Ranking the best Oscar ceremonies of the past 50 years
Ranking the best Oscar ceremonies of the past 50 years
The isn't just a chance for actors, directors, and producers to recognize their peers. It's also a televised phenomenon that tens of millions of viewers tune into every year. Whether you come for the couture gowns on the red carpet, inevitable goof-ups by presenters, or inspiring speeches from winning talent, it's hard to deny the appeal of the Oscars.
Much ado is made about the awards ceremony host. Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars nine times, second place to only who hosted 19 times (alone or as a team), including before the Academy Awards were broadcast on television. Credit is giving to the likes of Crystal and Hope, as well as Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart, and Ellen Degeneres. Other hosts are remembered less kindly; from the mismatch to about women actors who'd gone topless in films.
Some ceremonies have undoubtedly been more unforgettable than others. From Hattie McDaniel breaking through the glass ceiling to become the first African American to win an Oscar, to three days after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, to the " at the 2017 Oscars, the Academy Awards ceremonies are representative of American entertainment and culture at that time (or at least provide us with a lasting blooper reel of the biggest entertainers of that year). To find out which Academy Awards ceremonies resonated the most with audiences, 麻豆原创 ranked each televised broadcast by . Any ties were broken by the number of IMDb user votes.
Read through the list to find out which Oscar hosts flopped on Hollywood's biggest night and which award ceremonies delighted audiences around the world.
#50. The 91st Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.2
- IMDb votes: 1,108
- Year: 2019
The was the first Oscars ceremony in 30 years to forego a host. Kevin Hart had accepted the position, only to step down after old came under scrutiny. Organizers for the show also hoped going without a host would help trim the awards ceremony down to three hours (as opposed to the three hours, 53 minutes of the year prior). Noteworthy moments from the awards themselves included Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's emotional performance of "Shallow;" Brian Tyree Henry and Melissa McCarthy's get-ups and makeup for awarding (the award went to Ruth E. Carter for "Black Panther," making her the first African American to win the category and only second to win a non-acting Oscar); Spike Lee's first competitive Oscar win (Best Adapted Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman"), and the controversial "" win for .
[Pictured: Lady Gaga accepts the award for Best Original Song during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 24, 2019.]
#49. The 90th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.6
- IMDb votes: 1,350
- Year: 2018
In 2018, multihyphenate Jordan Peele made history by becoming the for 鈥淕et Out.鈥 Presenters and attendees were also abuzz about the #MeToo movement, and several speeches called for equal pay and representation for women, minorities, and other disenfranchised groups in Hollywood.
[Pictured: Director Jordan Peele poses in the press room with the Oscar for best original screenplay during the 90th Annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018.]
#48. The 60th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.7
- IMDb votes: 185
- Year: 1988
At the Oscars in 1988, Michael Douglas took home Best Actor for his role in "Wall Street." Cher for her role in 鈥淢oonstruck鈥 and famously accepted her award by saying, 鈥淎nd I don't think that this means that I am somebody, but... I guess I'm on my way.鈥
[Pictured: Michael Douglas shows his Oscar for best actor in the film "Wall Street鈥 and stands with Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin during the 60th Annual Academy Awards on April 11, 1988.]
#47. The 68th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.7
- IMDb votes: 308
- Year: 1996
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the . Big winners included Nicolas Cage, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, but the ceremony itself didn't win in the eyes of fans.
[Pictured from L-R: Best Actor winner Nicolas Cage ("Leaving Las Vegas"), Best Actress Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking"), Best Supporting Actress Mira Sorvino (鈥淢ighty Aphrodite"), and Best Supporting Actor Kevin Spacey ("The Usual Suspects"), pose while holding their Oscars at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles on March 25 at the 68th Annual Academy Awards.]
