Ranking the best Oscar ceremonies of the past 50 years

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December 16, 2019
Kevin Winter // Getty Images

Ranking the best Oscar ceremonies of the past 50 years

The Academy Awards isn’t just a chance for actors, directors, and producers to recognize their peers. It’s also a televised phenomenon that tens of millions of viewers tune into every year. Whether you come for the couture gowns on the red carpet, inevitable goof-ups by presenters, or inspiring speeches from winning talent, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the Oscars.

Much ado is made about the awards ceremony host. Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars nine times, second place to only Bob Hope who hosted 19 times (alone or as a team), including before the Academy Awards were broadcast on television. Credit is giving to the likes of Crystal and Hope, as well as Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart, and Ellen Degeneres. Other hosts are remembered less kindly; from the Anne Hathaway-James Franco mismatch to Seth MacFarlane's tone-deaf and offensive singing routine about women actors who'd gone topless in films. 

Some ceremonies have undoubtedly been more unforgettable than others. From Hattie McDaniel breaking through the glass ceiling to become the first African American to win an Oscar, to Steve Martin hosting the Academy Awards three days after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, to the “La La Land”/”Moonlight” Best Picture mix-up at the 2017 Oscars, the Academy Awards ceremonies are representative of American entertainment and culture at that time (or at least provide us with a lasting blooper reel of the biggest entertainers of that year). To find out which Academy Awards ceremonies resonated the most with audiences, Stacker ranked each televised broadcast by IMDb user ratings. Any ties were broken by the number of IMDb user votes.

Read through the list to find out which Oscar hosts flopped on Hollywood’s biggest night and which award ceremonies delighted audiences around the world.

#50. The 91st Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.2
- IMDb votes: 1,108
- Year: 2019

The 91st Annual Academy Awards was the first Oscars ceremony in 30 years to forego a host. Kevin Hart had accepted the position, only to step down after old homophobic tweets came under scrutiny. Organizers for the show also hoped going without a host would help trim the awards ceremony down to three hours (as opposed to the three hours, 53 minutes of the year prior). Noteworthy moments from the awards themselves included Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's emotional performance of "Shallow;" Brian Tyree Henry and Melissa McCarthy's get-ups and makeup for awarding Best Costume Design (the award went to Ruth E. Carter for "Black Panther," making her the first African American to win the category and only second to win a non-acting Oscar); Spike Lee's first competitive Oscar win (Best Adapted Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman"), and the controversial "Green Book" win for Best Picture.

[Pictured: Lady Gaga accepts the award for Best Original Song during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Feb. 24, 2019.]

#49. The 90th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.6
- IMDb votes: 1,350
- Year: 2018

In 2018, multihyphenate Jordan Peele made history by becoming the first African American to win Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out.” Presenters and attendees were also abuzz about the #MeToo movement, and several speeches called for equal pay and representation for women, minorities, and other disenfranchised groups in Hollywood.

[Pictured: Director Jordan Peele poses in the press room with the Oscar for best original screenplay during the 90th Annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018.]

#48. The 60th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.7
- IMDb votes: 185
- Year: 1988

At the Oscars in 1988, Michael Douglas took home Best Actor for his role in "Wall Street." Cher was named Best Actress for her role in “Moonstruck” and famously accepted her award by saying, “And I don't think that this means that I am somebody, but... I guess I'm on my way.”

[Pictured: Michael Douglas shows his Oscar for best actor in the film "Wall Street” and stands with Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin during the 60th Annual Academy Awards on April 11, 1988.]

#47. The 68th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.7
- IMDb votes: 308
- Year: 1996

Whoopi Goldberg hosted the 1996 Academy Awards. Big winners included Nicolas Cage, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, but the ceremony itself didn't win in the eyes of fans. 

[Pictured from L-R: Best Actor winner Nicolas Cage ("Leaving Las Vegas"), Best Actress Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking"), Best Supporting Actress Mira Sorvino (“Mighty Aphrodite"), and Best Supporting Actor Kevin Spacey ("The Usual Suspects"), pose while holding their Oscars at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles on March 25 at the 68th Annual Academy Awards.]

