04. ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
Similar to Citizen Kane, its perhaps the benefit of hindsight that suggests Its a Wonderful Life should have won the Best Picture award over The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). Unlike many of the other entries on this list, both of these films are extremely well made and are real accomplishments within cinema history. However, the powerful endearment of Its a Wonderful Life and its subsequent ability to endure 65 years of other phenomenal productions and countless advancements within the technical aspects of the industry, remaining just as relevant and popular as ever is truly remarkable. Whilst The Best Years of Our Lives is a touching film, it has slipped far from the public conscience and is probably only regularly viewed on film courses (as was my first introduction to it). Bearing this in mind I would argue that Frank Capras Wonderful Life should have won the accolade, furthered by the fact that it remains one of the few films that still appeals to audiences today.