#46. The 58th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.8
- IMDb votes: 179
- Year: 1986
Hosted by acting powerhouses , the 1986 Oscars scored high marks from the New York Times TV critic John J. O'Connor for the "best Oscar show in years, perhaps ever;" and "a smartly paced show for, as the phrase has it, kids of all ages." Highlights included Irena Cara's "Hymp to the Losers" (paired with scenes from past classics that didn't win Oscars, from "The Wizard of Oz" to "E.T."), Robin Williams' repeated digs on then-Motion Picture Association of America president Jack Valenti, and Jim Henson puppets throughout鈥攊ncluding Statler and Waldorf enjoying box seats).
[Pictured: Jack Valenti (L), president of the Motion Picture Association of America, stands with Argentine Director Luis Puenzo and actress Norma Aleando after Puenzo won an Oscar for the Best Foreign Film for "Official Story" at the 58th Annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1986.]
#45. The 61st Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.8
- IMDb votes: 203
- Year: 1989
Dustin Hoffman famously took home the Best Actor award for his role in 鈥溾 at the 61st Academy Awards, which was apparently otherwise largely forgettable. Another highlight of the evening was Tom Cruise presenting the award for Best Actress, which went to Jodie Foster for her role as Sarah Tobias in "The Accused."
[Pictured: Jodie Foster stands before a statue of the Academy Award Oscar as she arrives for the 61th Annual Academy Award nominee lunch on March 21, 1989. She received the Oscar for Best Performance by an actress for her role in "The Accused.鈥漖
#44. The 57th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.9
- IMDb votes: 123
- Year: 1985
The 1985 Academy Awards ceremony is best known for one moment: When Sally Field accepted her award for Best Actress with a heartfelt cry of 鈥 A close second is the scene pictured above when actor Michael Douglas kissed his father, Kirk Douglas.
[Pictured: Michael Douglas (L) kisses his father Kirk Douglas (C) next to Burt Lancaster (R) during the 57th Annual Academy Awards, on March 25, 1985, in Hollywood, California.]
#43. The 74th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 5.9
- IMDb votes: 989
- Year: 2002
In 2002, 鈥淪hrek鈥 took home the award for while 鈥淎 Beautiful Mind鈥 won for Best Picture. Sidney Poitier also won an Honorary Award for his distinguished career and groundbreaking work as an African-American actor. But what stole the show when Halle Berry became the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Monster's Ball."
[Pictured: Oscar Winner Halle Berry Winner Accepts The Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in the film "Monster's Ball," while actor Russell Crowe applauds her during the 74th Annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002.]
#42. The 48th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6
- IMDb votes: 101
- Year: 1976
鈥淥ne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest鈥 . Jack Nicholson won Best Actor, Louise Fletcher won Best Actress, Milos Forman won for his directing, and the film won Best Picture overall and Best Writing.
[Pictured: Actor Jack Nicholson was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film 鈥淥ne Flew Over the Cuckoo鈥檚 Nest鈥 in 1975.]
#41. The 56th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6
- IMDb votes: 102
- Year: 1984
took home the Oscars for Best Actor and Best Actress, both for their roles in "Terms of Endearment," at the 56th Academy Awards. The film also won Best Picture, Best Writing, and Best Directing.
[Pictured: Actress Shirley MacLaine was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film "Terms of Endearment" in 1983.]
#40. The 52nd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.1
- IMDb votes: 123
- Year: 1980
1980 was the year that Meryl Streep for Best Actress in 鈥淜ramer vs. Kramer.鈥 She since then, more than any actor or actress since the award's origin.
[Pictured: Actress Meryl Streep wins her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 鈥淜ramer vs Kramer鈥 in 1980.]
#39. The 54th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 92
- Year: 1982
In 1982, Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda respectively won the Best Actress and Best Actor categories for 鈥.鈥 That was only the fifth time in Oscar history that the winners in those categories acted in the same film.
[Pictured: Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda in the 1982 Academy Award-winning film 鈥淥n Golden Pond.鈥漖
#38. The 55th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 115
- Year: 1983
The ceremony had four hosts: Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, and Richard Pryor. 鈥淕andhi鈥 was the darling of the Academy, winning eight of its 11 nominations鈥攊ncluding Best Picture.
