Adrien Brody’s best actor triumph over previous Oscar winners: Jack Nicholson (“About Schmidt”), Michael Caine (“The Quiet American”), Nicolas Cage (“Adaptation”) and the favored Daniel Day-Lewis (“Gangs of New York”) stunned audiences.

He became (and as of 2024 is still) the youngest actor to win at 29.

“The Pianist” also shocked on the night with wins for director Roman Polanski (over Rob Marshall and Martin Scorsese) and adapted screenplay (over “The Hours” and “Adaptation”).

Veteran actor Lauren Bacall was poised for a triumph in the supporting actress category for her role in the romantic comedy “The Mirror Has Two Faces.” On a night akin to this year’s Oscars with “Oppenheimer,” anticipation was high for Anthony Minghella’s sweeping drama “The English Patient” to dominate the awards. However, the evening took an unexpected turn.

In a surprising twist, “The English Patient” traded one of its anticipated victories for Juliette Binoche’s supporting role, and even more astonishingly, lost the adapted screenplay award to Billy Bob Thornton’s “Sling Blade,” a film that wasn’t even nominated for best picture.

Marisa Tomei’s performance in “My Cousin Vinny, a relatively light-hearted film, beat out veterans like Judy Davis from “Husbands and Wives” and Vanessa Redgrave from “Howards End.” The shocker led to decades-long speculation about a voting error or presenter Jack Palance reading the wrong name.

Picture this: a comedy film snubbed in the best director category, yet it claims the coveted best picture award over a slate of formidable contenders, including a Vietnam War drama, a coming-of-age period story, a feel-good sports flick, and a biopic based on an acclaimed memoir. Such was the case with Bruce Beresford’s “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), a simplistic tale chronicling a woman’s journey being chauffeured over a 25-year span.

“Driving Miss Daisy” defied expectations, securing not only the prestigious best picture accolade but also earning three other wins, including a best actress trophy for Jessica Tandy.

Notably, it remains the most recent PG-rated movie to claim the top honor at the Oscars.

At the 47th Academy Awards in 1975, Art Carney took home the Best Actor trophy for his performance in “Harry and Tonto,” a road movie where he portrayed an elderly man embarking on a journey with his cat.

Carney bested heavyweights like Al Pacino, who delivered a powerhouse performance as Michael Corleone in “The Godfather Part II.” Pacino’s portrayal of the conflicted mob heir was widely praised, and many expected him to clinch the award.

Olivia Colman’s triumph over frontrunner Glenn Close (“The Wife”) at the Oscars was a delightful surprise for many, although industry insiders had anticipated that the six-time nominated veteran actress would finally secure her long-awaited trophy.

Colman’s heartfelt and eccentric portrayal of Queen Anne in  Lanthimos’ dark comedy “The Favourite” captivated both voters and audiences.

What makes Colman’s win even more remarkable is that “The Favourite” lost out on all 9 of its other noms, with many presuming that accolades for production design and costumes would be within reach.

Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” is considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, and yet, it’s not a best picture winner.

“How Green Was My Valley,” a poignant family drama set in a Welsh mining community, captivated audiences with its emotional storytelling and stellar performances. Directed by John Ford, the film struck a chord with viewers, resonating deeply with its themes of tradition, sacrifice, and resilience, coming months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Regardless of the differing opinions, the outcome of the 1942 Oscars serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of an iconic film, no matter if the Academy picks it or not.

Many expected Spielberg’s epic war drama “Saving Private Ryan,” with an all-star cast led by Tom Hanks, to take home the top prize. Coming Spielberg’s second directing trophy, it all seemed preordained. However, the romantic dramedy “Shakespeare in Love” from John Madden pulled off a major upset that brought along a shocking win for Judi Dench for only eight minutes of screen time over presumed favorite Lynn Redgrave in “Gods and Monsters.”

In 2017, the Oscars stage witnessed a memorable reunion as “Bonnie and Clyde” stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway came together to present the award for Best Picture. The prevailing expectation was that Damien Chazelle’s enchanting musical “La La Land” would claim the prize, particularly following its earlier wins for directing and actress for Emma Stone.

However, what unfolded was an unexpected twist. Amid what Dunaway described as “a dramatic pause,” she hastily announced “La La Land” as the winner after glimpsing the card, unaware that it was actually the envelope for Best Actress. The ensuing confusion was swiftly resolved, with “La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz revealing the correct card, confirming that Barry Jenkins’ poignant coming-of-age LGBTQ drama “Moonlight” had, in fact, triumphed over the presumed frontrunner.

Some pundits and enthusiasts speculate that had Hillary Clinton been President on Feb. 26, 2017, Chazelle’s ode to the “fools who dream” might have clinched the victory. Conversely, Jenkins’ profoundly moving portrayal offered a stark contrast, echoing the sentiments of many favoring narratives of inclusivity and resilience.

In the realm of LGBTQ cinema, “Brokeback Mountain” blazed a trail, paving the way for Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” to eventually make its mark.

The sting of Ang Lee’s poignant cowboy love story’s significant loss in the best picture category is still palpable two decades later. Beyond its unexpected defeat, the outcome underscored enduring biases by many conservative Oscar members, who openly expressed reluctance to vote for Focus Features’ groundbreaking drama due to its theme.