10 years, 10 unforgettable Oscar moments
Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 11:39PM 
We may quibble and despair over the Oscars but we still tune in every year and love them despite it all. If we didn't, why would we obsess over predictions, rejoice at worthy victors or grimace when injustices occur? Looking back at the last decade of the awards, there are many indelible moments that energized us and made us applaud, that had us at the edge of our seats, crying through a heady mix of surprise and mirth.
Honorable mentions and a top ten list after the jump...
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Honorable Mentions: While Meryl Streep's third win may have been among her most polarizing performances, her speech was befitting her status as a living legend. Lupita Nyong'o's speech was similarly perfect. The 2016 ceremony was a rollercoaster, with Mad Max's near-sweep and Ex Machina's surprise win as two glorious highlights. It was great to see Eva Marie Saint and Rita Moreno on stage again and for Mark Bridges to ride on a jet ski with Helen Mirren in 2018. Finally, we should all applaud the wonder of Ruth E. Carter, her amazing designs and the award's funny presentation.
10. A tie in Sound Editing
While many abhor the mere idea of a tie, they're delightful at the Oscars because they're so rare. This decade's only tie was in the Best Sound Editing category and it resulted in two truly great winners, Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty. We love a surprise and there's nothing more surprising than a tie.
09. Ennio Morricone finally wins
While the Sound Editing tie was unpredictable, the same cannot be said for Ennio Morricone's conquering of the Best Original Score Oscar for The Hateful Eight. Predictability aside, this was a spectacular moment, allowing us to see Ennio Morricone with a competitive Academy Award while being applauded by his loving peers. Nothing could be more appropriate for one of cinema's greatest composers.
08. Iran's second win
Some say politics don't belong on the Oscar stage, but Art is intrinsically political. At the start of the travel ban controversy, The Salesman triumphed at the Oscars. It was the second film by Asghar Farhadi to win the prize, but this time around he didn't attend the ceremony. According to him, it was out of respect for his countrymen and the people from the other six nations affected by the US's inhumane laws. Instead, Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian born astronaut, accepted the award on his behalf, reading a rousing speech that brought galvanizing politics to the Academy's celebration.
07. The "Shallow" performance
This is one of the best musical performances in Oscar history, intimate and spectacular in equal measure, boldly shot and performed with great emotion. If there was any doubt left regarding who should win the Best Song Oscar of 2018, this tremendous duet killed it.
06. Spike Lee's joyous victory
Samuel L. Jackson's cry of victory, Spike Lee's euphory, the jump, and the hug are the makings of a perfect Oscar moment we shall forever treasure. The screenplay victory was 29 years overdue, but at last, Spike's got an Oscar. Hooray!
05. Olivia Colman's marvel of an acceptance speech
Olivia Colman's win represents an ungainly cocktail of contradictory feelings. On one hand, it was heartbreaking to watch Glenn Close lose again, on a night everyone assumed would be her long-deserved coronation. Still, it's difficult to deny the stupendous work of Olivia Colman in The Favourite, a feat whose magnitude catapulted her to the upper echelons of many best Best Actresses lists. The alternating waves of horror and wonderment make for a memorable moment, but what turns it into an endearing scene is Colman's flabbergasted speech. It was a veritable tsunami of charm.
04. John Legend and Common sing "Glory"
The performance is extraordinary, but what makes this one of the great Oscar moments is the collection of teary reaction shots. Which one is your favorite?
03. "The world is round, people!"
If there were Oscars for Best Oscar Speech, Cate Blanchett would be a formidable contender for the win. We still hear the actress's invigorating words ringing in our ears all these years later.
02. Parasite's historic triumph
The Oscars may surprise on occassion with an unexpected choice here or there but they only very rarely do something so radical that decades of historical precedent suddenly becomes irrelevant and drifts away like ashes in the wind. That's what happened this year when the rule books became even more meaningless then they were before. For the first time, a non-English-speaking production conquered the industry's top honor. Like the final moment in this list, it may still seem like a dream but it was very real.