[Pictured: Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley attends the nominees luncheon for the 74th Annual Academy Awards in 2002. Kingsley won the Best Actor award in 1983 for his portrayal of Mohandas Gandhi in the film 鈥淕andhi.鈥漖
#37. The 66th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 299
- Year: 1994
1994 was . Two of his films鈥斺淛urassic Park鈥 and 鈥淪chindler's List鈥濃攚on a total of 10 awards. He also won his first Oscar for Best Picture for 鈥淪chindler's List.鈥
[Pictured: Director Steven Spielberg poses with his Oscars for best director and best picture for his movie "Schindler's List" at the 66th Annual Academy Awards on March 21, 1994.]
#36. The 71st Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 514
- Year: 1999
, opening the proceedings in full Elizabethan costume as a nod to nominated films like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Elizabeth." Meanwhile, Roberto Benigni won Oscars for Best Foreign Film and Best Actor in "Life Is Beautiful."
[Pictured: Italian actor Robero Benigni holds his Oscar for best actor for his role in "Life is Beautiful" during the 71st Academy Awards.]
#35. The 77th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 1,082
- Year: 2005
Clint Eastwood was 74 years old when he became the in 2005 for 鈥淢illion Dollar Baby.鈥 The film also won Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.
[Pictured from L: Producer Tom Rosenberg, Director Clint Eastwood, and producer Al Ruddy pose with their Best Picture Oscars for 鈥淢illion Dollar Baby鈥 on Feb. 27, 2005.]
#34. The 42nd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- IMDb votes: 108
- Year: 1970
Iconic Western actor John Wayne at the 42nd Annual Academy Awards for playing U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn in 鈥淭rue Grit.鈥 A young Barbra Streisand presented the award.
[Pictured: Actor John Wayne (1907-1979) stands with actress and singer Barbara Streisand and holds his Oscar for his role in "True Grit."]
#33. The 73rd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- IMDb votes: 787
- Year: 2001
鈥溾 swept several of the big categories in 2001鈥攚inning Best Actor, Costume Design, Sound, and Visual Effects. Steven Soderbergh was also nominated twice in the Best Directing category, for his work on 鈥淓rin Brockovich鈥 and 鈥淭raffic鈥 (he won for the latter).
[Pictured: Oscar winners Julia Roberts (Best Actress winner for "Erin Brockovich") and Russell Crowe (Best Actor winner for "Gladiator") pose backstage at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on March 25, 2001.]
#32. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- IMDb votes: 1,487
- Year: 2011
The 2011 Oscars ceremony didn't see any films rack up a ton of awards. Instead, 鈥淭he King's Speech鈥 and 鈥淚nception鈥 . Meanwhile, Christian Bale won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "The Fighter," Natalie Portman won Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Black Swan," Melissa Leo won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "The Fighter," and Colin Firth won Best Actor for "The King's Speech."
[Pictured (L-R): Actor Christian Bale (Best Actor in a Supporting Role winner for "The Fighter"), Natalie Portman (Best Actress in a Leading Role winner for "Black Swan") Melissa Leo (Best Actor in a Supporting Role winner for "The Fighter"), and Colin Firth (Best Actor in a Leading Role winner for "The King's Speech"), pose in the press room during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.]
#31. The 43rd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 56
- Year: 1971
" and several other major categories in 1971. Orson Welles also took home an honorary award for his contributions to the industry, while Helen Hayes (pictured here) was awarded an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Airport."
[Pictured: Actor John Mills holding the Oscar which he won for his role in the David Lean film "Ryan's Daughter."]
#30. The 46th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 107
- Year: 1974
Composer and conductor . The composer won all three music awards: Best Song for 鈥淭he Way We Were,鈥 Best Original Dramatic Score for 鈥淭he Way We Were,鈥 and Best Scoring for 鈥淭he Sting.鈥
[Pictured: American comedian Groucho Marx (1890-1977) with his Honorary Award, given at the 46th Annual Academy Awards.]
