Oscars: Every Best Picture Winner Ever Ranked From Worst To Best

By Jack Pooley /

44. Slumdog Millionaire (2009)

Fox Searchlight

Danny Boyle's slick thriller about fate and chance remains one of the weirdest and most unexpected Best Picture winners ever, a thoroughly entertaining crowd pleaser which, with a less-aggressive marketing campaign, could've easily become a charming cult hit and nothing more.

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Despite not scoring a single acting nomination among its cast, the Academy went gaga for the movie elsewhere, giving it an impressive eight Oscars. Not bad for a film that almost went straight-to-video until Fox Searchlight made the eleventh-hour save.

It's a little too syrupy in places and the overall message about destiny will seem corny and hokey to a good portion of viewers, but Boyle's never felt more in-control as a director, and the film's sheer left-field weirdness mostly keeps it chugging along.

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