#46. The 58th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.8
- IMDb votes: 179
- Year: 1986

Hosted by acting powerhouses Alan Alda, Jane Fonda, and Robin Williams, the 1986 Oscars scored high marks from the New York Times TV critic John J. O'Connor for the "best Oscar show in years, perhaps ever;" and "a smartly paced show for, as the phrase has it, kids of all ages." Highlights included Irena Cara's "Hymp to the Losers" (paired with scenes from past classics that didn't win Oscars, from "The Wizard of Oz" to "E.T."), Robin Williams' repeated digs on then-Motion Picture Association of America president Jack Valenti, and Jim Henson puppets throughout—including Statler and Waldorf enjoying box seats).

[Pictured: Jack Valenti (L), president of the Motion Picture Association of America, stands with Argentine Director Luis Puenzo and actress Norma Aleando after Puenzo won an Oscar for the Best Foreign Film for "Official Story" at the 58th Annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1986.]

 

#45. The 61st Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.8
- IMDb votes: 203
- Year: 1989

Dustin Hoffman famously took home the Best Actor award for his role in “Rain Man” at the 61st Academy Awards, which was apparently otherwise largely forgettable. Another highlight of the evening was Tom Cruise presenting the award for Best Actress, which went to Jodie Foster for her role as Sarah Tobias in "The Accused."

[Pictured: Jodie Foster stands before a statue of the Academy Award Oscar as she arrives for the 61th Annual Academy Award nominee lunch on March 21, 1989. She received the Oscar for Best Performance by an actress for her role in "The Accused.”]

#44. The 57th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.9
- IMDb votes: 123
- Year: 1985

The 1985 Academy Awards ceremony is best known for one moment: When Sally Field accepted her award for Best Actress with a heartfelt cry of “You like me, right now, you like me!” A close second is the scene pictured above when actor Michael Douglas kissed his father, Kirk Douglas.

[Pictured: Michael Douglas (L) kisses his father Kirk Douglas (C) next to Burt Lancaster (R) during the 57th Annual Academy Awards, on March 25, 1985, in Hollywood, California.]

#43. The 74th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 5.9
- IMDb votes: 989
- Year: 2002

In 2002, “Shrek” took home the award for Best Animated Feature Film while “A Beautiful Mind” won for Best Picture. Sidney Poitier also won an Honorary Award for his distinguished career and groundbreaking work as an African-American actor. But what stole the show when Halle Berry became the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Monster's Ball."

[Pictured: Oscar Winner Halle Berry Winner Accepts The Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in the film "Monster's Ball," while actor Russell Crowe applauds her during the 74th Annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002.]

#42. The 48th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6
- IMDb votes: 101
- Year: 1976

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” cleaned up at the 1976 Oscars. Jack Nicholson won Best Actor, Louise Fletcher won Best Actress, Milos Forman won for his directing, and the film won Best Picture overall and Best Writing.

[Pictured: Actor Jack Nicholson was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1975.]

#41. The 56th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6
- IMDb votes: 102
- Year: 1984

Jack Nicholson and Shirley Maclaine took home the Oscars for Best Actor and Best Actress, both for their roles in “Terms of Endearment,” at the 56th Academy Awards. The film also won Best Picture, Best Writing, and Best Directing.

[Pictured: Actress Shirley MacLaine was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film “Terms of Endearment” in 1983.]

 

#40. The 52nd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.1
- IMDb votes: 123
- Year: 1980

1980 was the year that Meryl Streep won her first Oscar for Best Actress in “Kramer vs. Kramer.” She has been nominated 21 times since then, more than any actor or actress since the award's origin.

[Pictured: Actress Meryl Streep wins her first Academy Award for Best Actress in “Kramer vs Kramer” in 1980.]

#39. The 54th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 92
- Year: 1982

In 1982, Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda respectively won the Best Actress and Best Actor categories for “On Golden Pond.” That was only the fifth time in Oscar history that the winners in those categories acted in the same film.

[Pictured: Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda in the 1982 Academy Award-winning film “On Golden Pond.”]

