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How did the Academy do?

Each Best Picture winner since 1930, next to the highest-rated film of the same year by our composite score. When they match, the Academy called it.

Accuracy
24%
21 / 87 hits
Average gap
5.8
composite points
Biggest miss
1931
Cimarron · Δ 20
Closest call
2023
Oppenheimer · Δ 0.0
2025
Called it
One Battle After Another
83
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

2024
Academy pick
Anora
80
Δ3.0
Highest rated
Dune: Part Two
83
Also in contention
  • 82The Wild Robot
  • 80Flow
2023
Academy pick
Oppenheimer
85
Δ0.0
Highest rated
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
85
2022
Academy pick
Everything Everywhere All at Once
80
Δ2.0
Highest rated
Aftersun
82
Also in contention
  • 82Top Gun: Maverick
  • 81The Banshees of Inisherin
  • 80RRR
2021
Academy pick
CODA
78
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Jai Bhim
84
Also in contention
  • 81The Worst Person in the World
  • 80Spider-Man: No Way Home
  • 78Licorice Pizza
2020
Academy pick
Nomadland
71
Δ12.0
Highest rated
The Father
83
Also in contention
  • 83Hamilton
  • 82Soul
  • 80Minari
2019
Called it
Parasite
89
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

2018
Academy pick
Green Book
77
Δ9.0
Highest rated
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
86
Also in contention
  • 82Mission: Impossible - Fallout
  • 82Roma
  • 81The Favourite
2017
Academy pick
The Shape of Water
79
Δ5.0
Highest rated
Coco
84
Also in contention
  • 83Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • 83Dunkirk
  • 83Call Me by Your Name
2016
Academy pick
Moonlight
83
Δ1.0
Highest rated
La La Land
84
Also in contention
  • 84Manchester by the Sea
  • 83Your Name.
2015
Academy pick
Spotlight
85
Δ1.0
Highest rated
Inside Out
86
Also in contention
  • 85Mad Max: Fury Road
2014
Academy pick
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
81
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Whiplash
87
Also in contention
  • 86Boyhood
  • 84The Grand Budapest Hotel
  • 81Interstellar
2013
Called it
12 Years a Slave
86
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

2012
Academy pick
Argo
81
Δ3.0
Highest rated
Django Unchained
84
Also in contention
  • 82The Dark Knight Rises
  • 82Gangs of Wasseypur
  • 82Amour
2011
Academy pick
The Artist
82
Δ4.0
Highest rated
A Separation
86
Also in contention
  • 84Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2010
Academy pick
The King's Speech
83
Δ4.0
Highest rated
Toy Story 3
87
Also in contention
  • 84The Social Network
  • 84Inception
2008
Academy pick
Slumdog Millionaire
82
Δ8.0
Highest rated
The Dark Knight
90
Also in contention
  • 88WALL·E
  • 82The Hurt Locker
2007
Academy pick
No Country for Old Men
85
Δ1.0
Highest rated
Ratatouille
86
Also in contention
  • 85There Will Be Blood
2006
Academy pick
The Departed
85
Δ2.0
Highest rated
Pan's Labyrinth
87
Also in contention
  • 85The Lives of Others
2004
Academy pick
Million Dollar Baby
83
Δ2.0
Highest rated
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
85
Also in contention
  • 84Before Sunset
2003
Called it
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
91
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

2002
Academy pick
Chicago
71
Δ17.0
Highest rated
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
88
Also in contention
  • 86The Pianist
  • 84City of God
  • 81Catch Me If You Can
2001
Academy pick
A Beautiful Mind
78
Δ12.0
Highest rated
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
90
Also in contention
  • 89Spirited Away
  • 82Monsters, Inc.
  • 82Donnie Darko
2000
Academy pick
Gladiator
79
Δ5.0
Highest rated
Memento
84
Also in contention
  • 84Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
  • 82Almost Famous
  • 81In the Mood for Love
1999
Academy pick
American Beauty
83
Δ1.0
Highest rated
Toy Story 2
84
1998
Academy pick
Shakespeare in Love
78
Δ10.0
Highest rated
Saving Private Ryan
88
Also in contention
  • 85The Truman Show
  • 79The Celebration
  • 79Rushmore
1997
Academy pick
Titanic
79
Δ7.0
Highest rated
L.A. Confidential
86
Also in contention
  • 82Good Will Hunting
  • 82Princess Mononoke
  • 81Boogie Nights
1996
Academy pick
The English Patient
78
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Fargo
84
Also in contention
  • 82Trainspotting
  • 80Sling Blade
1995
Academy pick
Braveheart
77
Δ11.0
Highest rated
Toy Story
88
Also in contention
  • 82The Usual Suspects
  • 82Before Sunrise
  • 81La haine
1994
Academy pick
Forrest Gump
84
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Pulp Fiction
90
Also in contention
  • 89The Shawshank Redemption
  • 86The Lion King
  • 85Three Colors: Red
1993
Called it
Schindler's List
92
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1992
Called it
Unforgiven
83
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

