Oscars won by the Best Picture of the Year: An Empirical Analysis Across the History of Academy Awards (1929–2023)

Abstract

Since 1929, 95 films have been crowned the Best Picture of the Year. Scholars and cinephiles yearly debate their merits and the legitimacy of one winning over the other, and extensive coverage is given by the media to the spectacle itself. But research is generally restricted to prediction models, or correlations with the winners’ demographic variables. There have been few historical studies on the evolution of the concept of Best Picture throughout the ceremonies, measured through the number of nominations and Oscars won in the various categories. Using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis, this article traces that history, showing that such concept has changed with the decades, although it has a relatively cyclic nature. Today, the Best Picture is no longer the most nominated or awarded, and has a diminishing association to Best Director and technical categories. Instead, it is more thematically conscious (Best Screenplay), and favors actresses and supporting players.