#38. The 55th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 115
- Year: 1983

The 55th Annual Academy Awards ceremony had four hosts: Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, and Richard Pryor. “Gandhi” was the darling of the Academy, winning eight of its 11 nominations—including Best Picture.

[Pictured: Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley attends the nominees luncheon for the 74th Annual Academy Awards in 2002. Kingsley won the Best Actor award in 1983 for his portrayal of Mohandas Gandhi in the film “Gandhi.”]

#37. The 66th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 299
- Year: 1994

1994 was Steven Spielberg's year at the Academy Awards. Two of his films—“Jurassic Park” and “Schindler's List”—won a total of 10 awards. He also won his first Oscar for Best Picture for “Schindler's List.”

[Pictured: Director Steven Spielberg poses with his Oscars for best director and best picture for his movie "Schindler's List" at the 66th Annual Academy Awards on March 21, 1994.]

#36. The 71st Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 514
- Year: 1999

Whoopi Goldberg hosted the Oscars again in 1999, opening the proceedings in full Elizabethan costume as a nod to nominated films like “Shakespeare in Love” and “Elizabeth.” Meanwhile, Roberto Benigni won Oscars for Best Foreign Film and Best Actor in "Life Is Beautiful."

[Pictured: Italian actor Robero Benigni holds his Oscar for best actor for his role in “Life is Beautiful" during the 71st Academy Awards.]

 

#35. The 77th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.2
- IMDb votes: 1,082
- Year: 2005

Clint Eastwood was 74 years old when he became the oldest Best Director winner in 2005 for “Million Dollar Baby.” The film also won Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.

[Pictured from L: Producer Tom Rosenberg, Director Clint Eastwood, and producer Al Ruddy pose with their Best Picture Oscars for “Million Dollar Baby” on Feb. 27, 2005.]

#34. The 42nd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- IMDb votes: 108
- Year: 1970

Iconic Western actor John Wayne won his one and only Oscar at the 42nd Annual Academy Awards for playing U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit.” A young Barbra Streisand presented the award.

[Pictured: Actor John Wayne (1907-1979) stands with actress and singer Barbara Streisand and holds his Oscar for his role in "True Grit."]

#33. The 73rd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- IMDb votes: 787
- Year: 2001

Gladiator” swept several of the big categories in 2001—winning Best Actor, Costume Design, Sound, and Visual Effects. Steven Soderbergh was also nominated twice in the Best Directing category, for his work on “Erin Brockovich” and “Traffic” (he won for the latter).

[Pictured: Oscar winners Julia Roberts (Best Actress winner for "Erin Brockovich") and Russell Crowe (Best Actor winner for "Gladiator") pose backstage at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on March 25, 2001.]

#32. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.3
- IMDb votes: 1,487
- Year: 2011

The 2011 Oscars ceremony didn't see any films rack up a ton of awards. Instead, “The King's Speech” and “Inception” tied with four statues each. Meanwhile, Christian Bale won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "The Fighter," Natalie Portman won Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Black Swan," Melissa Leo won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "The Fighter," and Colin Firth won Best Actor for "The King's Speech."

[Pictured (L-R): Actor Christian Bale (Best Actor in a Supporting Role winner for "The Fighter"), Natalie Portman (Best Actress in a Leading Role winner for "Black Swan") Melissa Leo (Best Actor in a Supporting Role winner for "The Fighter"), and Colin Firth (Best Actor in a Leading Role winner for "The King's Speech"), pose in the press room during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.]

#31. The 43rd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 56
- Year: 1971

Patton” won the award for Best Picture and several other major categories in 1971. Orson Welles also took home an honorary award for his contributions to the industry, while Helen Hayes (pictured here) was awarded an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Airport."

[Pictured: Actor John Mills holding the Oscar which he won for his role in the David Lean film “Ryan's Daughter.”]

 

#30. The 46th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 107
- Year: 1974

Composer and conductor Marvin Hamlisch set a new record at the 1974 ceremony. The composer won all three music awards: Best Song for “The Way We Were,” Best Original Dramatic Score for “The Way We Were,” and Best Scoring for “The Sting.”

[Pictured: American comedian Groucho Marx (1890-1977) with his Honorary Award, given at the 46th Annual Academy Awards.]

