(Warner Bros. / Photo Illustration by Nathan Graber-Lipperman)

Following the announcement of the new Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film award, debuting at the 2019 Oscars, I’m still undecided on how I feel about the category. Not pointing fingers, but it seems like an elaborate excuse for a group of elder men to avoid “wasting” a precious Best Film nom on one of 2018’s biggest hits, Black Panther. Either way, I’m sure Ryan Coogler will happily walk across the stage next February to accept the inaugural Oscar for Best Popular Film.

Looking back ten years, the Academy’s conundrum with The Dark Knight laid the groundwork for creating the Best Popular Film category. In response to criticism for leaving TDK off its Best Picture list in 2009, the Academy expanded the playing field to 10 nominations per year to accommodate a wider range of genres. And their change in attitude was clearly on display, with films like Avatar, The Blind Side, and Inglorious Basterds receiving nominations for the 2010 awards. These weren’t typical “art-house” pieces, but a variety of fun movies which spoke to widespread audiences. And since 2010, several other notable popular films have been recognized with a Best Picture nom.

Yet no quote unquote “big” movie has ever taken home the hardware for Best Picture. So what if the new Best Popular Film award had existed during the last ten years? Might some of the more mainstream Best Picture noms, like Toy Story 3 or Les Misérables, reigned supreme? Or would a huge popcorn flick like Star Wars: The Force Awakens have gone home a winner?

To answer these questions keeping me awake at night, I’ve decided to retroactively award the Best Popular Film Oscar to the most deserving candidates of each year of the past decade.

My simple rules for the exercise:

Everyone should have heard of the movie.
The movie’s popularity should be due to its innovation, cultural impact, or simply being an outstanding big dumb blockbuster.
Animated movies are quite popular nowadays, so they too are eligible for the award, regardless of their recognition in the Best Animated Film category.

Simple enough, right? I’ve also included runner-ups since there’s so much unartistic schlock to choose from. No, this doesn’t mean I support the existence of the new award. But it does allow for some fun hindsight. With that, let’s begin with the 2009 Oscars.

2009

Winner: The Dark Knight

In the words of Justin Bieber, it’s a no-brainer. The Dark Knight is what got us into this mess in the first place. Fantastic acting, incredible practical effects, and an eerie Hans Zimmer score make TDK one of the decade’s most memorable films. Whoever thought a movie about a man dressed up as a bat beating up a clown would make you think about humanity so much? Add in the tragic story of Heath Ledger’s preparation for his role as Batman’s nemesis, and TDK will remain in film lore for years to come.

Runner-up: Iron Man

Talk about a year for superhero movies dominated by tour-de-forces of acting. Like his on-screen persona Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. resurrected his career before our eyes, becoming the hero we needed (and the one we deserved) in a dark time in America’s history. Iron Man established the perfect formula for summer movies, investing in its characters while also sticking to its goofy tone. Extra points for launching the MCU, which will feature prominently throughout this list for being the most influential movie series of the decade.

2010

Winner: Avatar

(James Cameron by Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0) — (James Cameron by Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0)

How could I not give Avatar the nod here? It’s a CGI-fest, which means it doesn’t necessarily hold up against the glossier fare of today. And it’s basically Fern Gully with giant blue aliens. But James Cameron knows how to put butts in seats (see Titanic), and Avatar went on to become the highest grossing movie of all-time for a reason. Rarely does a non-franchise movie carry this much pedigree, but the insane visuals of the Na’Vi world wowed audiences in a way that no movie has since.

Runner-up: The Blind Side

Anything based on a novel by Michael Lewis has become Hollywood gold (also see The Big Short and Moneyball). The Blind Side tells the sweet tale of Michael Oher and his adopted family, bolstered by a fierce Oscar-winning performance from Sandra Bullock. It’s a cheesy sports movie, but has a lot of those classic moments which make you want to cheer for the lovable underdog. The scene in which Bullock’s mama-bear Leigh Anne Tuhoy berates an opposing player’s redneck daddy will always draw a chuckle. The good feeling you get after watching The Blind Side is enough to help you overlook its clichés and shallow themes.

