz. The two go on to create absolute magic. Justin Hurwitz wrote the song, and they go on to be instantly recognizable to you. Moreover, the colors used in the movie will dazzle you. As for the story, it breaks your heart and puts it back together all at the same time. La La Land won an Oscar for Best Picture, and Stone won hers just a few minutes before that. It is a must-watch and one of the best Oscar-winning movies ever made.
Read more: Best Emma Stone Movies of All Time
7. Rocky 1976
- Genre: Drama/Sport
- Director: John G. Avildsen
- Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 92%, IMDb 8.1
Sylvester Stallone rose to stardom for his breakout role in the movie Rocky. This highest grossing movie bagged $225 million and made Stallone an international star. The movie also won the Oscar and became one of the best Oscar-winning movies ever made.
Rocky Balboa is a boxer from Philadelphia and he is picked to go against the reigning world heavyweight champion named Apollo Creed, portrayed by Carl Weathers since the opponent of the latter is injured. Rocky trains with former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill, played by Burgess Meredith and starts a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire). This is yet another one of the best Oscar-winning movies on the list.
6. Gone with the Wind 1939
- Genre: Romance/War
- Director: Victor Fleming
- Stars: Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, etc.
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 90%, IMDb 8.2
Gone With the Wind is also one of the best Oscar-winning movies of all time you should watch now. It is one of the most-watch films as well as the most memorable ones. Moreover, this film was welcomed a lot by the audience when screened for the first time. It also received so many good reviews from critics, even the strictest ones. At the 12th Oscar awards festival, Gone With the Wind could finally won 10 Oscar awards in different fields, including the best movie, director, the best actress, and other fields. But Oscar was not the only festival which awarded this great movie, and it could win awards in other festivals as well.
Gone With the Wind narrates the story of a girl called Scarlet who is beautiful and fearless. After Scarlet hears that Ashley, the boy from the farm next to them, is getting married to her cousin Melanie, she decides to admit her feeling to him. She mistakenly thoughts that Ashley is forced to get married just because he can’t reach Scarlet. During the film, she does everything to take Ashley back and makes interesting stories for you to watch. Don’t miss it.
Read more: Best Romance Movies of All Time
5. No Country for Old Men 2007
- Genre: Thriller/Crime
- Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Star: Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 93%, IMDb 8.2
The movie that brought Javier Bardem his Oscar award is named No Country for Old Men, which is based on a novel of the same name, written by Cormac McCarthy. The movie takes place in Texas in 1980s and revolves around a savage hitman who is searching for a large sum of money that Llewelyn Moss happened upon. The Sherriff, played by Tommy Lee Jones, is investigating the crime. This is indeed one of the best Javier Bardem movies of all time. We highly recommend it as it is one of the best Oscar-winning movies of all time.
Read more: Best Movies Based on True Stories
4. Casablanca 1943
- Genre: Romance/War
- Director: Michael Curtiz
- Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 99%, IMDb 8.5
This tale of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid lights up the screen in this classic drama. When you look beyond the iconic elements that may seem cliché, you can see the romance that is unexpected, star-crossed and stirring. The story happens during World War II and the Nazi threat, with the main character fighting through his feelings for Bergman. Casablanca is still among the most rarefied and best drama movies of all time.
3. Silence of the Lambs 1990
- Genre: Thriller/Horror
- Director: Jonathan Demme
- Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Ted Levine, Frank Seals Jr., Brooke Smith
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 95%, IMDb 8.6
By far the best Oscar-winning movies of all time is The Silence of the Lambs, where Anthony Hopkins plays Dr. Hannibal Lector. Hopkins plays alongside Jodie Foster in this thriller/horror that is regarded as one of the greatest movies ever. The two actors won their first Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Actress for this movie and their performance. In addition, the movie won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Clarice Starling, played by Foster, is a top student at the training academy of the FBI. She is asked to interview Dr. Hannibal Lector, who is a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath. He is behind bars as he committed acts of murder and cannibalism. Starling is believed to be able to draw Lector out to give an insight into a case.
Read more: Best Anthony Hopkins Movies of All Time
2. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King 2003
- Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
- Director: Peter Jackson
- Star: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 93%, IMDb 9
Peter Jackson’s incredible trilogy is the greatest fantasy film of all time. The sets and costumes are intricate, battle scenes are vast, the score is brilliant, and the acting is phenomenal. This beloved series from J. R. R. Tolkein is a once in a lifetime film series. This fantasy movie rules them all, and it is an adaptation of one of the best fantasy novel series ever. The writers at IndieWire believe: “Jackson’s approach to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is so unforgettable: He takes fantasy and grounds it on such a human level and from such a human perspective that, suddenly, magical creatures and beasts feel tangible to the viewer.” This incredible film won an Oscar in 2003 and made it to the list of the best Oscar-winning movies of all time.
Read more: Best Fantasy Movies of All Time
1. The Godfather: Part I and Part II 1972/1974
- Genre: Crime/Drama
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- Stars: Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton
- Rating: Rotten Tomatoes 97%, IMDb 9.2/ Rotten Tomatoes 96%, IMDb 9
The Godfather is one of the best crime movies of all time and Ground Zero for all the subsequent mafia movies. The indelible characters portrayed by an impressive cast made this movie epic. Moreover, the director worked Mario Puzo’s Mafia novel like a virtuoso, with the ultimate pick inside a Mafia family’s life and the weaknesses it brings along. Al Pacino is right at the center of the movie, which is known as one of the greatest Oscar-winning movies ever made. Pacino’s performance is just as incredible as Marlon Brando’s Vito. Portraying the role of Michael, he is a young upstart who is desperate to avoid the criminal clutches of his family. Don’t miss it.
Read more: Best Robert De Niro Movies of All Time