#29. The 62nd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 246
- Year: 1990

Funnyman Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars in 1990 when “Driving Miss Daisy” took home the award for Best Picture. Disney's “The Little Mermaid” won for Original Score.

[Pictured: British-born actress Jessica Tandy acknowledges the applause after receiving the Oscar for best actress for her role in "Driving Miss Daisy" during the 62nd Annual Academy Awards.]

#28. The 72nd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 590
- Year: 2000

After his win for Actor In a Leading Role in “American Beauty” at the 2000 ceremony, Kevin Spacey became the 10th actor to win both the categories of Actor in a Leading Role and Actor in a Supporting Role. Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony for the seventh time.

[Pictured: Actor Kevin Spacey (L) and director Sam Mendes hold their Oscars for Best Actor and Best Director for "American Beauty" at the 72nd Annual Academy Awards.]

#27. The 88th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.4
- IMDb votes: 1,942
- Year: 2016

After four nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar for his role in “The Revenant.” The film also won the Best Directing and Best Cinematography categories.

[Pictured: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio accepts the Best Actor award for 'The Revenant' onstage during the 88th Annual Academy Awards.]

#26. The 63rd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.5
- IMDb votes: 317
- Year: 1991

When Joe Pesci won Best Supporting Actor for “Goodfellas,” he gave one of the shortest acceptance speeches ever. He simply said, “It was my privilege. Thank you.”

[Pictured: Actor Joe Pesci smiles as he holds up his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Goodfellas” at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards.]

 

#25. The 69th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.5
- IMDb votes: 377
- Year: 1997

“The English Patient” swept the 69th Annual Academy Awards with wins in nine categories. Billy Crystal emceed the ceremony. In the photo above, Frances McDormand(at center), Best Actress Oscar winner for her role in "Fargo," poses with her husband Joel Coen and his brother Ethan Coen, who jointly won the Best Original Screenplay for "Fargo."

[Pictured: Frances McDormand (C), Best Actress Oscar winner for her role in "Fargo," poses with her husband Joel Coen (R) and his brother Ethan Coen (L), who jointly won the Best Original Screenplay for "Fargo," at the 69th Academy Awards ceremony.]

#24. The 75th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.5
- IMDb votes: 936
- Year: 2003

Three days before the 75th Annual Academy Awards, the United States declared war on Iraq. The ceremony proceeded as scheduled, just with a less glamorous red carpet. “Chicago” won Best Picture.

[Pictured from L: Best Actor winners Adrien Brody, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Chris Cooper pose during the 75th Annual Academy Awards.]

#23. The 44th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 73
- Year: 1972

The iconic theme from “Shaft" won the award for Best Song in 1972 and has been a pop-culture reference since. Singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes became the first African American to win an Oscar in any music category. 

[Pictured from L: Actors Raquel Welch, Gene Hackman, and Cloris Leachman (holding her Best Supporting Actress Oscar) at the 44th Annual Academy Awards.]

#22. The 45th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 85
- Year: 1973

Charlton Heston was originally slated to host the ceremony with Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, and Rock Hudson, but got a flat tire on the drive there. Clint Eastwood filled in for him until he arrived.

[Pictured: Joel Grey, with the Oscar he won for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in “Cabaret”, which took home a total of eight Oscars in 1973.]

#21. The 64th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 314
- Year: 1992

In 1992 “Silence of the Lambs” became the first picture since “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” to sweep the five biggest categories: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Directing, Best Writing, and Best Picture. The movie had such a big impact on pop culture that host Billy Crystal appeared onstage at one point in a Hannibal Lecter mask.

[Pictured: Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins arrives at the 67th annual Academy Awards ceremony.]

 

#20. The 87th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.6
- IMDb votes: 3,597
- Year: 2015

2015 was a wonderful year for actors who were nominated for Oscars for the first time. About half of the nominees in the acting categories were first-timers, and three of them—Eddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette, and J.K. Simmons—won.

[Pictured: Actor Eddie Redmayne speaks onstage after winning his award for best Actor in a Leading Role in “The Theory of Everything” during the 87th Annual Academy Awards.]

