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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
5.7
composite points
Biggest miss
1931
Cimarron · Δ 20
Closest call
1992
Unforgiven · 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
3 point gap
Highest rated
Dune: Part Two
83
Also in contention
  • 82The Wild Robot
  • 81Flow
2023
Called it
Oppenheimer
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
  • 85Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Also tied at the top
2022
Academy pick
Everything Everywhere All at Once
80
2 point gap
Highest rated
Aftersun
82
Also in contention
  • 82Top Gun: Maverick
  • 81The Banshees of Inisherin
2021
Academy pick
CODA
78
6 point gap
Highest rated
Jai Bhim
84
Also in contention
  • 81The Worst Person in the World
  • 80Spider-Man: No Way Home
2020
Academy pick
Nomadland
71
12 point gap
Highest rated
The Father
83
Also in contention
  • 83Hamilton
  • 82Soul
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
9 point gap
Highest rated
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
86
Also in contention
  • 82Mission: Impossible - Fallout
  • 82Roma
2017
Academy pick
The Shape of Water
79
5 point gap
Highest rated
Coco
84
Also in contention
  • 83Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • 83Dunkirk
2016
Academy pick
Moonlight
83
1 point gap
Highest rated
La La Land
84
Also in contention
  • 84Manchester by the Sea
  • 83Your Name.
2015
Academy pick
Spotlight
85
1 point gap
Highest rated
Inside Out
86
Also in contention
  • 85Mad Max: Fury Road
2014
Academy pick
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
81
6 point gap
Highest rated
Whiplash
87
Also in contention
  • 86Boyhood
  • 84The Grand Budapest Hotel
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
3 point gap
Highest rated
Django Unchained
84
Also in contention
  • 82Gangs of Wasseypur
  • 82The Dark Knight Rises
2011
Academy pick
The Artist
82
4 point gap
Highest rated
A Separation
86
Also in contention
  • 84Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2010
Academy pick
The King's Speech
83
4 point gap
Highest rated
Toy Story 3
87
Also in contention
  • 84Inception
  • 84The Social Network
2008
Academy pick
Slumdog Millionaire
82
8 point gap
Highest rated
The Dark Knight
90
Also in contention
  • 88WALL·E
  • 82The Hurt Locker
2007
Called it
No Country for Old Men
86
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
  • 86Ratatouille
Also tied at the top
2006
Academy pick
The Departed
85
2 point gap
Highest rated
Pan's Labyrinth
87
Also in contention
  • 85The Lives of Others
2004
Academy pick
Million Dollar Baby
83
2 point gap
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
17 point gap
Highest rated
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
88
Also in contention
  • 86The Pianist
  • 84City of God
2001
Academy pick
A Beautiful Mind
78
12 point gap
Highest rated
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
90
Also in contention
  • 89Spirited Away
  • 82Donnie Darko
2000
Academy pick
Gladiator
79
5 point gap
Highest rated
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
84
Also in contention
  • 84Memento
  • 82Almost Famous
1999
Academy pick
American Beauty
83
1 point gap
Highest rated
Toy Story 2
84
1998
Academy pick
Shakespeare in Love
78
10 point gap
Highest rated
Saving Private Ryan
88
Also in contention
  • 85The Truman Show
  • 79Rushmore
1997
Academy pick
Titanic
79
7 point gap
Highest rated
L.A. Confidential
86
Also in contention
  • 82Princess Mononoke
  • 82Good Will Hunting
1996
Academy pick
The English Patient
78
6 point gap
Highest rated
Fargo
84
Also in contention
  • 82Trainspotting
  • 80Sling Blade
1995
Academy pick
Braveheart
77
11 point gap
Highest rated
Toy Story
88
Also in contention
  • 82Before Sunrise
  • 82The Usual Suspects
1994
Academy pick
Forrest Gump
84
6 point gap
Highest rated
Pulp Fiction
90
Also in contention
  • 89The Shawshank Redemption
  • 86The Lion King
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
Academy pick
Unforgiven
83
0 point gap
Highest rated
Reservoir Dogs
83
Also in contention
  • 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
11 point gap
Highest rated
GoodFellas
88
Also in contention
  • 78Edward Scissorhands
  • 78Misery
1989
Academy pick
Driving Miss Daisy
75
7 point gap
Highest rated
Do the Right Thing
82
Also in contention
  • 80The Little Mermaid
  • 80Dead Poets Society
1988
Academy pick
Rain Man
76
11 point gap
Highest rated
Grave of the Fireflies
87
Also in contention
  • 83My Neighbor Totoro
  • 82Cinema Paradiso
1987
Academy pick
The Last Emperor
76
5 point gap
Highest rated
The Princess Bride
81
Also in contention
  • 81Full Metal Jacket
  • 78The Untouchables
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
1985
Academy pick
Out of Africa
69
17 point gap
Highest rated
Back to the Future
86
Also in contention
  • 85Ran
  • 81Brazil
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
3 point gap
Highest rated
Scarface
77
