30 Most Memorable Oscar Moments From The Last 30 Years

13. Crash Wins Best Picture...Somehow (2006)

Jack Nicholson could scarcely contain his surprise - and, it seems, his disappointment - when he opened 2006's Best Picture envelope to reveal that Paul Haggis' Crash had won the Big One.

It's a win that sent shockwaves across the media, as Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain was widely expected to scoop the award, having enjoyed far more success on the precursor circuit alongside stronger reviews. Crash was also the first film in 30 years to win Best Picture with a total of just three Oscar wins.

Crash's surprise win is largely credited to Lionsgate spending $4 million on mailing out screeners to the voters of various awards guilds, and by sending screeners to Academy voters at the very last minute, it was likely the final film in many voters' minds before the voting deadline was up.

Over a decade later, it's often singled out as the worst Best Picture winner in recent memory, with critics dismissing Haggis' facile, over-simplified examination of race relations in contemporary America.