Each twelvemonth , theAcademy Awardsserve as a way to abide by the best films that came out during the year now before . In particular , the Best Picture Oscar is one of the most celebrated categories as it represents the overall quality of the movie , not just any one view as many of the categories do . Thus , in ecumenical , the Best Picture winners are some of the most critically well - received movies of the year .

This is largely true with over half of the Oscars ' Best Picture winners holding a 90 % approval or gamy paygrade on Rotten Tomatoes . Likewise , many of thepredicted nominees for the 2025 Oscarsare similarly highly rated . Currently , Anoralooks like the frontrunner , withConclaveas the top rivalry afterEmilia PerezandThe Brutalisthave derive under fire for using AI . Despite the setbacks and contention hem in some of the 2025 hopefuls , each of them is notably extremely rated . However , three past Best Picture succeeder are below the 60 % " Rotten " mark .

3Cimarron (1931)

The 1931 Film Holds A 52% On Rotten Tomatoes

Cimarronis a 1931 diachronic heroic film that spans several decades in the life of Yancey and Sabra Cravat . The young couple move to Oklahoma in 1889 to take part in the land upsurge , but ultimately cease up in Osage , where Yancey establishes a local newspaper . Throughout the days , their kinfolk grows , but Yancey get out them several times for different reasons . Without him , Sabra continue running his job and caring for their kid . By the movie ’s ending , Sabra has become the first woman in Oklahoma to be a member of Congress and is briefly reunited with her husband before his decease .

Interestingly , at the time of its release , Cimarronwas very highly regarded by critics . Despite being made during the Great Depression , RKO Pictures endow over $ 1.5 million in the motion picture , and , unsurprisingly , Cimarrondid not make that money back . Though many hearing could not afford to see the movie , critics felt that it was well - directed and well - acted , so it is not too surprising thatCimarronwon Best Picture .

Beyond the very obvious criticism of the motion picture ’s depiction of Indigenous Americans , modern audiences dislike the reasonably nonsensical plot of land which sees Sabra detain with her husband despite his invariant disappearance .

Get Out, Fargo, & Dr. Strangelove imagery

The reason thatCimarron ’s critics ' score is so grim on Rotten Tomatoes is due to modernistic reassessment of the film . Modern critic and audiences have stated thatCimarronis both racist and does not make sense . Beyond the very obvious critique of the film ’s delineation of Indigenous Americans , advanced audiences dislike the somewhat nonsensical plot which discover Sabra stay with her married man despite his constant disappearances . Overall , Cimarronhas not aged well .

2The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)

The Movie Also Won The Oscar For Best Story

The secondly - lowest rated Best Picture success is 1952’sThe Greatest Show on Earthat 50 % . The pic follows Ringling Bros. Circus and the liveliness of some of the performers in the show , notably the manager , two trapeze artists , and a buffoon . bewilderingly , Jimmy Stewart play Buttons the clown who is also a MD wanted for mercy killing one of his patients . However , his medical acquisition do issue forth in handy throughout the motion picture when several characters are injured , meaning he finally saves the day .

The Greatest Show on Earthwas also nominated for three gilded Earth : Best Motion Picture - Drama , Best Director - Motion Picture , and Best Cinematography - Color , and it won all three .

Unsurprisingly , some critic at the clock time finger the game was not very strong , but in general , it was fairly well received due to its grandiose band and the performances of substantial genus Circus members , which enhanced the film ’s authenticity . The film likely deliver the goods Best Picture because of the positive vista of the performances and exfoliation of the production rather than its questionable plot of ground , though tempestuousness in Hollywood due to McCarthyism may have also play a part .

A composite image of Adrien Brody from The Brutalist with Cynthia Erivo from Wicked in front of an Oscar statuette

Though the Oscars can be a just index of the best moving-picture show of the twelvemonth , plenty of fantastic films should n’t have mislay for Best Picture .

As the shell for movies has become grander and the effects used enable even greater spectacle , The Greatest Show on Earthhas course lessen out of favor among viewers . Modern critic who are responsible for the motion picture ’s low Rotten Tomatoes rating foreground the disastrous plot while still praise the bright colors and fun circus sequences . While there are aspect ofThe Greatest Show on Earththat are certainly still nurse , it is moderately clear why it would not be regarded as Best Picture suitable today .

1The Broadway Melody (1929)

The Musical Was Surprisingly Impressive At The Time Of Its Release

The Broadway Melodyprimarily focuses on two sisters , Hank and Queenie , and their attempts to make it on Broadway . The sisters bring together a review but do not get hold what they were hoping for . Additionally , the film also details their amatory lives and includes several musical numbers . Out of all the Oscar Best Picture winners , The Broadway Melodyholds the lowest approval rating at just 42 % for critic and 21 % for audiences .

The pic was the first sound motion-picture show to win the award and one of the first pic to include a successiveness in color , makingThe Broadway Melodya pretty significant achievement in moving picture for 1929 .

Despite its humbled military rating among modern critics , it is actually prosperous to see whyThe Broadway Melodywon Best Picture at the 1930 Oscars . The pic was the first sound movie to come through the prize and one of the first motion-picture show to include a sequence in coloration , makingThe Broadway Melodya passably meaning accomplishment in film for 1929 . However , even critic of the time take note that the performing and dialogue were not expectant .

Michael Keaton looking at Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

A new exploitation in the 2024 - 2025 honour season offers clarity as to which 2024 flick might be nominate for the Oscar for Best Picture .

WhileThe Broadway Melodyshould still be study a plastic moment in the musical film genre , the current consensus is that its importance in some respect does not contradict its bland plot and performances . Other other Hollywood musicals are better , both in their use of the updated engineering science thatThe Broadway Melodyexhibits and in their story . Despite the low rating of the Best Picture achiever , The Broadway Melodystill marks an important minute inOscarshistory that should be recognize going into the 2025 ceremony .

The Oscars , also known as The Academy Awards , is an annual awards show lionise doer in the film industry for their artistic and technical abilities . The Academy Award are often considered the most esteemed awards show in the industry and date back to 1929 . The 96th Academy Awards will be held on March 10 , 2024 , and be host by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC .

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Richard Dix and Irene Dunne and a child in Cimarron (1931)

The Oscars, also known as The Academy Awards, is an annual awards show celebrating workers in the film industry for their artistic and technical abilities. The Oscars are often considered the most prestigious awards show in the industry and date back to 1929. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on March 10, 2024, and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC.

The Oscars Poster Featuring an Oscars Statue Standing in front of a curtain

The Oscars, also known as The Academy Awards, is an annual awards show celebrating workers in the film industry for their artistic and technical abilities. The Oscars are often considered the most prestigious awards show in the industry and date back to 1929. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on March 10, 2024, and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC.

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