01. Moonlight wins Best Picture
I've followed the Oscars quite religiously since 2007, but over the years, I never cried at any particular moment of the ceremonies. I may have been enraged or overcome by joy but nothing ever overwhelmed me. Not until 2017, that is, when I had resigned myself to the apathy of a La La Land Best Picture win and then something happened. Something no one expected. The winner was actually Moonlight, not the musical love letter to Hollywood itself but the small-budget film about a black queer man growing up in Florida. The winner was the sort of film I always thought could never win the Best Picture Oscar. Turns out, anything can happen at the Oscars, dreams can come true and nightmares can be quickly dispelled with the opening of the right envelope.
This was a list of personal favorites and it would be wonderful to know what were your favorite Oscar moments of the past decade.
Reader Comments (52)
That Moonlight win is for the books.
J-Law stumbling on her way should be on the list too.
Enough now about Colman. Let's see if she can carry a movie all by herself.
Parasite and Moonlight tied for me, gotta be honest. I know people feel that Moonlight was robbed a bit, and I don't blame them. But there are so many mini-moments in that victory/transition that just break me. Jharrel Jerome hugging everyone and trying to keep it together. Trevante Rhodes looking just flabbergasted. The audience's build-up reaction when the La La Land producer is like "you won. Seriously!!!" Ryan Gosling looking really amused.
Also, Parasite won best picture. Still doesn't quite feel real.
Favourite moments you didn't mention
"Happy" in 2013/2014
Meryl Streep's speech
Daniel Day Lewis' speech
Milena Canonero's speech
Mahershala Ali, on his way to the stage, backtracking to shake Jeff Bridges' hand
Eddie Redmayne's speech and hugging Cate Blanchett.
Olivia was not my choice, and I was shocked when Glenn’s name wasn’t called. It felt like a massive slap in her face. But Colman have a delightful speech that was funny, emotional, and truly honored Glenn in such a great way. It’s made me a fan of her award show appearances, and a fan of hers, since.
This is just a reminder of how (mostly) wonderful this past decade of Oscars was. So many precedents broken. So much history made. Lots of deserving winners. Time will tell if this was just some weird blip or the new norm, but boy was it exciting!
I'd probably add one of Cuarón's many wins here. He was such a constant presence in 2013 and 2018 and was wonderfully charming every time he gave a speech.
Also, Gaga being warmly embraced by Julie Andrews after the "Sound of Music" tribute was lovely.
Oh, and I guess Ellen's Selfie should be on there somewhere, unless that's too much of a cynical pick? Was really memorable in any case.
Cate Blanchett? Serious? In terms of Oscar speech, Sandra, Meryl, and Francis outperformed than her.
@Fadhil
You might want to watch Tyrannosaur before you say silly things like that.
Sharon Choi - translator for Director Bong and the Parasite crew - deserves special mention for being an unsung hero this whole time. Read the article she wrote in 'Variety' - "[a]nd to feel a little less lonely is why I want to be a storyteller."
@MrW: AMEN. She was PHENOMENAL in that movie and should have won every Best Actress award conceivable.
MrW and Ron - Colman in Tyrannosaur is my winner in (the ridiculously competitive year of) 2011 and, while the film was never getting Oscar traction, it is a TRAVESTY that the new ‘let’s predict Oscar’ format of BAFTA Film made her a casualty.
In any decade previously she would have been nailed on as a nominee and contender for the win. Though Elizabeth Olsen and Anna Paquin’s non-existent campaigns that year highlights how a LOT of distributors dropped the ball... and that’s before we even get to the ‘never stood a chance’ greats like Charlize Theron, Kirsten Dunst, Andrea Riseborough and Elena Anaya...
I will never understand why people love Olivia's speech so much. It is so embarrassing to watch a grown up woman acting like a toddler, mumbling, blowing raspberries and flipping her finger.
I guess that's why Annette Bening or Kathleen Turner will never win.
@MrW-I agree
Agree also with all the top 10 and I would add Til it happens to you and all the women coming on stage and Laura Dern this year for that wonderful note on Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd. It was beautiful to see Lula finally in peace with her mom
The Parasite moment was great, but unlike moonlight the surprise wasn’t really there after best director. If they were going to do a director/picture split it would have been Mendes winning director and parasite winning picture not the other way around. After parasite won director and screenplay it seemed pretty likely they were taking picture too. I rank Parasite slightly higher than moonlight as films, but the moonlight win was the best moment because it was more of a shock.
