Anora 2024
This year's front-runner; if it wins it would be the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner since at least the 1960s.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Draft
The Best Picture Movie Draft
February 21, 2025/ 82 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan
Sean, Amanda, and Chris draft Best Picture winners across five decades: the 1930s, '50s, '70s, '90s, and 2010s, plus a Best Picture loser.
22 films across 2 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
Before the draft: the state of Best Picturethe shrinking box office of a winner
The Hurt Locker 2008
Lowest-grossing winner to date at $17M domestic; beat Avatar.
Slumdog Millionaire 2008
$140M domestic, $385M worldwide: the kind of phenomenon winner that's rare now.
Oppenheimer 2023
One of only five post-2004 winners to top $100M domestic.
The draft drafting Best Picture winners
Sean Fennessey
1990s
The Silence of the Lambs 1991
First overall: the last film to win the Big Five, one of Demme's best.
Amanda Dobbins
Best Picture Loser
The Social Network 2010
Rates it over Inception, and endured a Nolan bit to say so.
Chris Ryan
1930s
All Quiet on the Western Front 1930
Not a favorite watch, but a five-star template for the Hollywood war film.
Best Picture Loser
Goodfellas 1990
One of the great crimes in Oscar history: lost to Dances with Wolves.
On the board, undrafted honorable mentions
Gone with the WindThe Wizard of OzYou Can't Take It with YouMr. Smith Goes to WashingtonThe Gay DivorceeAn American in ParisSingin' in the RainA Streetcar Named DesireA Place in the SunThe French ConnectionChinatownOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestJawsDog Day AfternoonNetworkAll the President's MenAnnie HallStar WarsComing HomeThe Deer HunterApocalypse NowKramer vs. KramerM*A*S*HThe English PatientGood Will HuntingFargoJerry MaguireBraveheartSense and SensibilityButch Cassidy and the Sundance KidGet Out
Also mentioned raised along the way
The 2024–25 race The BrutalistA Complete UnknownConclaveEmilia PérezWickedDune: Part TwoMickey 17
Best Picture and the box office The King's SpeechAvatarThe DepartedNo Country for Old MenCrashThe QueenThe Devil Wears PradaNomadlandCODAOliver!BarbieTop Gun: MaverickSpotlightBoyhoodBirdman
Oscar-night memories Rain ManApollo 13Pulp FictionForrest Gump
2010s winners, reconsidered 12 Years a SlaveThe Shape of WaterLady BirdDunkirkOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood1917
The blocker rule, by example PlatoonHannah and Her SistersChildren of a Lesser GodThe MissionA Room with a View
In passing CruisingLa Vie en RoseThe Dark Knight RisesIron ManMufasa: The Lion KingThe Lion KingIf Beale Street Could TalkChallengersGladiator IILincolnCaptain America: Brave New WorldThe Greatest ShowmanThe Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugBecoming Led ZeppelinWitnessThe Mosquito CoastMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldWhite SquallPicnic at Hanging RockThe Last WaveFearlessDead Poets SocietyThe Way BackThe Truman ShowThe Caine MutinyThe BountyOpen RangeHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2Dances with WolvesLawrence of ArabiaThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingIt's a Wonderful LifeThe Odyssey
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV The StudioThe OfferThe Godfather LegacyLionessThe Underground Railroad
Podcasts The RewatchablesThe WatchYou Must Remember This
Music Brat