Movies Of The 2000s With The Most Oscar Wins (Ranked According To IMDb)

It’s a fine day indeed when general audiences and critics harmoniously agree. As is too often the case, critics revere the “serious” movies that general audiences often find too “boring” or self-serious to enjoy. These movies are typically period pieces, serious introspective dramas, or some type of emotionally-manipulative story meant to tug on viewers’ heartstrings. Critics love a well-made and well-told movie; audiences typically just want to be entertained.

But sometimes they see eye to eye and come together in agreement. Some movies break the barrier between critics and audiences, resulting in harmonious satisfaction. These are some of those movies.

10 Chicago (2002) [6 Oscars] – 7.1

Chicago was a big critical darling, but judging by its tepid 7.1 IMDb score, general audiences just couldn’t connect with it on the same level. That said, it was a big hit at the box office, grossing $306 million worldwide.

It was nominated for a stellar thirteen Academy Awards and took home six, making it the big winner of the night. Its trophies included Best Sound, Film Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction, Supporting Actress for Catherine Zeta-Jones playing Velma Kelly, and the coveted Best Picture. It became the first musical in over 30 years to win Best Picture – Oliver! last did it in 1968.

9 The Aviator (2004) [5 Oscars] – 7.5

In the eyes of general audiences, The Aviator may be one of Martin Scorsese’s most under-the-radar films. A biopic concerning Howard Hughes, The Aviator grossed a somewhat disappointing $213 million – a feat made even more disheartening considering its inflated $110 million budget.

But it was a big hit with the Academy, earning eleven nominations at the 77th Academy Awards. It ended up winning five – Best Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction, Cinematography, and Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett playing the legendary Katharine Hepburn.

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8 The Hurt Locker (2008) [6 Oscars] – 7.6

Kathryn Bigelow is a long-established director with a respectable filmography stretching back to 1981. But it was The Hurt Locker in 2008 that finally earned her some respect. The movie was a moderate success with general filmgoers, grossing just under $50 million and earning a solid, if not spectacular, 7.6 on IMDb. But it was the big movie of the 82nd Academy Awards, earning nine nominations and six wins.

These include Best Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Film Editing, Original Screenplay, Best Director for Bigelow, and Best Picture. The Director win was particularly important, as she beat out her ex-husband James Cameron for the award. He was up for Avatar.

7 Slumdog Millionaire (2008) [8 Oscars] – 8.0

Breaking the 8.0 barrier is Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. This was a huge hit throughout the winter of 2009, eventually grossing $378 million at the worldwide box office.

It was also the big upset at the 81st Academy Awards. While The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was up for thirteen awards, it only won three. Slumdog Millionaire, which was nominated for ten, took home eight. These include Best Sound Mixing, Original Song for “Jai Ho,” Original Score, Editing, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Director for Boyle, and Best Picture.

6 Million Dollar Baby (2004) [4 Oscars] – 8.1

Clint Eastwood has made some spectacular movies throughout his career, and Million Dollar Baby is one of them. Based on F.X. Toole’s Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner, Eastwood directed the film and co-produced it through his company Malpaso Productions. It was widely beloved by general audiences and critics, grossing $216 million and earning seven Oscar nominations.

It took home four – Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman playing Scrap-Iron, Best Actress for Hilary Swank playing Maggie Fitzgerald, Director for Eastwood, and Best Picture.

5 No Country For Old Men (2007) [4 Oscars] – 8.1

It’s incredibly hard to adapt Cormac McCarthy for the big screen, but the Coen brothers found a way with No Country for Old Men. Adapted from McCarthy’s 2005 novel of the same name, the Coens wrote, directed, and co-produced the movie through their production company, Mike Zoss Productions.

It is widely regarded as their best movie, earning a solid 8.1 on IMDb and eight nominations at the 80th Academy Awards. It won four of the most coveted – Best Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem playing Anton Chigurh, Director for the Coens, and Best Picture.

4 A Beautiful Mind (2001) [4 Oscars] – 8.2

A Beautiful Mind received some criticism for its historical inaccuracies surrounding the life of mathematician John Nash. But these inaccuracies didn’t stop audiences from enjoying the movie. It grossed a very respectable $313 million and sits at 8.2 on IMDb, ranking it #137 on the site’s Top Rated Movies list.

The Academy are also suckers for a good biopic, and A Beautiful Mind earned eight nominations at the 74th Academy Awards. It won four – Best Supporting Actress for Jennifer Connelly playing Alicia Nash, Adapted Screenplay, Director for Ron Howard, and Best Picture.

3 The Departed (2006) [4 Oscars] – 8.5

Martin Scorsese may have underwhelmed with The Aviator – at least in the eyes of general audiences – but he delivered two years later with The Departed. Based on the Chinese film Infernal Affairs, The Departed grossed just under $300 million at the worldwide box office and sits at 8.5 on IMDb, placing it at #43 on the Top Rated Movies list. And while it was “only” nominated for five Academy Awards, it won four, the most at the 79th Academy Awards.

The wins include Best Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Director for Scorsese, and Best Picture.

2 Gladiator (2000) [5 Oscars] – 8.5

Ridley Scott is one of the all-time greats, and he created his magnum opus in 2000 with Gladiator. Widely acclaimed for its production values and story, Gladiator was a monumental success, grossing $460 million and earning twelve nominations at the 73rd Academy Awards.

It won five – Best Visual Effects, Sound, Costume Design, Actor for Russell Crowe playing Maximus, and Best Picture. It also helped reinvigorate interest in the waning sword and sandals genre, giving rise to the likes of Troy and 300.

1 The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2001) [11 Oscars] – 8.8

The Lord of the Rings franchise is one of the defining moments in cinematic history. Like Star Wars and Harry Potter, it represents the very best of cinematic imagination and represents a cultural touchstone – a franchise that will forever remain ingrained in the public consciousness.

The Return of the King grossed $1.14 billion and took home eleven Academy Awards, tying it with Ben-Hur and Titanic for the most of all time. It also sits at 8.8 on IMDb, placing it at #7 on the Top Rated Movies list. Movies simply don’t get much better than this.

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