The Best Picture Winners of the 21st Century, Ranked from Worst to Best

With the Oscars coming up in early March I thought I'd dedicate a few articles taking a look back at the Oscars this century. The winners of Best Picture over the last seventeen years have been surprisingly all over the place. From 'Moonlight' to 'Crash', we've seen a wide range of films be deemed the best of their respective year. So, why not examine the 17 winners, ranked from worst to best.

17. Crash (2005)

'Crash', also known as the film that attempted to break down surface level racism in LA and beat 'Brokeback Mountain'. Let me be clear in saying that 'Crash' isn't a horrible film, nor did it have bad intentions. What I will say is that the film lacks any deep understanding of what it's attempting to tell us. The racial stereotypes shown throughout the film only reinforce the racial biases that each character has. Some may say this was an intentional artistic choice, I'd say it was a poor one if so. By having each character interact and face their personal prejudices, 'Crash' succeeds at having no subtlety whatsoever. It's so painfully obvious as to what the film is preaching and what the end result will be that it's hard to watch. There are some really great films that explore racism. Unfortunately, Crash isn't one of them.

16. 'The Artist' (2011)

'The Artist' is a charming movie and a nice homage to the silent era of Hollywood. Jean Dujardin does a terrific job trying to find his inner Gene Kelly; while lacking the facial expressions to really sell the performance. But, I have a problem with a film winning best picture just because it's celebrating the past. I love when films tip their hats to Chaplin and the many greats that came before them. The problem is when nothing new is added to the equation, which is how 'The Artist' feels to me. It's sad that my favorite part of the best picture winning film is the damn dog.The whole film felt like a cheap attempt at making the audience feel nostalgic. Instead of feeling nostalgic, I almost fell asleep three separate times rewatching this.

15. 'Chicago' (2002)

'Chicago' is one of the better musicals to hit the big screen this century. Does anyone remember Rock of Ages or Nine? Those musicals are proof that it can get really dark. 'Chicago' is fine, but when was the last time you wanted to watch it, 2004? That's my guess. It's one of those films that the Academy got unnecessarily obsessed with simply because it was a famous broadway show and Renee Zellweger was quite good. If you've seen Chicago recently, you'll notice how boring the direction is and that the story is far too thin for an almost two hour film. It's all razzle dazzle with nothing else there to support it.

14. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

If there is one thing you get from this piece I hope that it's the greatness of the scene above. Watching washed up Michael Keaton fight Edward Norton in his blue leopard underwear is the best part of the film. 'Birdman' was an odd movie to win Best Picture. To this day I'm surprised that it won. In my mind it's really just an actors showcase. It has impressive monologues, some meta casting and the whole Batman/Birdman connection. But, what else is there to the film? Sure, Emmanuel Lubezski's cinematography is stunning, there is no denying that. What then makes 'Birdman' so special? It's a brilliant technical achievement with how the film is shot and staged. Yet, Inárritu constantly overplays his hand: whether it's the nonstop drumming designed to build tension or the yelling for no reason. Iñárritu is dying for us to believe how important this film is and how great he is. The problem is that the trick only works once, when you see it a second time it loses an element of wonder.

13. 'The King's Speech' (2010)

Colin Firth is the reason this film is worth watching and really Colin Firth alone. 'The King's Speech' really had perfected the Weinstein formula and was rewarded Best Picture due to it. Find a historical figure with an interesting background and add a peculiar twist to the story. Boom. You've got yourself some Oscar bait. The performances in the movie are good, but this is just two hours of watching speech lessons. Maybe that's why this one quickly left the public's mind after winning.

12. Argo (2012)

It's truly amazing to think about a Ben Affleck directed movie winning Best Picture five years later. Can you imagine that happening now? Me neither. The humorous part is that the real reason 'Argo' won was due to Affleck not being nominated for Best Picture and 'Zero Dark Thirty' having torture controversy. All of this is besides the point though. 'Argo' is an entertaining movie, that I can concede. It's the first one on this list that I like. So, no more hating on the films. Affleck proves here that he can direct an entertaining thriller and bring some necessary tension. 'Argo' also has a great cast, a good Hollywood centered plot and the classic phrase "Argo fuck yourself.". No wonder it won Best Picture!