#19. The 67th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.7
- IMDb votes: 427
- Year: 1995

When he won Best Actor for the titular role in “Forrest Gump” in 1995, Tom Hanks became the first person to win back-to-back statues in the category. The movie also won Best Picture and four additional Oscars.

[Pictured: Actor Tom Hanks poses with his Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Forrest Gump in the film by the same name.]

#18. The 70th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.7
- IMDb votes: 679
- Year: 1998

In 1998, “Titanic” not only won Best Picture and 10 other awards, but also tied the records for most nominations earned by a single film (“All About Eve”) and most awards won by a single film (“Ben Hur”). This was also the most-watched ceremony in history, with a whopping 87 million estimated viewers in the United States. "Good Will Hunting" and "L.A. Confidential" each got nine nominations, with the former winning Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robin Williams) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck).

[Pictured: Actors-writers Matt Damon (L) and Ben Affleck (R) pose with actor Robin Williams with their Oscars for "Good Will Hunting" at the 70th Annual Academy Awards. Damon and Affleck won Best Original Screenplay and Williams won for Best Supporting Actor.]

#17. The 49th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 116
- Year: 1977

“Rocky” was the film to beat at the 1977 Oscars: It ended up taking home the awards for Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Film Editing. Although Sylvester Stallone didn't win, he became the third person in history to be nominated as both an actor and screenwriter in the same year.

[Pictured: Actor Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in the film “Rocky” which was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 1976 and won three.]

#16. The 76th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 1,172
- Year: 2004

In 2004, “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” accomplished a feat that few other films have: It won all 11 of the awards it was nominated for. Screenwriter, producer, and lyricist Fran Walsh netted three awards for her roles in the film, becoming the first woman ever to do so.

[Pictured: Barrie M Osborne (L), Peter Jackson (C) and Fran Walsh (R), pose with their Oscars for Best Picture for "The Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King" during the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004.]

 

#15. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 1,683
- Year: 2010

The 2017 Academy Awards are best known for an embarrassing snafu. One of the PricewaterhouseCoopers officials responsible for tallying votes accidentally handed presenter Warren Beatty a leftover envelope from one of “La La Land”'s earlier wins, although “Moonlight” actually won Best Picture. A few moments later, crew announced that there had been a mistake and the correct winners took the stage.

[Pictured: Director Kathryn Bigelow accepts Best Director award for "The Hurt Locker" onstage during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.]

#14. The 89th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.8
- IMDb votes: 1,775
- Year: 2017

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin co-hosted the 2010 ceremony, the first to have more than one host since 1987. Notably, “The Hurt Locker” director Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Best Directing category.

[Pictured from L: "La La Land" producer Jordan Horowitz holds up the winner card reading actual Best Picture winner "Moonlight" with actor Warren Beatty and host Jimmy Kimmel onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards Feb. 26, 2017.]

#13. The 47th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 83
- Year: 1975

“The Godfather: Part II” won six Academy Awards in 1975, including the coveted Best Picture category—the first sequel to do so. The awards marked the first and only time every nominee for Costume Design was from the same studio.

[Pictured: Al Pacino in the film “The Godfather: Part II,” which won six Academy Awards in 1975 including Best Picture.]

#12. The 65th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 327
- Year: 1993

Clint Eastwood became the fourth actor in history to win an award for directing a movie in which he also took the starring role—“Unforgiven.” The film also took home the Best Picture award.

[Pictured: Actor Clint Eastwood (C) holds up his two Oscars that he won for Best Director and Best Picture for "Unforgiven". Eastwood poses with presenters, actor Jack Nicholson (L) and entertainer Barbra Streisand on at the 65th Annual Academy Awards on March 29, 1993.]

#11. The 78th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 1,047
- Year: 2006

Jon Stewart hosted the 78th Academy Awards ceremony, at which “Crash” took home the statue for Best Picture (considered to be a major upset for critical darling “Brokeback Mountain”) and the supremely popular “March of the Penguins” won Best Documentary Feature.