Also in contention
  • 77A Christmas Story
  • 76Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
1982
Academy pick
Gandhi
79
5 point gap
Highest rated
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
84
Also in contention
  • 82Blade Runner
1981
Academy pick
Chariots of Fire
69
16 point gap
Highest rated
Raiders of the Lost Ark
85
Also in contention
  • 83Das Boot
  • 77The Road Warrior
1980
Academy pick
Ordinary People
78
8 point gap
Highest rated
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
86
Also in contention
  • 83Raging Bull
  • 80The Elephant Man
1979
Academy pick
Kramer vs. Kramer
77
9 point gap
Highest rated
Alien
86
Also in contention
  • 86Apocalypse Now
  • 81Stalker
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
1977
Academy pick
Annie Hall
83
5 point gap
Highest rated
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
88
1976
Academy pick
Rocky
79
6 point gap
Highest rated
Taxi Driver
85
Also in contention
  • 80Network
  • 80All the President's Men
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
15 point gap
Highest rated
Rosemary's Baby
85
Also in contention
  • 84Once Upon a Time in the West
  • 832001: A Space Odyssey
1967
Academy pick
In the Heat of the Night
77
7 point gap
Highest rated
Cool Hand Luke
84
Also in contention
  • 80The Graduate
  • 79Bonnie and Clyde
1966
Academy pick
A Man for All Seasons
74
15 point gap
Highest rated
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
89
Also in contention
  • 80Persona
1965
Academy pick
The Sound of Music
75
4 point gap
Highest rated
For a Few Dollars More
79
1964
Academy pick
My Fair Lady
81
6 point gap
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
11 point gap
Highest rated
8½
83
Also in contention
  • 83The Great Escape
  • 81The Birds
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
4 point gap
Highest rated
Yojimbo
83
1960
Academy pick
The Apartment
84
5 point gap
Highest rated
Psycho
89
1959
Academy pick
Ben-Hur
82
5 point gap
Highest rated
North by Northwest
87
Also in contention
  • 86Some Like It Hot
1958
Academy pick
Gigi
75
12 point gap
Highest rated
Vertigo
87
Also in contention
  • 83Touch of Evil
1957
Academy pick
The Bridge on the River Kwai
83
9 point gap
Highest rated
12 Angry Men
92
Also in contention
  • 84Paths of Glory
1956
Academy pick
Around the World in 80 Days
69
12 point gap
Highest rated
The Killing
81
Also in contention
  • 80The Searchers
1955
Academy pick
Marty
77
6 point gap
Highest rated
The Night of the Hunter
83
Also in contention
  • 79Rebel Without a Cause
1954
Academy pick
On the Waterfront
83
6 point gap
Highest rated
Rear Window
89
Also in contention
  • 89Seven Samurai
1953
Academy pick
From Here to Eternity
77
2 point gap
Highest rated
Roman Holiday
79
1952
Academy pick
The Greatest Show on Earth
68
19 point gap
Highest rated
Singin' in the Rain
87
Also in contention
  • 83Ikiru
  • 81High Noon
1951
Academy pick
An American in Paris
76
7 point gap
Highest rated
A Streetcar Named Desire
83
Also in contention
  • 81Strangers on a Train
1950
Academy pick
All About Eve
85
1 point gap
Highest rated
Sunset Boulevard
86
Also in contention
  • 85Rashomon
1949
Academy pick
All the King's Men
75
10 point gap
Highest rated
The Third Man
85
1948
Academy pick
Hamlet
76
9 point gap
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
4 point gap
Highest rated
It's a Wonderful Life
86
Also in contention
  • 84Notorious
1944
Academy pick
Going My Way
76
9 point gap
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
14 point gap
Highest rated
Casablanca
89
Also in contention
  • 79Bambi
1941
Academy pick
How Green Was My Valley
78
10 point gap
Highest rated
Citizen Kane
88
Also in contention
  • 84The Maltese Falcon
  • 80Dumbo
1940
Academy pick
Rebecca
81
3 point gap
Highest rated
The Grapes of Wrath
84
Also in contention
  • 83Pinocchio
  • 82Fantasia
1939
Academy pick
Gone with the Wind
85
0 point gap
Highest rated
The Wizard of Oz
85
1937
Academy pick
The Life of Emile Zola
73
7 point gap
Highest rated
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
80
1936
Academy pick
The Great Ziegfeld
68
19 point gap
Highest rated
Modern Times
87
1934
Called it
It Happened One Night
82
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
20 point gap
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.

85
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
  • 80RRR
  • 78Judas and the Black Messiah
  • 80Minari
  • 81The Favourite
  • 83Call Me by Your Name
  • 81Interstellar
  • 82Amour
  • 86
    Ratatouille
  • 81Catch Me If You Can
  • 82Monsters, Inc.
  • 81Amores Perros
  • 78American History X
  • 81Boogie Nights
  • 81La haine
  • 85Three Colors: Red
  • 79Say Anything...
  • 81Die Hard
  • 76Planes, Trains & Automobiles
  • 84
    Aliens
  • 79Come and See
  • 75WarGames
  • 74Escape from New York
  • 79Airplane!
  • 80Monty Python's Life of Brian
  • 82
    Halloween
  • 79Carrie
  • 81Night of the Living Dead
  • 78From Russia with Love
  • 82The Great Dictator