2011

Winner: Inception

Unlike last year’s Best Popular Film winner, Inception still holds up thanks to its gorgeous practical filmmaking and familial tale. Nolan’s direction is once again brilliant, adding another non-linear and intelligent piece to a portfolio already filled with next-level storytelling. The film also features amazing work from some of the industry’s best actors, headlined by Leo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ellen Page. If Memento or The Prestige didn’t seal the deal, Inception cemented Nolan as the modern heir to Kubrick.

Runner-up: Toy Story 3

*Sniff* I’m not crying, *sniff*, you’re crying. The good folks at Pixar always manage to pump the waterworks. The themes of growing up in the Toy Story trilogy will always ring true for any audience member, and the third entry offered up enough heart and emotion to justify the continuation of the series. The Academy at least recognized this one, making Toy Story 3 the third-ever animated movie to receive a Best Picture nom.

2012

Winner: Fast Five

“This is Brazil!” In the reboot that inexplicably turned Point Break with cars into one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, Fast Five serves as both the first and last good entry in the series. But who cares? The films are champions of diverse casting and zany action, and Fast Five in particular manages to stand out with its heist-centered plot. This movie has everything. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker towing a bank vault down the crowded streets of Rio? Check. The Rock running wild in his first huge role? Check. Oh yeah, “Danza Kuduro” is also straight fire.

Runner-up: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2

The series is beloved, but the films never quite lived up to Tolkien’s golden standard, causing the finale to lose out on the top spot. Nevertheless, HP 7.2 wraps up the Harry Potter saga in epic fashion, featuring all of your favorite wizards and witches in their final stand against the Dark Lord. For a series which allowed us to watch Harry, Ron, and Hermione grow up before our eyes, the final film put a neat bow on a story which I’ll always remember as being a cornerstone of my childhood.

2013

Winner: The Avengers

(Joss Whedon by Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0) — (Joss Whedon by Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Could it be anything else? The Avengers changed Hollywood forever, and maybe not for the better. Prior to 2012, no one had ever seen heroes already established within their own flicks team up to save the world. This should have been a huge disaster, but instead we got the quippiest of films glued together by Joss Whedon’s direction and Kevin Feige’s ambition. Did it age well? Of course not. Every single movie since has thrown out even more impressive CGI and raised the stakes even higher. But they have The Avengers to thank for setting the bar so high in the first place. To the death of Hollywood!

Runner-up: Les Misérables

We’ve all seen musicals before, but Les Misérables offers up such an innovative style of filmmaking that the experience feels grander than some of the genre’s blander entries. The camera glides through the scenery, granting Les Mis the kinetic energy it needs to accentuate the epic proportions of its tale. In more intimate scenes, however, director Tom Hooper knows how to tone down the over-stylized technique, most notably for Fantine’s “I Dreamed a Dream.” The number was enough to help Anne Hathaway secure a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, despite only being on screen for 15 minutes.

2014

Winner: Frozen

Just to put this in context, Frozen came out in late November, and I went to see it in February in a still packed theater. Kids (and adults too) LOVED Frozen. I worked as a camp counselor for four years, and it took up until the release of Moana to get it out of their heads. Frozen is a genuinely funny and heartwarming movie, but it’s the music that brings it over the top. “Let it Go” is the banger I never knew I needed. Throw in some refreshing gender reversals for the roles typically played by princesses in Disney movies, and this was an innovative and gorgeously animated film that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Runner-up: Wolf of Wall Street

Three hours of unabashed insanity from the master himself, Wolf of Wall Street might be the most consistently engrossing movie of this length ever made. For the critics who lambasted the movie for glorifying Jordan Belfort’s lifestyle, the black comedy nature of Scorsese’s biopic was lost in translation. Don’t forget about Leo DiCaprio in peak form; this should have been the film that ended Leo’s winless streak for Best Actor. The man is simply brilliant, showing off a comedic side I never knew he possessed while also exuding unmatchable swagger.

