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Millennials - Here's the film that won the Oscar for Best Picture the year you were born

How many have you seen?

WITH THIS YEAR’S Oscars creeping closer, we decided to take a look at the films that won Best Picture throughout the years.

It might even be perfect snow day viewing to watch the one from the year you were born.

1984 – Amadeus

Orion Pictures Orion Pictures

Why you should watch it: It brings the extravagant and entertaining story about the life, love and rivalries of composer Amadeus Mozart to life.

Random fact: Cynthia Nixon, the iconic Miranda from Sex and the City, plays a small role as a maid sent to spy on Mozart

Rotten Tomato Rating: 95%

1985 – Out of Africa

Mirage Enterprises Mirage Enterprises

Why you should watch it: Two words: Meryl Streep

Random fact: Audrey Hepburn was originally offered the role of Karen Blixen, which eventually went to Meryl Streep

Rotten Tomato Rating: 53% (the lowest rating on this list by 18%…)

1986 – Platoon

Orion Pictures Orion Pictures

Why you should watch it: Groundbreaking as it was the first time the Vietnam War was shown on film from the perspective of the soldiers who fought in it (Director Oliver Store was an infantryman for 14months in the late 1960s). Also, watch a young and innocent Charlie Sheen before he was drinking tiger blood

Random fact: Filmed in the Philippines, it was the first time Johnny Depp (then aged 22) left the United States.

Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%

1987 – The Last Emperor

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures

Why you should watch it: It was the first Western film in nearly 40years that was given Chinese permission to be made in and about China.

Random fact: Queen Elizabeth II was in Beijing on a state visit and was denied entry to the Forbidden City as the filming of the spectacular coronation scene as the film was given priority over her.

Rotten Tomato Rating: 92

1988 – Rain Man

MGM / UA Communications Company MGM / UA Communications Company / UA Communications Company

Why you should watch it: Just so you can understand the hilarious references made to it in the Hangover

Warner Bros / FanzReviews/YouTube

Source: Warner Bros.

MGM / UA Communications Company MGM / UA Communications Company / UA Communications Company

Random fact: Tom Cruise wearing Ray Bans in the movie boosted sales of that style 15%

 Rotten Tomato Rating: 89%

1989 - Driving Miss Daisy

Warner Bros. Warner Bros.

Why you should watch it:  Morgan Freeman is in it, teaching life lessons. 'Nuff said.

Random fact: At the age of 80, Jessica Tandy, who plays Daisy, became the oldest ever recipient of the Oscar for best actress

Rotten Tomato Rating: 81%

1990 - Dances With Wolves

Orion Pictures Orion Pictures

Why you should watch it: Slightly problematic for its 'white saviour' storyline, but at the time was seen as respectful as 1/4 of the dialogue in the movie is in Lakota, the language of the Sioux, a Native Americans tribe

Random fact: It became the highest grossing western of all time bringing in $424.2 million

Rotten Tomato Rating: 82%

1991 - The Silence of the Lambs

silenceof Orion Pictures Orion Pictures

Why you should watch it: The immensely creepy performance of Sir Anthony Hopkin as serial killer and cannibal Hannibal Lector

Random fact: For real - it's a creepy performance! Martha Stewart stopped dating Sir Anthony Hopkins (yeah I didn't know that was a thing either) because she couldn't separate real-life Anthony from Hannibal!

Rotten Tomato Rating: 95%

1992 - Unforgiven

Malpaso Productions Malpaso Productions

Why you should watch it: It was Clint Eastwood's last western (how many westerns are on this list!?)

Random fact: Despite it being Eastwood's 16th movie as a director and  34th as a lead actor, it was the first time he was nominated for an Oscar (three Oscars in fact: Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Director - he won for the latter two)

Rotten Tomato Rating: 96%

Amblin Entertainment Amblin Entertainment

Why you should watch it: It's got the highest Rotten Tomatoes scoring of all the films here

Random fact: Steven Spielberg refused to take a salary for the movie. He used the films' profits to create the Shoah Foundation to honour and remember Holocaust survivors

Rotten Tomato Rating: 97%

1994 - Forrest Gump

Wendy Finerman Productions Wendy Finerman Productions

Why you should watch it: Any film that can beat Shawshank Redemption AND Pulp Fiction to be crowned best picture should be seen

Random fact: The running scene was inspired by a real-life event - In 1982, Louis Michael Figueroa, aged 16, ran from New Jersey to San Francisco for the American Cancer Society

Rotten Tomato Rating: 71%

1995 - Braveheart

Icon Productions Icon Productions

Why you should watch it: If you're already nostalgic for Scotland's defeat of the English in the rugby last weekend

Random fact: The majority of the film was shot in Ireland, in locations such as Dunsany Castle in County Meath or Sally's Gap in County Wicklow

Rotten Tomato Rating: 78%

1996 - The English Patient

Miramax Miramax

Why you should watch it: If you're in the mood for a solid 90 minutes hours of weeping

Random fact: Production was delayed because Fox wanted Demi Moore to play Kristin Scott Thomas' role. Harvey Weinstein stepped in to 'save the film', according to Scott Thomas!

Rotten Tomato Rating: 84% 

1997 - Titanic

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures

Why you should watch it: You can't call yourself a millennial without having watched this! For shame!

Random fact: Studios wanted Matthew McConaughey to play the lead of Jack, but Director James Cameron insisted on Leonardo DiCaprio.

Rotten Tomato Rating: 88% 

1998 - Shakespeare in Love

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures

Why you should watch it: It cleaned up at the Oscars, winning 7  in total, including best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow,  best supporting actress, original screenplay, art direction, costume design and musical or comedy score.

Random Fact: Judi Dench appeared on screen for less than 10 minutes but still managed to win an oscar.

Rotten Tomato Rating: 92%

1999 - American Beauty

Jinks / Cohen Company Jinks / Cohen Company / Cohen Company

Why you should watch it: For a strange, yet utterly beautiful scene, that involves a plastic bag. I'm not joking!

Random fact: Paula Abdul, of Pop Idol fame, choreographed the Cheerleading routine

Rotten Tomato Rating: 88%

2000 - Gladiator

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures

Why you should watch it: BECAUSE YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED

Random fact: Russell Crowe literally went through the wars during filming: he lost all feeling in his right forefinger for 2 years after a sword fight, aggravated an Achilles tendon injury, broke a foot bone, cracked a hip bone, and popped a few bicep tendons out of their sockets at different points.

Rotten Tomato Rating: 76%

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