The Evolution of the Oscar Race

Early History:

The first Academy Awards were held in 1929, just two months after the first ever talkie, “The Jazz Singer,” was released. At that time, there were only 15 categories and fewer than 250 voters. The Best Picture category was not introduced until the 2nd Academy Awards in 1930. In the early years of the Oscars, there were no real frontrunners for Best Picture. It was not until 1939 that a film won more than 50% of the votes in the category. That film was “Gone with the Wind,” which is still considered one of the greatest films of all time.

However, even “Gone with the Wind” was not immune to Oscar’s snubs. The film’s director, Victor Fleming, did not receive a nomination for Best Director, and screenwriter Sidney Howard was also snubbed.

The 1940s:

The 1940s were a decade marked by war. Consequently, many of the films that were nominated for Oscars were war-themed. In 1940, the Best Picture nominees were “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Gone with the Wind,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Stagecoach.”

Two of the most popular films of all time, “Casablanca” (1942) and “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944), were both nominated for Best Picture, but they lost to other movies.

It was not until 1947 that an American film won Best Picture again. That film was “Miracle on 34th Street,” which tells the story of a man who claims to be Santa Claus.

The 1950s:

The 1950s were a golden age for Hollywood. Some of the most iconic films of all time were released during this decade, including “The African Queen” (1951), “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), “On the Waterfront” (1954), “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955), and “North by Northwest” (1959).

Although there were many great films during this decade, only a handful were actually nominated for Best Picture. This is because, at that time, the Academy favored more high-brow fare over popular entertainment. For example, in 1957, the critically acclaimed film “12 Angry Men” was nominated for Best Picture, but the widely popular “Gigi” was not.

This began to change in 1959 when “Ben-Hur” became the first film to win both the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. This was a sign that the Academy was beginning to take popular films more seriously.

The 1960s:

The 1960s were a turbulent time, both in America and around the world. This is reflected in the types of films that were nominated for Oscars during this decade. In 1968, the Best Picture nominees included “The Graduate,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” and “In the Heat of the Night.” These are all films that deal with social issues such as interracial marriage, class conflict, and racism.

Although there were many great films made in the 1960s, only a few of them won Best Picture. This is because the Academy continued to favor more high-brow fare. For example, in 1969, the widely popular musical “The Sound of Music” lost to the critically acclaimed drama “Midnight Cowboy.”

The 1970s:

The 1970s were a decade of change. The Vietnam War ended, and America went through a period of self-discovery. This is reflected in the types of films that were nominated for Oscars during this decade. In 1975, the Best Picture nominees included “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” and “Taxi Driver.” These are all films that deal with social issues such as mental illness, homophobia, and urban crime.

Although there were many great films made in the 1970s, only a few of them won Best Picture. This is because the Academy continued to favor more high-brow fare. For example, in 1978, the widely popular musical “Grease” lost to the critically acclaimed drama “The Deer Hunter.”

The 1980s:

The 1980s were a decade of excess. This is reflected in the types of films that were nominated for Oscars during this decade. In 1981, the Best Picture nominees included “Reds,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” These are all films that deal with larger-than-life characters and scenarios.

However, not all of the Best Picture nominees were blockbusters. In 1984, the critically acclaimed film “Amadeus” won Best Picture, beating out the widely popular “The Terminator.”

The 1990s:

The 1990s were a decade of change. The Cold War ended, and America became the sole superpower. This is reflected in the types of films that were nominated for Oscars during this decade. In 1993, the Best Picture nominees included “Schindler’s List,” ” Forrest Gump,” and “Pulp Fiction.” These are all films that deal with social issues such as the Holocaust, racism, and violence.

Although there were many great films made in the 1990s, only a few of them won Best Picture. This is because the Academy continued to favor more high-brow fare. For example, in 1999, the widely popular film “The Matrix” lost to the critically acclaimed drama “American Beauty.”

The 2000s:

The 2000s were a decade of change. 9/11 happened, and America went to war. This is reflected in the types of films that were nominated for Oscars during this decade. In 2002, the Best Picture nominees included “A Beautiful Mind,” “Gosford Park,” and “Munich.” These are all films that deal with social issues such as mental illness, class conflict, and terrorism.

However, not all of the Best Picture nominees were dark and serious. In 2006, the feel-good film “The Departed” won Best Picture, beating out the more controversial “Babel.”

The 2010s:

The 2010s were a decade of change. The world became more connected, and America became more divided. This is reflected in the types of films that were nominated for Oscars during this decade. In 2012, the Best Picture nominees included “Argo,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” These are all films that deal with social issues such as terrorism, poverty, and mental illness.

However, not all of the Best Picture nominees were dark and serious. In 2013, the feel-good film “12 Years a Slave” won Best Picture, beating out the more controversial “Gravity.”

The 2020s:

The 2020s are a decade of change. The world is facing a global pandemic, and America is in the midst of a political upheaval. This is reflected in the types of films that are being nominated for Oscars. In 2020, the Best Picture nominees include “Nomadland,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Promising Young Woman.” These are all films that deal with social issues such as homelessness, injustice, and sexual assault.

It remains to be seen which film will win Best Picture in 2020. However, one thing is certain: the Academy will continue to favor films that deal with important social issues.

Conclusion:

Over the past few decades, the Academy has shown a preference for films that deal with important social issues. This trend is likely to continue in the 2020s.