11. 'Slumdog Millionaire' (2009)

I highly recommend you watch this again if you haven't recently, it's easily the weirdest title to win Best Picture this century. Just remember that dance scene at the end of the film? Honestly, it's so good. 'Slumdog Millionaire' when it was released did a great job at capturing what audiences were looking for at the time, something inspiring. Just think about the five films to win Best Picture before it: Million Dollar Baby (fun flick), Crash, The Departed (great love triangle), No Country for Old Men and The Hurt Locker. Naturally, audiences needed a break from the dark sector of cinema and reacted to Danny Boyle's energetic direction and emotion driven story. 'Slumdog Millionaire' helped make a star out of Dev Patel and really set the stage for the years to come in the Best Picture race.

10. 'A Beautiful Mind' (2001)

I love 'A Beautiful Mind' and I'm incredibly biased towards it. I recognize it's faults and the familiar beats, but damn if it doesn't get me. Based on the true story of the brilliant economist John Nash (Russell Crowe) who struggled with paranoid schizophrenia, 'A Beautiful Mind' was set up for Oscar glory when it was announced. You have to remember that Ron Howard had quite the reputation at the time and Russell Crowe may have been the biggest actor in the world post Gladiator. It's a film that features good supporting performances from Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer and Paul Bettany. 'A Beautiful Mind' fits perfectly into the Oscar bait category, but manages to win you over despite being a bit too long. Still, one of my favorites in this group of winners despite it's ranking.

9. 'The Hurt Locker' (2008)

'The Hurt Locker' more than any other film on this list felt like it matched the overall feeling of the nation at the time. Having been at war in the middle east for almost a decade, many Americans were upset with the previous administration and tired of the war in general. Yet, 'The Hurt Locker' was able to depict the war in Iraq better than any film before it and make it feel personal. It wasn't a sweeping look at the war or a hyper political movie. It simply explored the life of a soldier dealing with the pressure and his own adrenaline while defusing bombs in the region. By focusing in on Jeremy Renner (in a performance that made his career), Kathryn Bigelow (who was the first female to win Best Director this year) was able to transport the audience to somewhere uncomfortable and simultaneously rewarding. Throughout the film there is a sense of realism that captures the audiences attention and forces you to explore ideas you maybe haven't before. For that, The Hurt Locker is a film that is equally as good as time goes by.

8. 'Gladiator' (2000)

It's hard for me to analyze 'Gladiator'. It's one of the first movies around the age of thirteen that just floored me. I had no idea you could have a movie where a Gladiator throws his sword into the crowd. I was enthralled. To this day I'm pretty enthralled when 'Gladiator' comes on. Yes, it's a bit overlong and Joaquin Phoenix is a little much. But, damn it's entertaining. Thinking back Ridley Scott in many ways resurrected the sword and sandals type epic that he grew up watching with 'Gladiator'. One thing that is still obvious now when you watch this is that you're watching peak Russell Crowe. This was also an odd year for the Academy when Chocolat (Weinstein again) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon both made the Best Picture nominee list. I'll always rep for 'Gladiator' though, it deserved the win.

7. Moonlight (2016)

How can one forget 'Moonlight' swooping in for the win last year over the heavily favored La La Land? What a moment for the Academy and what felt like a shift in their voting tendencies. 'Moonlight' is a terrific movie, but when I left the theater the thought never crossed my mind that it could win Best Picture. A coming of age movie about a poor African-American kid that is also gay? There is no way the Academy would vote for that just a few years after awarding 'The Kings Speech'. It felt simply too progressive. But, I'm glad I was wrong. 'La La Land' is a great movie and one that deserves a lot of praise but at the end of the day 'Moonlight' felt so different. It was a film in uncharted waters, featuring actors no one knew, directed by an African-American director who wasn't on the radar and it being a gay coming of age story. 'Moonlight' winning was a truly shocking moment and one that will be remembered fondly in the future.

6. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

I'll never forget the first time I watched 'Million Dollar Baby'. I was at my grandparents house and my grandmother popped in the DVD. I didn't know what to expect, probably something more along the lines of 'Rocky'. I was very wrong. 'Million Dollar Baby' feels kind of like the forgotten gem of the 2000's. Maybe it's because we get two boxing films a year or maybe it's because everyone remembers how depressing it was. I don't know. That doesn't take away from it's accomplishments as a film though. Clint Eastwood and the entire crew brought their A game for 'Million Dollar Baby' and it shows when you watch it. It's an emotionally grounded film that isn't overly sentimental or out of reach. It hits a sweet spot for a sports drama that few are able to do with such ease. A lot of the film falls on the back of Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood. The film could've easily failed had the chemistry not been there between the two. But, they really felt like sparring partners and important figures in each others lives. 'Million Dollar Baby' is way more than a boxing movie, it's a touching look at how ambition shapes us and the blows that life can truly bring.

5. Spotlight (2015)

'Spotlight' carries the special distinction of being an incredibly important film within this group. It's a film that meant a lot to the city of Boston, to victims of sexual abuse and for anyone that cares about journalistic integrity. 'Spotlight' is probably a film that you're not going to want to rewatch very often. No one should accuse it of being an entertaining movie or one to watch for fun. That's not what it is. 'Spotlight' is a rare film that had great intentions and was able to match those intentions with the film itself. Rarely do you see a film with such respect for the true story it's telling. Personally, I love films that focus on journalism and I find them fascinating to begin with so I'm not surprised by where this landed on the list. It's my belief that this is the type film that will still be very important decades from now.

4. The Departed (2006)

We've finally made it to 'The Departed'. The film that finally got Martin Scorsese his Oscar. It's also the most entertaining film on this list. Though, I must say that Nicholson's performance feels more out of place every time I watch it. 'The Departed' is a very interesting film though when looking at Scorsese's movies and in many ways it resembles a greatest hits album. I'm not saying that is necessarily a bad thing. What really sells 'The Departed' is an engaging story (with one too many twists), a stacked cast and great direction coming from Marty. It's a film that has always been one of my personal favorites, even with it's flaws. Should it have been the film to win Best Picture for Marty? No. Is it a bad thing that it ended up being the one to seal the deal? No.

3. No Country For Old Men (2007)

It's funny to think back now, but many people in the film industry thought the Coen brothers would never win the Oscar. For so long they'd just done their own thing over in the sandbox away from the big Hollywood lots. Then came 'No Country For Old Men' which is possibly a perfection adaptation of an almost perfect book. Granted, the Coen brothers themselves admitted that most of the screenplay is taken straight from the book. But, 'No Country For Old Men' still has the ability to surprise even ten years later. Let us not forget how nihilistic the story is or how the ending is not your typical Academy award winning ending. At the end of the day though it's a movie that sticks with anyone who watches it. Whether it's Javier Bardem's haircut, Tommy Lee Jones' monologue or the coin flip. 'No Country For Old Men' is a bonafide classic and that's the reason I have it ranked at #3.

2. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Maybe the only film on this list that I'd call perfect. '12 Years a Slave' is a heartbreaking film. One of the most powerful films I've seen that deserves to stick with you over time. There are a few films that I think everyone should see at a certain point in their life and this is one of them. It's the best depiction of what slavery was actually like that we've seen. The dedication and commitment that the cast and crew show to tell this story honestly is praiseworthy. Not only did they create a fitting tribute to the men and women living in the slave trade, but managed to make a great film in the process. It was an easy pick for best picture in 2013 and would be any year. I'm not sure we will see anything like it for quite some time.

1) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

If you know me, you knew this would be sitting here at #1. I have elvish tattooed on my body, of course it's #1. This pick is 100% personal, though I do feel you can make the case that this is the best movie out of the seventeen. What they were able to do over the course of three movies and finish with 'Return of the King' won't be duplicated. It's why it tied Titanic for the most wins ever at the Oscars. Everything about the trilogy was a success. Putting together one of the great casts of all time and handling one of the great literary stories with such care is an accomplishment in itself. Lord of the Rings will always hold a special place in my heart, so I won't even attempt to explain me placing it here any longer. It's just the best.

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