by Spencer Stevens, Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian
Movies That Made History
The last few years have seen major firsts at the Academy Awards. This year, Lily Gladstone became the first Native American woman from the United States to be nominated for an acting Oscar (Best Actress for Killers of the Flower Moon). Godzilla Minus One has become the first movie in the Godzilla franchise’s seventy-year history to earn an Academy Award nomination (and I hope it wins!). Here are some great movies that made history at the Oscars.
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – The Best Years of Our Lives was made in the immediate aftermath of World War II and explores the lives of three servicemen as they return to civilian life. Harold Russell was a World War II Army veteran who lost both hands in an explosion and had them replaced with prosthetic hooks. His spellbinding performance in this movie earned him two Academy Awards–one for Best Supporting Actor and an Honorary Academy Award. He was the first disabled and non-professional actor to win an Oscar, and to date he’s the only person to win two acting awards for the same performance.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) – Last year’s Best Picture winner was the first Science Fiction movie to win Best Picture. Michelle Yeoh became the first openly Asian actress and second actress of color ever to win Best Actress. Oh, and it’s an absolutely fantastic roller coaster of a movie!
Moonlight (2016) – Moonlight made history before the Oscars as the first widely-advertised LGBT feature film to star an all-Black cast. It went on to be the first LGBT movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Additionally, Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim actor to win any Acting award. This is a beautiful movie.
No Time to Die (2021) – No Time to Die joined a long line of James Bond movies, and it was Daniel Craig’s final time playing 007. Billie Eilish made history with her win for Best Original Song: she became the first person born in the 21st century to win an Academy Award. Watch this movie for another sleek spycraft adventure that sends off Daniel Craig in style.
Shrek (2001) – I’m not sure if you’d call Shrek a classic, but it sure is in my house. Shrek made history as the first ever animated film to win the Best Animated Feature in 2002. This hilarious yet heartfelt parody of fairy tales deserved to win Best Picture, if you ask me.
I hope you enjoy watching (or rewatching!) some of these superb films!