WITH THIS YEAR’S Oscars creeping closer, we decided to take a look at the films that won Best Picture throughout the years.
It might even be perfect snow day viewing to watch the one from the year you were born.
1984 – Amadeus
Why you should watch it: It brings the extravagant and entertaining story about the life, love and rivalries of composer Amadeus Mozart to life.
Random fact: Cynthia Nixon, the iconic Miranda from Sex and the City, plays a small role as a maid sent to spy on Mozart
Rotten Tomato Rating: 95%
1985 – Out of Africa
Why you should watch it: Two words: Meryl Streep
Random fact: Audrey Hepburn was originally offered the role of Karen Blixen, which eventually went to Meryl Streep
Rotten Tomato Rating: 53% (the lowest rating on this list by 18%…)
1986 – Platoon
Why you should watch it: Groundbreaking as it was the first time the Vietnam War was shown on film from the perspective of the soldiers who fought in it (Director Oliver Store was an infantryman for 14months in the late 1960s). Also, watch a young and innocent Charlie Sheen before he was drinking tiger blood
Random fact: Filmed in the Philippines, it was the first time Johnny Depp (then aged 22) left the United States.
Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%
1987 – The Last Emperor
Why you should watch it: It was the first Western film in nearly 40years that was given Chinese permission to be made in and about China.
Random fact: Queen Elizabeth II was in Beijing on a state visit and was denied entry to the Forbidden City as the filming of the spectacular coronation scene as the film was given priority over her.
Rotten Tomato Rating: 92
1988 – Rain Man
Why you should watch it: Just so you can understand the hilarious references made to it in the Hangover
Source: Warner Bros.
Random fact: Tom Cruise wearing Ray Bans in the movie boosted sales of that style 15%
Rotten Tomato Rating: 89%
1989 - Driving Miss Daisy
Why you should watch it: Morgan Freeman is in it, teaching life lessons. 'Nuff said.
Random fact: At the age of 80, Jessica Tandy, who plays Daisy, became the oldest ever recipient of the Oscar for best actress
Rotten Tomato Rating: 81%
1990 - Dances With Wolves
Why you should watch it: Slightly problematic for its 'white saviour' storyline, but at the time was seen as respectful as 1/4 of the dialogue in the movie is in Lakota, the language of the Sioux, a Native Americans tribe
Random fact: It became the highest grossing western of all time bringing in $424.2 million
Rotten Tomato Rating: 82%
1991 - The Silence of the Lambs
Why you should watch it: The immensely creepy performance of Sir Anthony Hopkin as serial killer and cannibal Hannibal Lector
Random fact: For real - it's a creepy performance! Martha Stewart stopped dating Sir Anthony Hopkins (yeah I didn't know that was a thing either) because she couldn't separate real-life Anthony from Hannibal!
Rotten Tomato Rating: 95%
1992 - Unforgiven
Why you should watch it: It was Clint Eastwood's last western (how many westerns are on this list!?)
Random fact: Despite it being Eastwood's 16th movie as a director and 34th as a lead actor, it was the first time he was nominated for an Oscar (three Oscars in fact: Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Director - he won for the latter two)
Rotten Tomato Rating: 96%
Why you should watch it: It's got the highest Rotten Tomatoes scoring of all the films here
Random fact: Steven Spielberg refused to take a salary for the movie. He used the films' profits to create the Shoah Foundation to honour and remember Holocaust survivors
Rotten Tomato Rating: 97%
1994 - Forrest Gump
Why you should watch it: Any film that can beat Shawshank Redemption AND Pulp Fiction to be crowned best picture should be seen
Random fact: The running scene was inspired by a real-life event - In 1982, Louis Michael Figueroa, aged 16, ran from New Jersey to San Francisco for the American Cancer Society
Rotten Tomato Rating: 71%
1995 - Braveheart
Why you should watch it: If you're already nostalgic for Scotland's defeat of the English in the rugby last weekend
Random fact: The majority of the film was shot in Ireland, in locations such as Dunsany Castle in County Meath or Sally's Gap in County Wicklow
Rotten Tomato Rating: 78%
1996 - The English Patient
Why you should watch it: If you're in the mood for a solid 90 minutes hours of weeping
Random fact: Production was delayed because Fox wanted Demi Moore to play Kristin Scott Thomas' role. Harvey Weinstein stepped in to 'save the film', according to Scott Thomas!
Rotten Tomato Rating: 84%
1997 - Titanic
Why you should watch it: You can't call yourself a millennial without having watched this! For shame!
Random fact: Studios wanted Matthew McConaughey to play the lead of Jack, but Director James Cameron insisted on Leonardo DiCaprio.
Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%
1998 - Shakespeare in Love
Why you should watch it: It cleaned up at the Oscars, winning 7 in total, including best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow, best supporting actress, original screenplay, art direction, costume design and musical or comedy score.
Random Fact: Judi Dench appeared on screen for less than 10 minutes but still managed to win an oscar.
Rotten Tomato Rating: 92%
1999 - American Beauty
Why you should watch it: For a strange, yet utterly beautiful scene, that involves a plastic bag. I'm not joking!
Random fact: Paula Abdul, of Pop Idol fame, choreographed the Cheerleading routine
Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%
2000 - Gladiator
Why you should watch it: BECAUSE YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED
Random fact: Russell Crowe literally went through the wars during filming: he lost all feeling in his right forefinger for 2 years after a sword fight, aggravated an Achilles tendon injury, broke a foot bone, cracked a hip bone, and popped a few bicep tendons out of their sockets at different points.
Rotten Tomato Rating: 76%
