Top 20 Best American Movies of All Time Winning the Oscar - Mytour.vn

Spotlight is an American crime biography film directed by Tom McCarthy and written by McCarthy and Josh Singer. The movie follows the investigation of the 'Spotlight' team at The Boston Globe, the oldest continuously operating investigative newspaper in the United States. It recounts the investigation into widespread and systematic child sexual abuse by numerous Catholic priests in the Boston area.

Based on a series of true stories from the 'Spotlight' team, the film received 6 Oscar nominations and won for Best Picture and Outstanding Original Screenplay.

The performances of the top-tier, seasoned actors are truly commendable, portraying characters with naturalness and effectively conveying their personalities and inner selves, presenting the audience with vivid character portraits. The film concludes with a gentle, profound ending, delivering a message that instills faith in human life.

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Tomatometer Score: 97%

Audience Rating: 93%

Inception is a science fiction film about individuals with special abilities - the ability to infiltrate the dreams of others and steal information. Dom Cobb and his team: Eames (The Forger), Arthur (The Point Man), Yusuf (The Chemist), and Ariadne (The Architect) receive a special mission from the tycoon Saito.

Unlike previous heists that involved only stealing information, this time they must delve into the dreams of the son of a colossal conglomerate and alter his subconscious thoughts. The challenge is that the talented leader - Dom Cobb, is easily distracted by memories of his late wife. If the dream becomes too deep, they risk being trapped in those dreams.

The difficulty of Inception lies in making the audience understand the film's concepts, as well as the rules and ideas about dreams. Despite the challenge, Inception has succeeded, impressively. The uniqueness of the content, as well as the suspense and allure in the storytelling, have contributed to the film's success.

IMDb Score: 8.8/10
Tomatometer Score: 87%
Audience Rating: 91%

After brave exploits, John Dunbar is rewarded with the opportunity to be stationed anywhere of his choosing. He opts for the untamed lands of the American West, where he encounters and falls in love with Stands With A Fist – a white girl raised and grown among a Native American tribe.

Dances With Wolves not only brings viewers a romantic tale of two souls but vividly portrays the nascent American West, depicting the life and activities of Native American tribes – all portrayed with authenticity and realism.

The film heavily invests in the setting and visuals, authentically recreating the culture of the people there. From the audience's perspective, the traditional practices and Dunbar's adaptation to their way of life are depicted exceptionally well. The costume and makeup are meticulously crafted.

IMDb Score: 8.0/10

Tomatometer Score: 83%

Audience Rating: 87%

Unlike typical Westerns set in the American frontier, “Nowhere Safe” blends moments of action with chilling suspense.

The film kicks off when Llewelyn Moss (Brolin) - a Vietnam War veteran, decides to take a substantial amount of money he randomly finds in a abandoned suitcase amidst the streets, triggering an unrelenting pursuit by the cold-blooded hitman Anton Chigurh (Bardem).

No Country for Old Man finds success in its unique dialogue, focusing on vibrant sound over music, and with a standout scene being the dialogue between Anton and a gas station attendant. The film is praised for the excellent performances of its three main characters, striking a remarkable balance with the script and direction that creates an unbelievably tight cohesion.

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Tomatometer Score: 93%

Audience Rating: 86%

Director Steven Spielberg vividly portrays the dark times of World War II, when Jews faced brutal extermination by Hitler's regime.

Schindler’s List follows Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who used his influence to try and save Jews from impending doom. Schindler's Record is a film that is both horrifying and heart-wrenching, yet profound and morally awakening, reminding us of a brutal era in human history.

The film won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, becoming one of the most influential works of all time. The black and white cinematography, though a significant challenge, adds to the film's brilliance.

IMDb Score: 9.0/10

Tomatometer Score: 98%

Audience Rating: 97%

This might be the most controversial choice in this list, as the majority of viewers believe that the content of Titanic is only suitable for a pure romance film, not a Oscar-winning masterpiece.

Putting aside the almost universally known movie script, we cannot deny that Titanic has conveyed a love story based on a real event that created a huge impact worldwide. It also contributed to making the lead actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, one of the top stars today.

The film succeeded on many fronts, warmly embraced by the audience, becoming the most popular work to date. Despite some criticisms, the film's undeniable success speaks to the considerable effort James Cameron put into it.

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

Tomatometer Score: 87%

Audience Rating: 69%

Platoon is an American film about the Vietnam War directed by Oliver Stone. The film is considered one of the foremost war films globally and was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director in 1987.

Director Oliver Stone delivered one of the most authentic Vietnam War films, depicting the brutality, violence, and shocking details of what transpired during those moments in Vietnam. Platoon helped establish Oliver as one of the leading directors and generated a revenue of up to $138 million when screened outside cinemas back then.