Colman winning is one of my favorite Oscar moments of all time. I didn't like The Wife so I was not here for the Glenn Close "overdue" narrative. I'm glad the best performance came out on top.
I loved Spike Lee, Moonlight and Parasite's moments too. Glory being performed was also beautiful. I think it's one of the strongest Best Song wins ever in that category.
‘ Enough now about Colman. Let's see if she can carry a movie all by herself’
Clearly you haven’t seen Tyrannosaur
@Jennnifer - They say they like powerful women but they just don't vote for them.
"Parasite" win was one of the worst moments in the Oscar history.
But "Moonlight" win was awesome, true.
Coleman is a goddess. Tyrannosaur is such a guttural, raw performance and just towers over much of that incredibly strong year (in terms of actresses who never saw a chance at an Oscar nomination). Doubting her talent and her range is to openly admit you haven't done your movie homework.
If Tyrannosaur came out this year she'd probably win a 2nd nomination easily.
I liked Kirk Douglas and his antics with Melissa Leo who couldn't even act fake shock.
Viggo and Denzel's loser faces.
Patricia Arquette's speech seemed very genuine
Meryl standing for Frances M
Julia reading out Best Picture
I do miss Jack on the front row though.
DDL being a God and making history
Spike Lee winning was everything. Tearing up watching it again.
Spike Lee's win was so undeserving. "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" had far better screenplay.
1 and 2 are basically the same. Then Spike Lee. Then The LEGO Movis Song's performed at the Oscars (spoiler: not only it should have won, but the sequel should have won the category this year, with "Catchy Song")
Colman has won 300 Baftas and she always accept them as the little match girl. It's an act.
Your Colman paragraph *chef's kiss* perfection! Such a great win and Glenn was mainly robbed of Oscars by the Academy make-up of 30 years ago. Colman was robbed of a nomination and arguably a win for Tyrannosaur from an Academy with only 7 years worth of changes. When it's right, it's right and a small moment of redemption by the Academy is welcome. Also Glenn, work your magic and get Sunset Blvd. going! Don't be like Babs, who is insanely rich and connected, yet let The Normal Heart rights lapse and didn't push a new version of Gypsy hard enough when it was feasible.
Moonlight is really not that shocking a win. Shocking was in the moment the nuttiness. And not at all a surprise that that kind if film could win.
We truly exaggerate how bad the Oscars are.
Screw you Joan Castleman, vote for the most unhinged I say!
Of course mine is Meryl's third win.
I know not everyone likes it. Should she have won already for a better Performance? Yes, obviously. But did she? No, she didn't.
It was always "We love you Girl, but not this time. Next year."
I didn't even watched the cérémonie, because I knew she was loosing again. What a morning to wake up. There are Moments I'm still shook it actually happened. Her speech was so lovely, so happy, so relieved. She even started it with a joke about how half of America was mourning when her name was called.
And she had great chemistry with Dujardin in the press room, I hope they somehow make a movie together.
Rowena, most multiple winners of varied awards get a bit boring or predictable. Meryl, DDL, Laura Linney for TV, etc. It's more your personal feelings in this case sweetie.
Ew Fadhil. Don't go all /3rtful and need an overdue status in the category most typical of your career to win. If someone has been 80-90% supporting up until that point in their career and give the best performance like Colman did we should cheer. I think you believe that most supporting performers never want to act in lead roles. If you give it some thought you will find that most strive towards lead. A bit strange your naivete, ignorance or disingenuous nature.
Sonja, knowing Dujardin, maybe Meryl could co-star in Polanski's next?
Another Top 10 and I'll bury this place to the ground.
Awesome "Moonlight" win for me.
@Sam G. - meanwhile watch that little gem that J'accuse is
I completely forgot there was a tie in Sound Editing.
