30 Greatest Best Picture Oscar Nominees Of The Last Ten Years

Most people probably groaned when this film was announced; it's not like West Side Story needed a remake and even though Spielberg being in the director's chair is always a good sign, his output during the 2010s has been a bit disappointing.

Therefore, 2021's West Side Story was one of those times where it was just wonderful to be wrong.

Arguably Steven Spielberg's greatest film since 1993's Jurassic Park, West Side Story is a glorious film musical that succeeds on practically every single level.

It's a technically exquisite, masterfully choreographed musical spectacle that fires on all cylinders, it's a gorgeous love story overflowing with heart, it's a shatteringly powerful indictment of violence and xenophobia and perhaps most shockingly of all, it's a film remake that both justifies its existence and completely trumps the classic original.

Alright, that's a bold statement, but for all of the original film's many merits, its stilted lead performances and surface-level look at racism simply cannot hold a candle to the killer performances (especially from Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose, who deservedly netted herself an Oscar) and rich, layered writing running all the way through this version.

Make no mistake, this is one of the greatest remakes ever made, as well as one of the finest Best Picture nominees of the latest Oscars.