#29. The 62nd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 246
- Year: 1990
Funnyman in 1990 when 鈥淒riving Miss Daisy鈥 took home the award for Best Picture. Disney's 鈥淭he Little Mermaid鈥 won for Original Score.
[Pictured: British-born actress Jessica Tandy acknowledges the applause after receiving the Oscar for best actress for her role in "Driving Miss Daisy" during the 62nd Annual Academy Awards.]
#28. The 72nd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 590
- Year: 2000
After his win for Actor In a Leading Role in 鈥淎merican Beauty鈥 at the 2000 ceremony, Kevin Spacey became the of Actor in a Leading Role and Actor in a Supporting Role. Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony for the seventh time.
[Pictured: Actor Kevin Spacey (L) and director Sam Mendes hold their Oscars for Best Actor and Best Director for "American Beauty" at the 72nd Annual Academy Awards.]
#27. The 88th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 1,942
- Year: 2016
After four nominations, for his role in 鈥淭he Revenant.鈥 The film also won the Best Directing and Best Cinematography categories.
[Pictured: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio accepts the Best Actor award for 'The Revenant' onstage during the 88th Annual Academy Awards.]
#26. The 63rd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.5
- IMDb votes: 317
- Year: 1991
When Joe Pesci won Best Supporting Actor for "Goodfellas," he gave one of the . He simply said, "It was my privilege. Thank you."
[Pictured: Actor Joe Pesci smiles as he holds up his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Goodfellas" at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards.]
#25. The 69th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.5
- IMDb votes: 377
- Year: 1997
鈥淭he English Patient鈥 with wins in nine categories. Billy Crystal emceed the ceremony. In the photo above, Frances McDormand(at center), Best Actress Oscar winner for her role in "Fargo," poses with her husband Joel Coen and his brother Ethan Coen, who jointly won the Best Original Screenplay for "Fargo."
[Pictured: Frances McDormand (C), Best Actress Oscar winner for her role in "Fargo," poses with her husband Joel Coen (R) and his brother Ethan Coen (L), who jointly won the Best Original Screenplay for "Fargo," at the 69th Academy Awards ceremony.]
#24. The 75th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.5
- IMDb votes: 936
- Year: 2003
Three days before the 75th Annual Academy Awards, the United States declared war on Iraq. The ceremony proceeded as scheduled, just with a less glamorous red carpet. 鈥淐hicago鈥 won Best Picture.
[Pictured from L: Best Actor winners Adrien Brody, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Chris Cooper pose during the 75th Annual Academy Awards.]
#23. The 44th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 73
- Year: 1972
The iconic theme from 鈥" won the award for Best Song in 1972 and has been a pop-culture reference since. Singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes became the first African American to win an Oscar in any music category.
[Pictured from L: Actors Raquel Welch, Gene Hackman, and Cloris Leachman (holding her Best Supporting Actress Oscar) at the 44th Annual Academy Awards.]
#22. The 45th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 85
- Year: 1973
Charlton Heston was originally slated to host the ceremony with Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, and Rock Hudson, but . Clint Eastwood filled in for him until he arrived.
[Pictured: Joel Grey, with the Oscar he won for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in 鈥淐abaret鈥, which took home a total of eight Oscars in 1973.]
#21. The 64th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 314
- Year: 1992
In 1992 "" became the first picture since "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to sweep the five biggest categories: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Directing, Best Writing, and Best Picture. The movie had such a big impact on pop culture that host Billy Crystal appeared onstage at one point in a Hannibal Lecter mask.
[Pictured: Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins arrives at the 67th annual Academy Awards ceremony.]
#20. The 87th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 3,597
- Year: 2015
2015 was a wonderful year for actors who were . About half of the nominees in the acting categories were first-timers, and three of them鈥擡ddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette, and J.K. Simmons鈥攚on.