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Tomatometer Score: 87%

Audience Rating: 93%

Directed and starring Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven is an American film you can't overlook if you're a fan of the Western genre.

The movie tells the story of the assassin William Munny, who hung up his guns, but a tempting offer makes him reconsider. Unforgiven also holds a behind-the-scenes secret as Clint Eastwood had the Unforgiven script in hand in 1979 but felt too young to play William Munny. He waited 15 years until he was old enough to take on the role.

Unforgiven carries the typical elements of the Western genre with images of the rugged desert landscape. The film's slow-paced, easily understandable plot captivates the audience throughout.

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Tomatometer Score: 96%

Audience Rating: 93%

Although the author of the novel with the same name, Ken Kesey, disliked seeing his book adapted into a film, it's undeniable that the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a cinematic masterpiece, especially in reflecting the seemingly calm but internally tumultuous aspects of the United States in the 1970s.

The film won Oscars for Best Director, Best Actor and Actress in leading roles, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It stands as the must-watch American film.

Despite its modest budget, the film became an artistic masterpiece, paving the way for the development of many actors involved. It delivers a range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, breaking free from the confines of self.

IMDb Score: 8.7/10

Tomatometer Score: 93%

Audience Rating: 96%

Considered the best work of the talented director Woody Allen and one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, largely due to the outstanding performance of actress Diane Keaton and the witty yet profound dialogues.

The film Annie Hall won Oscars for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actress in a Leading Role. The film also achieved massive box office success, reaching an impressive $38 million, exclusively in the North American market.

The standout feature of Annie Hall is its conversational scenes, both humorous monologues and introspective dialogues, contributing to the creation of a romantic and dreamy masterpiece without pretense.

IMDb Score: 8.0/10

Tomatometer Score: 97%

Audience Rating: 92%

Based on the novel of the same name by author Mario Puzo, The Godfather is considered the perfect American film of all time.

The movie features an experienced cast, excellent directing, a neat and tight script with many unexpected dramatic moments, creating a film that is nearly flawless. It is also one of the most influential crime and mafia films, even impacting real-life criminal organizations who mimic the behavior, speech, and dressing style depicted in The Godfather. The film grossed $268 million worldwide.

The Godfather has inspired the crime genre in films that followed and has received acclaim from both audiences and critics. It contains many famous and iconic quotes that resonate to this day.

IMDb Score: 9.2/10
Tomatometer Score: 97%
Audience Rating: 98%

The Godfather Part II (1974) is a crime film based on the novel of the same name by author Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It is the sequel to the renowned film The Godfather (1972) and is followed by The Godfather Part III (1990). The movie explores the events within the Corleone family following the occurrences in the first part and depicts the journey to becoming the Godfather by Vito Corleone.

The Godfather Part II is regarded by some critics as even better than the first installment, which is already considered one of the greatest works in American cinema. It holds the third position in IMDb's ranking of the best films, following The Godfather in second place. In the American Film Institute's list of the greatest films, The Godfather Part II is ranked 32nd. Widely acclaimed as one of the best sequels of all time, the film received 11 Oscar nominations and won 6 awards, including Best Picture.

IMDb Score: 9.0/10

Tomatometer Score: 96%

Audience Rating: 97%

Ben-Hur, adapted from the renowned novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ (1880) by author Lew Wallace, tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur's challenging journey of revenge. The 9-minute completely handcrafted chariot race scene left a profound impression on the audience, showcasing the serious investment and effort of the entire film crew.

These elements contributed to the enduring success of Ben-Hur. In Oscar history, Ben-Hur became the first film to win 11 awards. It is considered a cinematic monument globally for its grand investment in both content quality and visuals.

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Tomatometer Score: 85%

Audience Rating: 89%

Based entirely on the true-life ordeal of Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped into slavery and regained freedom only after 12 years, the authenticity and remarkable acting prowess of the cast are core elements that make the film 12 Years a Slave one of the best American films about slavery in particular and human rights issues in general—persisting global concerns at this time.

The film earned the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress, along with a box office revenue of $187 million during its theatrical run.

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Tomatometer Score: 95%

Audience Rating: 90%

On The Waterfront is a film that focuses on reflecting 'pressing' issues in society, notably hunger and homelessness. Through the struggle against gangs involved in corruption cases in the New York waterfront area, Terry Malloy gradually uncovers the hidden corners of society.

While working at the docks, Terry inadvertently witnesses a murder committed by the murderers. After meeting and realizing his responsibility, Terry is introduced to Father Barry—someone who convinces him to provide information to bring the crime boss to justice. Will the crimes of the murderers be proven in court?

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Tomatometer Score: 99%

Audience Rating: 95%