The 1960s are a unique era in which the world of movies changed forever. The old, classical Hollywood started its transformation and partially moved from epic movies to more civil, gritty ones. While a lot of the movies that won the Best Picture at the Oscars came across as feel-good pieces, there were already signs that new times were coming.
The competition at the Oscars was, of course, high as many movies that are now considered iconic premiered in the 1960s - and not all of them were lucky enough to win an Oscar. The good news is that all the winners have a lot to offer even to today's audience and deserve attention from the viewers.
10 Tom Jones (1963)
Tom Jones winning an Oscar for the best picture is a bit of controversy these days, as some people believe the Oscar should have gone to one of the other nominees. It's true that Tom Jones doesn't have such a high rating as other Oscar winners from the 1960s, but that doesn't make it a bad movie.
Albert Finney gives a strong performance in the titular role and the story takes the viewer into an old England that's now long gone, which makes for an interesting contrast between the free-spirited hero and the people he meets. Tom Jones is funny as well since Tom likes to enjoy life and to make fun of the world around him.
9 Oliver! (1968)
Written by Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist has been adapted many times, but the 1968 version stands out. Not only did it win an Oscar (six of them, in fact), but it's also a musical. Even though Oliver doesn't have it easy and has to fight poverty, he retains his hope, and it's easy to wish him success.
Some viewers might initially struggle with the movie's length as it runs for two and a half hours but once they submerge into the story, they have a strong chance to enjoy the movie, especially if they like movies set in London.
8 West Side Story (1961)
With the recent remake by Steven Spielberg premiering, it's a good opportunity to return to this classic as well. Musical movies don't often win an Oscar for the Best Picture but West Side Story about the conflict between two different sides of young people managed it.
It garnered not one, but ten Oscars in total, becoming one of the most successful movies of all time! To this day, the music, as well as the dance choreography, works, and the developing love story provides an emotional core to the movie that makes it a must-watch for all fans of romance or musicals.
7 A Man For All Seasons (1966)
The old saying states that sometimes history writes the best stories. The reign of the Tudors is a popular historical period for movies and TV series since it offers a lot of drama. The movie focuses on Thomas More, who used to work for King Henry VIII and was his close friend but was executed when he refused to accept Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn.
The movie follows More's rise to stardom and his fall as well. Thanks to Paul Scofield's strong performance, A Man for All Seasons is a good opportunity to learn more about More's life and look at the story of Henry VIII from yet another perspective.
6 Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The world isn't kind to naive people. That's one of the lessons this drama sends out, but it's even more complex. Jon Voight stars as Joe Buck, who leaves Texas and goes to New York to work as a gigolo. The movie doesn't spare Joe, and the viewers might grow disillusioned with what they're seeing.
At the same time, it's fascinating to watch the story the movie creates because it's intelligent and has the power to make the audience think. The second leading role went to Dustin Hoffman, and the difference between his character Ratso and Joe makes for another reason why people should pay attention to the movie.
5 My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady isn't the first time the play by George Bernard Shaw has been adapted into a movie...but it's the most famous adaptation. It helps that Audrey Hepburn, one of the most iconic stars of the 20th century, stars as Eliza Doolittle, a poor young woman whose life changes when professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) makes a bet that he'll make a lady out of her.
That alone would be enough to make for an interesting story but My Fair Lady adds another layer to it since it's a musical, and one that offers many unforgettable songs. Both Hepburn and Harrison are charming in the leading roles, even though Audrey Hepburn didn't sing her part and even though Henry Higgins isn't always sympathetic.
4 In The Heat Of The Night (1967)
Investigating a murder is difficult enough, let alone when the investigator has to face the enmity and prejudice of other people. Sidney Poitier stars as Virgil Tibbs, a detective who faces an unexpected challenge when he takes on the case - after being mistaken for the murderer! It's easy to sympathize with Virgil and wish him success considering how others approach him and treat him unfairly.
That, combined with the criminal case, is enough to make In the Heat of a Night a strong crime story and social drama. Sidney Poitier gives yet another excellent performance but Rod Steiger as Virgil's reluctant ally Gillespie also doesn't disappoint, and the developing relationship between the two men is one of the many highlights of the movie.
3 The Sound Of Music (1965)
The 1960s were a golden time for all fans of musicals since multiple movies of this genre won an Oscar for Best Picture. The Sound of Music stars Julie Andrews, who became a household name a year earlier thanks to playing Mary Poppins in the movie of the same name.
Andrews won an Oscar for Mary Poppins and was nominated for this movie. She plays Maria, a girl who starts working as a governess and takes care of the children of Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). An interesting fact about the movie that even those who saw it might not know is that it was inspired by real events!
2 The Apartment (1960)
Billy Wilder has directed many well-accepted movies (including Some Like It Hot with Marylin Monroe), but The Apartment is one of his most iconic pieces and an unusual romantic comedy. Jack Lemmon stars as C.C. Baxter, a man who's borrowing his apartment from the executives of the company he works for because he believes it will help him get a promotion.
But when he falls in love with Fran (Shirley MacLaine), he decides it's time to change things. The movie has a unique story since it takes longer than usual to bring the main characters together. And until the very end, it's unclear whether things will work out between them or not, which keeps the audience invested.
1 Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
With an astonishing runtime of over three and a half hours, Lawrence of Arabia is one of the classic movies that the viewers need to find a lot of time for. But if they do just that, they're in for a memorable experience. As its name suggests, the movie focuses on the British officer, archeologist, and writer Thomas Edward Lawrence, who played a major part in World War One.
Peter O'Toole gives one of the best performances of his long and fruitful career in this role and because Lawrence is such a fascinating figure, the viewers will be curious to know what will happen to him next and how will his life evolve.