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

17. Moonlight (2016)

Moonlight Film
A24

Barry Jenkins' searing tripartite drama about a young man coming of age sheds welcome cinematic light on a rarely-told story: a gay black man.

The entire ensemble cast, especially Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris, leave a distinct impression in a drama that refutes melodrama over quiet, subtle character work, while avoiding the time-jumping cliche of creating convoluted callbacks to prior characters (Ali's Juan disappears after act one and, though we expect him to return, he never does).

While the film is perhaps destined to best be remembered in Oscar history for the infamous means through which it nearly didn't win - with La La Land being incorrectly announced as the winner - it is on its own terms a sumptuous, deeply-felt and vital American drama.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.