Quiz: Movie Buffs Should Ace This Academy Awards Best Picture Quiz
The tradition of the Academy Awards dates back to May 16, 1929, and involved the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting on the best in the movie industry. After almost a century, there have been many memorable movies that have earned a well-deserved Oscar.
Some of these movies were praised for the acting performances, while others were loved for aspects such as directing, writing, costumes, visual effects, and score. If you are a true cinephile, then you should have no problem naming these Oscar-winning films just by looking at one photo.
Vivien Leigh played Scarlett O’Hara is this Oscar-winning film.
A. Gone with the Wind
B. Goodbye, Mr. Chips
C. Love Affair
D. The Wizard of Oz
Answer: Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind is an iconic film in American history with actress Vivien Leigh playing the female lead of Scarlett O’Hara. The movie beat out other classics such as The Wizard of Oz.
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in this romantic drama.
A. Heaven Can Wait
B. Casablanca
C. The Human Comedy
D. The Song of Bernadette
Answer: Casablanca
If there was one film both Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman were to be remembered for, it would be Casablanca. Set during World War II, it involves Bogart’s character torn between his love for Bergman and helping her husband.
Rita Moreno won an Oscar for her performance in this film.
A. Fanny
B. The Hustler
C. West Side Story
D. The Guns of Navarone
Answer: West Side Story
Not only did Rita Moreno win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie, but West Side Story also won for Best Picture. Ariana DeBose won the same award for the 2021 adaptation.
This Peter O’Toole film inspired Steven Spielberg to become a director.
A. The Music Man
B. The Longest Day
C. Mutiny on the Bounty
D. Lawrence of Arabia
Answer: Lawrence of Arabia
Steven Spielberg knew he wanted to work in the movie industry after seeing the Oscar-winning film Lawrence of Arabia. This Peter O’Toole movie was based on the life of T.E. Lawrence.
Which Julie Andrews musical movie is this?
A. The Sound of Music
B. Darling
C. Ship of Fools
D. A Thousand Clowns
Answer: The Sound of Music
After losing the Oscar the previous year for Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews finally got her victory after winning the Best Picture Academy Award for The Sound of Music. The film also won Best Director, Editing, Score, and Sound.
Marlon Brando gave a stellar performance in this Oscar-winning film.
A. Cabaret
B. The Godfather
C. Deliverance
D. Sounder
Answer: The Godfather
After the release of The Godfather, it was almost a given that it would win the Best Picture Academy Award. Fans and critics loved the performances by A-listers such as Marlon Brando and Al Pacinos.
Jack Nicholson went toe-to-toe with a nurse in this popular movie.
A. Dog Day Afternoon
B. Jaws
C. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
D. Nashville
Answer: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Released in 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest followed Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) as he is checked into a mental facility. There, he is faced with a domineering nurse.
The protagonist trains to become a boxer in this film.
A. Bound for Glory
B. Network
C. Taxi Driver
D. Rocky
Answer: Rocky
Sylvester Stallone made a name for himself after starring as the titular character in 1976’s Rocky. Fans of the franchise may not know that Stallone actually wrote all of the Rocky films.
Dustin Hoffman teamed up with Tom Cruise for this ’80s flick.
A. Rain Man
B. The Accidental Tourist
C. Dangerous Liaisons
D. Working Girl
Answer: Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman’s persona was almost unrecognizable as the mentally handicapped older brother in Rain Man. Tom Cruise’s character decides to become his caretaker after learning about his existence. Rain Man was the last MGM film to be nominated for an Oscar until 2021.
This Western drama starred and was directed by Kevin Costner.
A. Awakenings
B. Dances with Wolves
C. Ghost
D. Goodfellas
Answer: Dances with Wolves
Not only did Kevin Costner play the lead role in Dances with Wolves, but he also directed the film. Most of the dialogue in the film is spoken in Lakota with English subtitles.
Clarice interviews Dr. Hannibal Lecter in this Oscar-winning movie.
A. Beauty and the Beast
B. Bugsy
C. The Silence of the Lambs
D. The Prince of Tides
Answer: The Silence of the Lambs
If you recognize the face of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, then you would know that he is one of the main characters from The Silence of the Lambs. The American Film Institute ranked his character as being one of the evilest of all-time.
A box of chocolates was an important prop in this film.
A. Pulp Fiction
B. Quiz Show
C. The Shawshank Redemption
D. Forrest Gump
Answer: Forrest Gump
One of the most iconic movies of the 90s was Forrest Gump. The film starred Tom Hanks as a man who happens to be at some of the most historical events of all time.
Jack and Rose were the star-crossed lovers in this ’90s film.