2015

Winner: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

This is a simply gorgeous movie. The animation style developed within the reboot Apes franchise is superb, utilizing motion-capture technology in real-life landscapes to seamlessly blend the CGI apes into the human world. Even more, the filmmakers expertly use special effects not just to thrill, but also tell a story about humanity. Portrayed by Andy Serkis, Caesar/Ape Jesus doesn’t just look amazing. He also looks human. The parallels the film draws between a dying human population and the evolving ape community leads to some evocative themes, making Dawn the darkest entry on this list.

Runner-up: Guardians of the Galaxy

If you had told anyone a year earlier that the Guardians of the freaking Galaxy would make for such a fun superhero team, people would have thought you were crazy. Five hundred Ooga-Chakas later, and James Gunn’s (RIP) zany space opera was one of the MCU’s most beloved hits. GOTG gave us Groot and Rocket, a killer soundtrack, and the beginning of Hollywood’s Over-Pratturation. And it’s also by far the funniest movie in the MCU.

2016

Winner: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Who cares if it was the exact same movie as the original Star Wars? This was a damn good time at the movies, and you’d be lying if you say you weren’t smiling ear to ear watching The Force Awakens that first time. I’ve never been in such an electric theater environment before, with people clapping for everything from Han Solo’s first appearance to C3PO making dumb jokes. Perhaps its best strength, TFA introduced us to a diverse set of lovable new characters, reversing course for the roles typically played by women and minorities within the Star Wars universe.

Runner-up: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

What would you do if you were a former A-lister who everyone thought was crazy? If your answer is to throw yourself into countless life-threatening situations to show just how crazy you are, then you must have gone to the Tom Cruise school of resurrecting your career. The Mission Impossible franchise has only gotten better with increasingly awe-inducing stunt work and a growing cast of lovable spies. MI5 not only upped the ante with Ethan Hunt hanging off a plane, but also gifted us with the one off the most creative action scenes ever in the Opera House assassination attempt.

2017

Winner: Zootopia

I love noir movies. It’s a genre rife with corrupt politicians and shady crime lords, perfect for adding pertinent social themes into a story. Don’t let Zootopia’s fluffy exterior fool you; it’s a dark and twisted neo-noir all about race and social relations hidden behind a colorful Disney landscape. The allegory Zootopia molds about the division between herbivores and carnivores resonates deeply in a time where society still grapples with its implicit biases. What a long way kids movies have come these days.

Runner-up: Captain America: Civil War

Like The Avengers before it, Civil War might not age well. But the endless hype for the pseudo-Avengers crossover paid off with thrilling action and some surface layer debate about the role of government in a globalized world. If you look hard enough, Civil War had the same exact plot as the poorly received Dawn of Justice earlier in 2016. But Kevin Feige and company know exactly how to develop their characters to the point where Civil War succeeds where its peer fails. The Russo Brothers allow Cap and Tony to continue growing as characters in ways unexpected for a sequel movie, helping keep the audience invested in the warring heroes. Plus Spiderman and Black Panther were awesome in their MCU debuts.

2018

Winner: Get Out

A horror movie directed by Jordan Peele? Where the suburban white people from Connecticut are the scary monster? Talk about a powerful movie falling right into the genre fare the Academy typically shies away from. I thought Get Out had an outside chance to win the whole shebang last year, and while it didn’t take home the gold, it was amazing to see a starstruck Peele accept his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. In the supposedly post-racism years of the 2010’s, Get Out both spooked audiences and resonated with the public like no other horror movie before it.

Runner-up: Wonder Woman

No, it wasn’t the first female-led superhero flick. But it was the first good one! Along with the success of Black Panther the following year, Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot proved that promoting diversity in your films can help stave off the inevitable superhero fatigue movie studios have been dreading. And while the movie falls apart in the third act a little bit, Wonder Woman was still breathtaking and filled with lovable characters. And that guitar riff gets my heart pounding every time.

Leave a comment below with what you think should be included on the list!

Retroactively Picking the “Achievement in Popular Film” Oscar