[Pictured: Actor Eddie Redmayne speaks onstage after winning his award for best Actor in a Leading Role in 鈥淭he Theory of Everything鈥 during the 87th Annual Academy Awards.]
#19. The 67th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.7
- IMDb votes: 427
- Year: 1995
When he won , Tom Hanks became the first person to win back-to-back statues in the category. The movie also won Best Picture and four additional Oscars.
[Pictured: Actor Tom Hanks poses with his Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Forrest Gump in the film by the same name.]
#18. The 70th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.7
- IMDb votes: 679
- Year: 1998
In 1998, 鈥淭itanic鈥 not only won Best Picture and 10 other awards, but also tied the records for most nominations earned by a single film (鈥淎ll About Eve鈥) and most awards won by a single film (鈥淏en Hur鈥). This was also the , with a whopping 87 million estimated viewers in the United States. "Good Will Hunting" and "L.A. Confidential" each got nine nominations, with the former winning Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robin Williams) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck).
[Pictured: Actors-writers Matt Damon (L) and Ben Affleck (R) pose with actor Robin Williams with their Oscars for "Good Will Hunting" at the 70th Annual Academy Awards. Damon and Affleck won Best Original Screenplay and Williams won for Best Supporting Actor.]
#17. The 49th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 116
- Year: 1977
鈥淩ocky鈥 was the film to beat at the : It ended up taking home the awards for Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Film Editing. Although Sylvester Stallone didn't win, he became the third person in history to be nominated as both an actor and screenwriter in the same year.
[Pictured: Actor Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the film 鈥淩ocky鈥 which was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 1976 and won three.]
#16. The 76th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 1,172
- Year: 2004
In 2004, "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" accomplished a feat that few other films have: It it was nominated for. Screenwriter, producer, and lyricist Fran Walsh netted three awards for her roles in the film, becoming the first woman ever to do so.
[Pictured: Barrie M Osborne (L), Peter Jackson (C) and Fran Walsh (R), pose with their Oscars for Best Picture for "The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King" during the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004.]
#15. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 1,683
- Year: 2010
The 2017 Academy Awards are best known for an embarrassing snafu. One of the PricewaterhouseCoopers officials responsible for tallying votes from one of 鈥淟a La Land鈥's earlier wins, although 鈥淢oonlight鈥 actually won Best Picture. A few moments later, crew announced that there had been a mistake and the correct winners took the stage.
[Pictured: Director Kathryn Bigelow accepts Best Director award for "The Hurt Locker" onstage during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.]
#14. The 89th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 1,775
- Year: 2017
Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin co-hosted the 2010 ceremony, . Notably, 鈥淭he Hurt Locker鈥 director Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Best Directing category.
[Pictured from L: "La La Land" producer Jordan Horowitz holds up the winner card reading actual Best Picture winner "Moonlight" with actor Warren Beatty and host Jimmy Kimmel onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards Feb. 26, 2017.]
#13. The 47th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 83
- Year: 1975
鈥淭he Godfather: Part II鈥 , including the coveted Best Picture category鈥攖he first sequel to do so. The awards marked the first and only time every nominee for Costume Design was from the same studio.
[Pictured: Al Pacino in the film 鈥淭he Godfather: Part II,鈥 which won six Academy Awards in 1975 including Best Picture.]
#12. The 65th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 327
- Year: 1993
Clint Eastwood to win an award for directing a movie in which he also took the starring role鈥斺淯nforgiven.鈥 The film also took home the Best Picture award.
[Pictured: Actor Clint Eastwood (C) holds up his two Oscars that he won for Best Director and Best Picture for "Unforgiven". Eastwood poses with presenters, actor Jack Nicholson (L) and entertainer Barbra Streisand on at the 65th Annual Academy Awards on March 29, 1993.]
