Paul Haggis's ensemble drama Crash won the Best Picture Oscar in 2006, sparking considerable debate. The film weaves together multiple storylines of Los Angeles residents from different racial and social backgrounds whose lives intersect over a two-day period. Filmed on a relatively modest budget, the movie explores themes of race, prejudice, and connection in modern America. Its win was considered an upset over favorites like Brokeback Mountain and remains a highly discussed moment in Oscar history.

Martin Scorsese finally won his long-awaited Best Director Oscar for The Departed, which also took home Best Picture in 2007. This gripping crime thriller, a remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, is set in Boston and follows a state policeman who infiltrates the Irish mob and a mob mole who infiltrates the police force. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, delivering complex performances in a twisty, high-stakes narrative.

The Coen Brothers delivered a chilling modern Western that won Best Picture in 2008 with No Country for Old Men. Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, the film is a tense cat-and-mouse thriller set in 1980 Texas, involving a hunter who finds a large sum of money, a relentless killer, and a weary sheriff. Javier Bardem's portrayal of the chilling Anton Chigurh, with his distinctive haircut and cattle gun, earned him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and created one of cinema's most iconic villains.

Danny Boyle's energetic and visually dynamic Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars in 2009, winning Best Picture. The film tells the story of a young man from the Juhu slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'. His life story is revealed through flashbacks explaining how he knows the answers. The film's blend of romance, drama, and vibrant cinematography, along with its incredible soundtrack by A.R. Rahman (who won two Oscars), made it a global phenomenon.

Kathryn Bigelow made history when The Hurt Locker won Best Picture in 2010, becoming the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar. This intense drama follows an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team during the Iraq War. The film is known for its gritty realism and suspenseful sequences, capturing the immense pressure and psychological toll of defusing bombs. The actors underwent training to handle the gear and understand the procedures, adding to the film's authenticity.

Winning Best Picture in 2011, The King's Speech tells the compelling true story of King George VI's struggle with a stammer and his unlikely friendship with Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue. Colin Firth won the Best Actor Oscar for his nuanced portrayal of the reluctant monarch. The film beautifully portrays the personal challenge faced by a public figure and the power of human connection. The screenplay was based on Logue's diaries and notes, discovered by the screenwriter's mother.

A true throwback, The Artist won Best Picture in 2012 by captivating audiences with its silent film format and black-and-white cinematography. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film is a charming homage to Hollywood's transition from the silent era to talkies, following the fortunes of a declining male star and a rising female star. The film's lead, Jean Dujardin, became the first French actor to win the Best Actor Oscar. Even the adorable dog, Uggie, became a star, winning the Palm Dog award at Cannes!

Ben Affleck directed and starred in Argo, the Best Picture winner of 2013, a thrilling historical drama based on the true story of a CIA operation to rescue six Americans hiding in Tehran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. The audacious plan involved creating a fake science fiction film production. The film blends suspense with surprising moments of humor, capturing the absurdity and danger of the situation. The real Tony Mendez, the CIA technical operations officer depicted, was a consultant on the film, ensuring authenticity.

Steve McQueen's unflinching 12 Years a Slave earned the Best Picture award in 2014. Based on the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, a free Black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, the film is a brutal yet essential portrayal of American history. McQueen insisted on historical accuracy, even filming on actual plantations. Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar for her role, marking her feature film debut, delivering a performance of immense power and vulnerability that cemented her as a major talent.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Birdman, the Best Picture winner of 2015, is a dazzlingly ambitious film presented as if shot in a single, continuous take. This dark comedy follows a washed-up actor, famous for playing a superhero, as he attempts to mount a serious Broadway play. The 'single take' effect was achieved through clever editing and long, complex sequences. The film's score, primarily composed of jazz drumming by Antonio Sánchez, perfectly complements the chaotic and anxious energy of the narrative and its protagonist, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton.

Winning Best Picture in 2016, Spotlight is a powerful and gripping drama based on the true story of the Boston Globe's 'Spotlight' team investigation into child abuse cover-ups within the local Catholic Archdiocese. The film is a masterclass in procedural storytelling, focusing on the meticulous work of investigative journalism. The real reporters depicted in the film were consultants on set, ensuring accuracy in details from the newsroom layout to the characters' mannerisms. It's a film that highlights the crucial role of the press in holding institutions accountable.

Barry Jenkins' Moonlight took home the Best Picture Oscar in a truly unforgettable moment in 2017. This deeply personal and poetic film explores the life of a young Black man across three defining chapters of his life as he grapples with his identity and sexuality. The film was made on a modest budget of just $1.5 million and shot in 25 days, primarily in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood. Its raw honesty and stunning cinematography, using specific color palettes for each time period, resonate long after the credits roll.

Guillermo del Toro brought his signature blend of fantasy and heartfelt storytelling to win Best Picture in 2018 with The Shape of Water. This unique fairy tale for adults tells the story of a lonely mute woman who falls for an amphibious creature held captive in a government lab. Del Toro envisioned the film's core idea back in 2011 while working on Pan's Labyrinth. The design of the Amphibian Man was incredibly complex, requiring hours of makeup and prosthetics for actor Doug Jones, a frequent collaborator with del Toro known for his creature performances.

Make way for history! Bong Joon Ho's masterpiece, Parasite, didn't just win Best Picture in 2020; it became the first non-English language film ever to take home the Academy's top prize. This darkly comedic thriller is a masterclass in tone, seamlessly shifting between genres while delivering a searing critique of social inequality. The film was shot in 77 production days, and Bong Joon Ho's meticulous planning meant that the edit was incredibly smooth. It's a film that demands your attention and rewards repeat viewings, revealing new layers each time.