The first film to win Best Picture at the Oscars was “Wings” in 1928 (that year, the academy also gave an award for Unique and Artistic Picture to “Sunrise”). Until 1950, the Oscar was awarded to the studio or production company. Since then, it has gone to the credited producers and after five of them won for “Shakespeare in Love” in 1998, a cap of three has been set.
At the first Oscars, there were three Best Picture nominees. In each of the next three years, five films contended. The category was expanded to eight in 1933, to 10 in 1934, and to 12 in 1935, before going back to 10 in 1937. In 1945 it was cut to five and stayed that way until 2009 when it once again was raised to 10. Since 2011, there have been a varying number of nominees from five to 10, with champs including “The Shape of Water,” “Green Book” and “Parasite.”
Tour our photo gallery below to see all of the Oscar winners of Best Picture, from “Wings” to the most recent.