The Worst Best Picture Winners of the 21st Century 

The Oscars are silly, as movie critic Adam Chitwood wrote. Hollywood awarding itself. But they are also “kind of great.” A night to celebrate an art form that is in some ways uniquely American. And a chance for ordinary people around the world to see Hollywood celebrities dressing up and behaving badly.

One thing the Oscars are not: awards for movies that really are the best of the year. (This is obvious to anyone that wants more from the movies they watch than just a mindless way to pass the time.) So it’s not surprising that some of the Oscar winners over the past 22 years have not been all that good.

Here’s my personal list of Oscar winners since 2000, ranked from worst to best. How does it compare to yours?

* Crash (2005) – the absolute worst!

* Parasite (2019)

* The Shape of Water (2017)

* Birdman (2014)

* Million Dollar Baby (2004)

* Chicago (2002)

* Gladiator (2000)

* Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

* Green Book (2018)

* The Hurt Locker (2009)

* The Lord of the Rings (2003)

* Nomadland (2020)

* 12 Years a Slave (2013)

* No Country for Old Men (2007)

* The King’s Speech (2010)

* The Artist (2011)

* Coda (2021)

* Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

* Moonlight 2016)

* The Departed (2006)

* Argo (2012)

* Spotlight (2015)

* A Beautiful Mind (2001) – the best!