As anticipation builds for the 98th Academy Awards in Hollywood this Sunday, movie fans everywhere are looking back at the cinematic giants that have defined the past two decades. The Best Picture trophy remains the most coveted honor in film, representing the pinnacle of storytelling and artistic achievement for the year.
This year’s ceremony promises to be particularly competitive, with ten films currently vying for the top prize. The contenders hoping to etch their names into history include Bugonia, F1: The Movie, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams.
Looking at the trajectory of the awards over the last twenty years, we have seen an incredible range of stories take home the gold. The streak began in 2006 with the win for Crash, followed by the gritty tension of The Departed and No Country for Old Men. As we moved through the years, the Academy recognized global hits like Slumdog Millionaire, the intense drama of The Hurt Locker, and the historical weight of The King’s Speech.
The subsequent decade saw a mix of bold experimental films and powerful biographical dramas. Titles such as The Artist, Argo, 12 Years A Slave, and Birdman kept audiences captivated, while the later half of the period honored Spotlight, Moonlight, The Shape of Water, and Green Book.
In more recent times, the industry has celebrated a shift toward more diverse and genre-bending narratives. Winners like Parasite, Nomadland, CODA, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Oppenheimer, and last year’s winner, Anora, have truly reflected the evolving landscape of modern cinema.
As we prepare to see which of this year’s ten nominees will join this prestigious list, Zoyols will be watching closely to see which film ultimately takes its place in the history books this Sunday night.