A. Titanic
B. As Good as It Gets
C. The Full Monty
D. Good Will Hunting
Answer: Titanic
One of history’s biggest box office successes was the release of James Cameron’s Titanic. Not only did it win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but it made household names out of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
The lead of this movie loves music.
A. Dune
B. CODA
C. Licorice Pizza
D. The Power of the Dog
Answer: CODA
CODA stands for children of deaf adults and was the Oscar winner for Best Picture at the 2021 ceremony. The lead character must decide between pursuing her love of music and abandoning her parents.
Frances McDormand embarks on a journey across the U.S. in this film.
- Searchlight Pictures/MovieStillsDB
A. Mank
B. Promising Young Woman
C. Nomadland
D. The Trial of the Chicago 7
Answer: Nomadland
- Searchlight Pictures/MovieStillsDB
Newcomer Chloé Zhao was a favorite at the 2020 Oscars ceremony after winning Best Director and Best Picture for Nomadland. Also, Frances McDormand won Best Leading Actress for her performance as Fern.
This was the first non-English film to win Best Picture.
A. The Irishman
B. Jojo Rabbit
C. 1917
D. Parasite
Answer: Parasite
Parasite is a South Korean comedy thriller that was filmed entirely in Korean. It became the very first non-English movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It also won Best Director, Screenplay, and International Feature Film.
This historical drama takes place in 1962.
A. Green Book
B. Black Panther
C. BlacKkKlansman
D. Vice
Answer: Green Book
Green Book won the Best Picture Oscar at the 2018 ceremony. The story was about a bouncer who is hired to drive a pianist around the Deep South in the early ’60s.
Do you remember this Guillermo del Toro sci-fi film?
A. Call Me by Your Name
B. The Shape of Water
C. Lady Bird
D. Phantom Thread
Answer: The Shape of Water
Director Guillermo del Toro is known for his out-of-this-world films, and one that proved to impress both audiences and critics was The Shape of Water. Doug Jones actually wore the monster suit during filming.
This black and white film was about a silent movie star.
- La Petite Reine/MovieStillsDB
A. Hugo
B. Midnight in Paris
C. The Help
D. The Artist
Answer: The Artist
Set in 1927, The Artist is about a silent movie star who becomes apprehensive when the talkies gain popularity. He joins forces with a young dancer who is looking for her big break.
Do you remember this film about a member of the royal family?
A. The King’s Speech
B. Winter’s Bone
C. True Grit
D. Black Swan
Answer: The King’s Speech
The King’s Speech is based on the life of King George VI, who was the father of Queen Elizabeth II. It focuses on his stutter and the man who helps him overcome it.
Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart fight for fame in this musical film.
A. The Pianist
B. The Hours
C. Gangs of New York
D. Chicago
Answer: Chicago
Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, Chicago is about two women who find themselves locked up for serious crimes. In order to stay safe, they fight for fame in 1920s Chicago.
Gwyneth Paltrow won the Best Actress Oscar for this movie.
A. Elizabeth
B. Life Is Beautiful
C. Shakespeare in Love
D. Saving Private Ryan
Answer: Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love (1998) was the first comedy to win the Best Picture Oscar since 1977. Some think the reason why it won so many Oscars was because of the director’s awards campaign.
The lead character of this 1996 film is a burn victim.
A. Fargo
B. Shine
C. Jerry Maguire
D. The English Patient
Answer: The English Patient
The English Patient details the life of a Hungarian map maker who charts the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert alongside other prominent explorers. The film received 12 Oscar nominations and won nine of them.
Which Clint Eastwood Western is this?
A. Unforgiven
B. The Crying Game
C. A Few Good Men
D. Scent of a Woman
Answer: Unforgiven
Not only did Clint Eastwood play the lead in Unforgiven, but he also directed it. He plays a widower and farmer who must once again turn to bounty hunting to support his children.
Do you recognize this Morgan Freeman movie?
A. Born on the Fourth of July
B. Driving Miss Daisy
C. Field of Dreams
D. My Left Foot
Answer: Driving Miss Daisy
Morgan Freeman played the male lead in the 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy. It tells the story of an old Jewish widow who befriends her African American chauffeur during a time when society wasn’t as accepting.
Name this Vietnam-era film.
A. Children of a Lesser God
B. The Mission
C. Platoon
D. A Room with a View
Answer: Platoon
There have been several movies made that have retold the horrors of the Vietnam War. Platoon won the Academy Award for Best Picture and starred famous actors, including Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Charlie Sheen.
Meryl Streep goes abroad in this film.
A. The Color Purple
B. Witness
C. Prizzi’s Honor
D. Out of Africa
Answer: Out of Africa
Meryl Streep is one of the most nominated Oscar actresses in history, and she was nominated for playing the female lead in 1985’s Out of Africa. The film is based on the life of a Danish author who moves to Africa at the turn of the 20th century.
