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Winning any Academy Award is an extraordinary achievement. Winning both Best Picture and Best Director in the same year is far rarer—an accomplishment reserved for films that excel not only in storytelling but also in the artistry behind the camera. These are movies that combine exceptional performances, unforgettable screenplays, and visionary ideas to create works that have stood the test of time.
Sure, there are plenty of Oscar-winning films that have faded from popular memory, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue celebrating them decades later. As such, from romantic comedies, historical epics, to intense crime dramas, these are the movies that prove near perfection happens when inspired direction creates an outstanding film.
10
‘The Apartment’ (1960)
C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is a lonely insurance clerk who lends his apartment to company executives for their extramarital affairs in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. But his carefully ordered life begins to unravel when he falls for elevator operator Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), only to discover that she herself is involved with his married boss.
Like all great leading couples, Lemmon and MacLaine are perfectly matched. Of course, much of this is made possible by Billy Wilder‘s brilliant direction and sharp screenplay, which remain as insightful about loneliness, workplace politics, and human decency today as it was in 1960. It’s little wonder why The Apartment scored the big awards at the Oscars as it cemented its place as one of Hollywood’s greatest romances.
9
‘It Happened One Night’ (1934)
Spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) flees her disapproving wealthy father as he attempts to control her personal life, only to cross paths with cynical newspaper reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable). And while the two constantly bicker as they find themselves traveling across America together, an unlikely romance begins to brew.
As one of cinema’s earliest and most influential screwball comedies, there’s no doubt that Frank Capra‘s direction gave the film an infectious energy that still feels effortlessly modern. Gable and Colbert share sparkling chemistry, elevating every witty exchange into comic gold. And as one of the only three films to ever win the “Big Five” Academy Awards, it’s clear that It Happened One Night set the standard for the genre that countless filmmakers have tried—and rarely managed—to replicate.
8
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
Set during World War II, German industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually transforms from a war profiteer into an unlikely humanitarian. Using his factories as a refuge, Schindler risks everything to save more than a thousand Jewish men, women, and children from the horrors of the Holocaust.
Like many of his legendary films, Steven Spielberg directs Schindler’s List with extraordinary restraint, allowing the devastating reality of the Holocaust to speak for itself rather than relying on manufactured melodrama. Neeson delivers a career-defining performance, with Ralph Fiennes‘ terrifying portrayal of Amon Göth remaining one of cinema’s most chilling villains. Simultaneously heartbreaking and surprisingly hopeful, the tale remains one of the most important films ever made.
7
‘All About Eve’ (1950)
Ambitious young actress Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) charms her way into the inner circle of Broadway legend Margo Channing (Bette Davis), presenting herself as nothing more than an adoring fan. But as Eve slowly manipulates everyone around her to advance her own career, admiration gives way to deception, betrayal, and ruthless ambition behind the glamorous curtain of the theater world.
Joseph L. Mankiewicz crafts one of Hollywood’s sharpest screenplays, filled with razor-edged dialogue that remains endlessly cutting. Davis is a true force of nature, giving one of the defining performances of her career, while Baxter’s calculating Eve grows equally compelling. Even decades later, All About Eve‘s observations about fame, aging, and professional insecurity remain startlingly relevant. Luckily, this is one classic film that has managed to escape the clutches of a modern remake (so far).
6
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
David Lean‘s sweeping epic chronicles the remarkable true story of British officer T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), whose leadership during the Arab Revolt transformed him into an international legend during World War I. But as Lawrence becomes increasingly consumed by both war and his own mythology, the line between heroism and obsession begins to blur.
Few films demonstrate the power of cinematic scale quite like Lawrence of Arabia. For one, Lean’s breathtaking direction transforms vast desert landscapes into unforgettable visual spectacles, without ever losing sight of the deeply conflicted man at the story’s center. O’Toole’s magnetic performance thus naturally anchors the entire epic, resulting in a film that remains one of the greatest achievements in large-scale filmmaking.
5
‘Casablanca’ (1942)
In World War II in the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city of Casablanca, cynical nightclub owner Rick Blaine’s (Humphrey Bogart) carefully guarded self is quickly shattered when his former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), unexpectedly walks back into his life—alongside her new husband, a prominent resistant leader. Faced with an impossible choice between love and duty, Rick is forced to decide what kind of man he wants to be.
Michael Curtiz blends romance, political intrigue, and heartfelt drama with astonishing confidence, crafting a film that never really puts a foot wrong. Bogart and Bergman generate unforgettable chemistry, largely thanks to a screenplay that delivers one iconic line after another. Of course, more than 80 years later, Casablanca remains the benchmark against which virtually every great Hollywood romance is measured.
4
‘Amadeus’ (1984)
Told through the recollections of court composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), Amadeus reimagines the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) as a battle between divine genius and ordinary talent. But as Salieri watches Mozart effortlessly create masterpieces despite his childish behavior, his admiration slowly transforms into all-consuming envy.
From the get-go, Miloš Forman‘s direction perfectly balanced lavish historical spectacle with intimate psychological drama. Abraham gives a performance for the ages, portraying Salieri as both villain and tragic victim, while Hulce’s exuberant Mozart brilliantly subverts expectations. And as all great biopics go, any historical inaccuracies become almost irrelevant as the emotional truth of the story remain bold and compelling.
3
‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola‘s extraordinary sequel interweaves two timelines: Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) increasingly isolated reign as head of the Corleone crime family, as well as the rise of his father, Vito (Robert De Niro), who grows from impoverished Sicilian immigrant to powerful Mafia boss. Together, the parallel narratives reveal just how power can both build a legacy and ultimately destroy it.
Rather than repeating the success of its predecessor, The Godfather Part II expands its theme with even greater ambition. For one, Coppola’s masterful direction gives equal weight to Michael’s tragic moral decline and young Vito’s unlikely ascent. Meanwhile, Pacino and De Niro deliver two of the greatest performances in gangster cinema. It’s one of the exceedingly rare sequels widely considered every bit as brilliant (and even more so) as the original.
2
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
The final chapter of Peter Jackson‘s monumental trilogy brings the War of the Ring to its breathtaking conclusion. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) embraces his destiny and Gondor makes its final stand in the war against Sauron. Meanwhile, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) undertake their last perilous steps towards Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring once and for all.
Sweeping all 11 Academy Awards for which it was nominated, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King represented recognition not only for one remarkable film but for an extraordinary overarching cinematic achievement. Even despite its unprecedented spectacle, Jackson somehow balances it all with intimate character moments of vulnerability. The result? A trilogy’s ending that feels both emotionally satisfying and sensorially awe-inspiring. A true accomplishment of cinema’s fantasy genre.
1
‘Parasite’ (2019)
Life takes a drastic turn for the impoverished Kim family as they cleverly infiltrate the wealthy Park household by posing as unrelated and highly qualified employees. Unfortunately for them, finding enjoyment in their newfound prosperity is cut short when their elaborate scheme begins to unravel, thanks to unexpected secrets arising from the luxurious home.
Bong Joon Ho‘s direction is nothing short of astonishing as he effortlessly shifts between genres without ever losing control of the narrative. Every visual detail, every line of dialogue, and every plot twist serves a larger purpose, rewarding repeat viewing with new discoveries. Better still, by becoming the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture alongside Best Director, Parasite didn’t just make Oscar history—it earned its place among the greatest films ever made.
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Jessica Nobleza
Almontather Rassoul
