Ranking What Was Really The Best Film Of Every Year 1990-2021

19. 2003 - The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Actually won: The Return of the King.

Honestly, who would have hated seeing every instalment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy win Best Picture? This didn't happen, but the final chapter - The Return of the King - was still entirely deserving of the victory.

Not only was the fantasy epic a phenomenal conclusion to the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation, its victory at the Oscars (where it famously swept all eleven awards it was nominated for) stands as a worthy celebration of the trilogy as a whole.

Shot back-to-back by Peter Jackson, the trilogy used natural backdrops and state-of-the-art effects to create a blockbuster for audiences and critics alike. It's aged like fine wine, and its Best Picture victory is a perfect testament to its enduring popularity, influence, and cinematic brilliance.