[Pictured: Directors Yves Darondeau (center left) and Luc Jacquet (center right) accept the Best Documentary Feature on stage during the 78th Annual Academy Awards.]

#10. The 80th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 6.9
- IMDb votes: 1,427
- Year: 2008

In the months leading up this Oscars ceremony, there was some uncertainty over whether or not it would take place: The industry-wide Writers Guild of America strike was only resolved 12 days before the ceremony. Jon Stewart hosted. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen took home Best Director for "No Country for Old Men."

[Pictured: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen accept the award for Best Director for the film "No Country for Old Men" during the 80th Annual Academy Awards]

#9. The 53rd Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.1
- IMDb votes: 113
- Year: 1981

After an assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan, the 53rd Annual Academy Awards was postponed 24 hours. Johnny Carson emceed the evening for the third consecutive year.

[Pictured: Johnny Carson.]

#8. The 84th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.2
- IMDb votes: 1,800
- Year: 2012

In 2012, Jean Dujardin won Best Actor for his role in “The Artist”—a film in which he only speaks two words. That's the smallest amount of dialogue of any winning performance since the decline of silent films.

[Pictured: Actor Jean Dujardin accepts the Best Actor Award for 'The Artist' onstage during the 84th Annual Academy Awards.]

#7. The 51st Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- IMDb votes: 145
- Year: 1979

Two standing ovations happened at the Academy Awards in 1979 for special appearances by Laurence Olivier and John Wayne. “The Deer Hunter,” starring Robert De Niro and Wynn Hammer, landed Best Picture.

[Pictured: Actors Jane Fonda (R) and Jon Voight hold up their Oscars for Best Actress and Actor for roles in "Coming Home" during the 51st Annual Academy Awards.]

#6. The 79th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- IMDb votes: 1,353
- Year: 2007

In 2007, Martin Scorsese won his first Oscar for directing “The Departed” after seven previous nominations. “An Inconvenient Truth” won for Best Documentary Feature, which brought former Vice President Al Gore to stage (along with director Davis Guggenheim and other members of the crew).

[Pictured: Martin Scorsese.]

#5. The 85th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.3
- IMDb votes: 3,051
- Year: 2013

George Clooney produced and acted in “Argo,” the Best Picture winner in 2013. He was also nominated in both lead and supporting acting categories, directing, and original and adapted screenplay.

[Pictured: Director Martin Scorsese accepts the award for Best Direction during the 79th Annual Academy Awards.]

#4. The 59th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.5
- IMDb votes: 247
- Year: 1987

While Paul Newman won his first Oscar for Best Actor in “The Color of Money” in 1987, he didn't attend the ceremony. After being previously nominated six times and failing to take home any statues, Newman thought being away might help his chances.

[Pictured: Actor Paul Newman.]

#3. The 86th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.8
- IMDb votes: 3,805
- Year: 2014

“12 Years a Slave” won top honors in 2014, making director Steve McQueen the first African American person to direct a Best Picture-winning film. Alfonso Cuarón won Best Directing for “Gravity,” becoming the first Latinx winner in that category.

[Pictured: Host Ellen DeGeneres poses for a selfie taken by Bradley Cooper with (clockwise from L-R) Jared Leto, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong'o, Angelina Jolie, Peter Nyong'o Jr. and Bradley Cooper during the 86th Annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.]

#2. The 81st Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 7.9
- IMDb votes: 2,210
- Year: 2009

Hugh Jackman hosted the 2009 Academy Awards ceremony, at which “Slumdog Millionaire” won Best Picture and seven other categories. The Bollywood-infused breakout film was nominated for 10 awards in total.

[Pictured: Host Hugh Jackman (R) and singer Beyonce Knowles perform during the 81st Annual Academy Awards.]

#1. The 50th Annual Academy Awards

- IMDb user rating: 8.2
- IMDb votes: 204
- Year: 1978

The Academy Awards ceremony with the highest ranking among viewers took place in 1978. Woody Allen's “Annie Hall” won Best Picture that year, while “Star Wars” won six categories.

[Pictured: Richard Dreyfuss won the Academy Award for Best Actor in the film “The Goodbye Girl” in 1978.]

 

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