Also tied at the top
  • 83Reservoir Dogs
  • 83Aladdin
Also tied at the top
  • 83Reservoir Dogs
  • 83Aladdin
1991
Called it
The Silence of the Lambs
87
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1990
Academy pick
Dances with Wolves
77
Δ11.0
Highest rated
GoodFellas
88
Also in contention
  • 78Misery
  • 78Edward Scissorhands
1989
Academy pick
Driving Miss Daisy
75
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Do the Right Thing
81
Also in contention
  • 80The Little Mermaid
  • 80Dead Poets Society
  • 78Glory
1988
Academy pick
Rain Man
76
Δ11.0
Highest rated
Grave of the Fireflies
87
Also in contention
  • 83My Neighbor Totoro
  • 82Cinema Paradiso
  • 81Die Hard
1987
Academy pick
The Last Emperor
76
Δ5.0
Highest rated
The Princess Bride
81
Also in contention
  • 81Full Metal Jacket
  • 78The Untouchables
  • 76Evil Dead II
1986
Called it
Platoon
84
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

Also tied at the top
  • 84Aliens
Also tied at the top
  • 84Aliens
1985
Academy pick
Out of Africa
69
Δ17.0
Highest rated
Back to the Future
86
Also in contention
  • 85Ran
  • 81Brazil
  • 79Come and See
1984
Called it
Amadeus
84
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1983
Academy pick
Terms of Endearment
74
Δ3.0
Highest rated
A Christmas Story
77
Also in contention
  • 77Scarface
  • 76Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
  • 75WarGames
1982
Academy pick
Gandhi
79
Δ5.0
Highest rated
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
84
Also in contention
  • 82Blade Runner
1981
Academy pick
Chariots of Fire
69
Δ16.0
Highest rated
Raiders of the Lost Ark
85
Also in contention
  • 83Das Boot
  • 77The Road Warrior
  • 74Escape from New York
1980
Academy pick
Ordinary People
78
Δ8.0
Highest rated
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
86
Also in contention
  • 83Raging Bull
  • 80The Elephant Man
  • 79Airplane!
1979
Academy pick
Kramer vs. Kramer
77
Δ9.0
Highest rated
Alien
86
Also in contention
  • 86Apocalypse Now
  • 81Stalker
  • 80Monty Python's Life of Brian
1978
Called it
The Deer Hunter
82
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