#11. The 78th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 1,047
- Year: 2006
the 78th Academy Awards ceremony, at which "Crash" took home the statue for Best Picture (considered to be for critical darling "Brokeback Mountain") and the supremely popular "March of the Penguins" won Best Documentary Feature.
[Pictured: Directors Yves Darondeau (center left) and Luc Jacquet (center right) accept the Best Documentary Feature on stage during the 78th Annual Academy Awards.]
#10. The 80th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 1,427
- Year: 2008
In the months leading up this Oscars ceremony, there was some uncertainty over whether or not it would take place: The industry-wide Writers Guild of America strike was only resolved . Jon Stewart hosted. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen took home Best Director for "No Country for Old Men."
[Pictured: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen accept the award for Best Director for the film "No Country for Old Men" during the 80th Annual Academy Awards]
#9. The 53rd Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.1
- IMDb votes: 113
- Year: 1981
After an assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan, the 53rd Annual Academy Awards was . Johnny Carson emceed the evening for the third consecutive year.
[Pictured: Johnny Carson.]
#8. The 84th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.2
- IMDb votes: 1,800
- Year: 2012
In 2012, 鈥攁 film in which he only speaks two words. That's the smallest amount of dialogue of any winning performance since the decline of silent films.
[Pictured: Actor Jean Dujardin accepts the Best Actor Award for 'The Artist' onstage during the 84th Annual Academy Awards.]
#7. The 51st Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- IMDb votes: 145
- Year: 1979
Two standing ovations happened at the Academy Awards in 1979 for . 鈥淭he Deer Hunter,鈥 starring Robert De Niro and Wynn Hammer, landed Best Picture.
[Pictured: Actors Jane Fonda (R) and Jon Voight hold up their Oscars for Best Actress and Actor for roles in "Coming Home" during the 51st Annual Academy Awards.]
#6. The 79th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- IMDb votes: 1,353
- Year: 2007
In 2007, Martin Scorsese for directing "The Departed" after seven previous nominations. "An Inconvenient Truth" won for Best Documentary Feature, which brought former Vice President Al Gore to stage (along with director Davis Guggenheim and other members of the crew).
[Pictured: Martin Scorsese.]
#5. The 85th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- IMDb votes: 3,051
- Year: 2013
George Clooney produced and acted in 鈥淎rgo,鈥 . He was also nominated in both lead and supporting acting categories, directing, and original and adapted screenplay.
[Pictured: Director Martin Scorsese accepts the award for Best Direction during the 79th Annual Academy Awards.]
#4. The 59th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- IMDb votes: 247
- Year: 1987
While Paul Newman won his first Oscar for Best Actor in 鈥淭he Color of Money鈥 in 1987, . After being previously nominated six times and failing to take home any statues, Newman thought being away might help his chances.
[Pictured: Actor Paul Newman.]
#3. The 86th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- IMDb votes: 3,805
- Year: 2014
鈥12 Years a Slave鈥 won top honors in 2014, making director Steve McQueen the . Alfonso Cuar贸n won Best Directing for 鈥淕ravity,鈥 becoming the first Latinx winner in that category.
[Pictured: Host Ellen DeGeneres poses for a selfie taken by Bradley Cooper with (clockwise from L-R) Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'o, Angelina Jolie, Peter Nyong'o Jr. and Bradley Cooper during the 86th Annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.]
#2. The 81st Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- IMDb votes: 2,210
- Year: 2009
, at which 鈥淪lumdog Millionaire鈥 won Best Picture and seven other categories. The was nominated for 10 awards in total.
[Pictured: Host Hugh Jackman (R) and singer Beyonce Knowles perform during the 81st Annual Academy Awards.]
#1. The 50th Annual Academy Awards
- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- IMDb votes: 204
- Year: 1978
The Academy Awards ceremony with the highest ranking among viewers took place in 1978. Woody Allen's ", while "Star Wars" won six categories.
[Pictured: Richard Dreyfuss won the Academy Award for Best Actor in the film "The Goodbye Girl" in 1978.]