WOW, that proofs how disconected I am from the Oscars, I haved no idea about the tie in the sound mixing effects category. I just watch the show when they anounce the Best Picture category, in 2017 when I hear: "La La Land" I changed the channel and i didn't knew that Moonlight was the real winner until the next day in the news (and the memes)
My favorite win could be Birdman as best picture because i LOVE that movie but if i have to choose a 'moment' that could be when The Shape of Water won the major category. It wasn't my favorite movie of that year but the moment was priceless:
Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty appearing as a second chance to do "things well", Guillermo corroborating the name of the movie before celebrating, the fact that a fantasy film was awarded for best film, the speech dedicated to the future creators of cinema and that brief moment where the camera captures Greta Gerwig whispering "I love him" proving that although the public aggravate each other with comments trying to justify who is the "best", the respect and admiration among artists prevails
Yeesh there a lot of bitter hate for Colman, lol. Don’t be mad a her, be mad at the Academy in the 80s for passing her over, lol. I remember hurting my throat screaming for her win.
Moonlight and Parasite, obviously. Ex Machina’s surprise won was also excellent!
Fav actor wins/speeches- Blanchett and Lupita (and in the same year!), Meryl, and the standing of the nominated women during Francis’s speech.
**passing Glenn over in the 80s
Nope. Just can't with #5.
I would put that as one of the WORST Oscar moments of the last decade.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Oh no have we gone with listing the year of the ceremony here as well? I don't disagree with your list, but I'm going to keep listing Oscar years by the year of the films' release fort the rest of my life!
Gaga's Sound of Music tribute and then the hug from Julie--that is right up there for sure. I still get chills thinking about it.
Is a little frustrating to watch the posts that does an specific question and instead of response it many people are focused in just complaining about what they don´t like.
I know we have freedom of speech but, why use it with negativity? I would really like to know what others like.
So over the love fest for Colman. Glenn was robbed and everybody knows it. People rightly complained when Alicia Vikander went Supporting to tactically win. Why is this commended when it works the other way?
ajnrules -- it is stil the house rules at TFE that we refer by the year of the movie so this was just a glitch in my editing. we are now the only site that doesnt list by movie year which is sad but we think it's better because otherwise nothing lines up with top ten lists, nbr, critics awards, etcetera... which all happen in December.
cesar -- i feel your frustration but i think most of the time we get at least some mix of responding to the questions and other stuff.
And why was Streep's performance polarizing? She totally deserved to win. Didn't she win most precursor awards? Of course she was going to win. And what a speech! People need to get over that.
Peter A., According to AwardsDaily, Colman went lead because she didn't want to be known as a supporting player in Hollywood. (And to not to face off against Claire Foy in FIRST MAN.) Even she didn't expect it to pay off. It was also the likeliest way to get all of "The Favorite" women nominated.
** not to face off.
@brandz, Totally agree. She won a Globe and BAFTA for playing MARGARET THATCHER in a Weinstein-backed film and people were shocked when she won?!
@ Cesar, I love your paragraph about The Shape of Water’s win! I agree with everything you said, especially the perfectly captured reaction from Gerwig.
Jean Dujardin’s speech was glorious and also he is a beautiful, beautiful man. “My teachers would call me Jean du la Lune because I was always daydreaming ...” My heart. My brovaries.
@Fadhil watch Tyrannosaur if you want to see Olivia Colman carry a film and then some.
I think all three women in The Favourite are leads. If anyone is support, it's Rachel Weisz, but I still think she's a lead too. I thought Coleman's win was terrific - one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreary night (I wasn't a fan of Roma, Bohemian Rhapsody or Green Book, so yeah...) And her speech was particularly marvelous. The grace, the wit, the warmth, the emotion... all of it.
As for Glenn Close, I have to admit the bullying supporters are off-putting and make me question whatever admiration I do hold (which, in the case of Close, isn't as much as AMPAS)
You're all way too sensitive. I don't see any bullying here.
It’s as if the characters Glenn Close is famous for playing attracted all the real-life crazies to her side. She doesn’t deserve supporters as bitter as some of you. If I believed AMPAS voters paid attention to the Internet, it’d be hard not to think you nut-jobs lost her votes in the name of spite. Colman’s performance AND speech are for the ages. Get over it, and channel that hatred into something more productive.