Also tied at the top
  • 82Halloween
Also tied at the top
  • 82Halloween
1977
Academy pick
Annie Hall
83
Δ5.0
Highest rated
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
88
1976
Academy pick
Rocky
79
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Taxi Driver
85
Also in contention
  • 80Network
  • 80All the President's Men
  • 79Carrie
1975
Called it
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
86
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1974
Called it
The Godfather Part II
90
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1973
Called it
The Sting
82
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1972
Called it
The Godfather
94
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1971
Called it
The French Connection
82
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1970
Called it
Patton
80
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1969
Called it
Midnight Cowboy
77
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1968
Academy pick
Oliver!
70
Δ15.0
Highest rated
Rosemary's Baby
85
Also in contention
  • 84Once Upon a Time in the West
  • 832001: A Space Odyssey
  • 81Night of the Living Dead
1967
Academy pick
In the Heat of the Night
77
Δ7.0
Highest rated
Cool Hand Luke
84
Also in contention
  • 80The Graduate
  • 79Bonnie and Clyde
1966
Academy pick
A Man for All Seasons
74
Δ15.0
Highest rated
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
89
Also in contention
  • 80Persona
1965
Academy pick
The Sound of Music
75
Δ4.0
Highest rated
For a Few Dollars More
79
1964
Academy pick
My Fair Lady
81
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
87
Also in contention
  • 81Mary Poppins
  • 81Goldfinger
1963
Academy pick
Tom Jones
72
Δ11.0
Highest rated
The Great Escape
83
Also in contention
  • 838½
  • 81The Birds
  • 78From Russia with Love
1962
Called it
Lawrence of Arabia
87
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1961
Academy pick
West Side Story
79
Δ4.0
Highest rated
Yojimbo
83
1960
Academy pick
The Apartment
84
Δ5.0
Highest rated
Psycho
89
1959
Academy pick
Ben-Hur
82
Δ5.0
Highest rated
North by Northwest
87
Also in contention
  • 86Some Like It Hot
1958
Academy pick
Gigi
75
Δ12.0
Highest rated
Vertigo
87
Also in contention
  • 83Touch of Evil
1957
Academy pick
The Bridge on the River Kwai
83
Δ9.0
Highest rated
12 Angry Men
92
Also in contention
  • 84Paths of Glory
1956
Academy pick
Around the World in 80 Days
68
Δ13.0
Highest rated
The Killing
81
Also in contention
  • 80The Searchers
1955
Academy pick
Marty
77
Δ6.0
Highest rated
The Night of the Hunter
83
Also in contention
  • 79Rebel Without a Cause
1954
Academy pick
On the Waterfront
83
Δ6.0
Highest rated
Seven Samurai
89
Also in contention
  • 89Rear Window
1953
Academy pick
From Here to Eternity
77
Δ2.0
Highest rated
Roman Holiday
79
1952
Academy pick
The Greatest Show on Earth
68
Δ19.0
Highest rated
Singin' in the Rain
87
Also in contention
  • 83Ikiru
  • 81High Noon
1951
Academy pick
An American in Paris
76
Δ7.0
Highest rated
A Streetcar Named Desire
83
Also in contention
  • 81Strangers on a Train
1950
Academy pick
All About Eve
85
Δ1.0
Highest rated
Sunset Boulevard
86
Also in contention
  • 85Rashomon
1949
Academy pick
All the King's Men
75
Δ10.0
Highest rated
The Third Man
85
1948
Academy pick
Hamlet
76
Δ9.0
Highest rated
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
85
Also in contention
  • 82Bicycle Thieves
  • 77Rope
1946
Academy pick
The Best Years of Our Lives
82
Δ4.0
Highest rated
It's a Wonderful Life
86
Also in contention
  • 84Notorious
1944
Academy pick
Going My Way
68
Δ17.0
Highest rated
Double Indemnity
85
1943
Called it
Casablanca
89
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1942
Academy pick
Mrs. Miniver
75
Δ14.0
Highest rated
Casablanca
89
Also in contention
  • 79Bambi
1941
Academy pick
How Green Was My Valley
78
Δ10.0
Highest rated
Citizen Kane
88
Also in contention
  • 84The Maltese Falcon
  • 80Dumbo
1940
Academy pick
Rebecca
82
Δ2.0
Highest rated
The Grapes of Wrath
84
Also in contention
  • 83Pinocchio
  • 82Fantasia
  • 82The Great Dictator
1939
Called it
Gone with the Wind
85
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

Also tied at the top
  • 85The Wizard of Oz
Also tied at the top
  • 85The Wizard of Oz
1937
Academy pick
The Life of Emile Zola
73
Δ7.0
Highest rated
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
80
1936
Academy pick
The Great Ziegfeld
68
Δ19.0
Highest rated
Modern Times
87
1934
Called it
It Happened One Night
81
The Academy called it

The Best Picture winner was also the highest-rated film of the year by composite score.

1931
Academy pick
Cimarron
67
Δ20.0
Highest rated
City Lights
87
Also in contention
  • 82M

Methodology

Composite score blends IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic. The “actual best” of each year only counts if it clears two bars: multi-source critical coverage (RT or Metacritic, not just IMDb) and at least 100,000 IMDb votes. Canon older films (Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Vertigo, etc.) clear those comfortably; obscure films with thin scores get filtered out so the Academy isn't judged against data we can't trust.