"Best Film" Winners of the Last 5 Years: A Look Back And Ahead to the 2025 BAFTA Awards
As we are smack-dab in the middle of awards season, with the Golden Globes, GRAMMYs and Critics Choice Awards all behind us, we look forward to the Oscars but before that, the BAFTAs. We’ve seen a diverse range of films take home the prestigious Best Film award from gripping historical dramas to thought-provoking explorations of human emotion, each film has been undeniably deserving of accolades. In anticipation of the 2025 BAFTAs, let’s revisit those cinematic achievements of the last five years.
Oppenheimer (2023, Best Film 2024)
Adapted from the over-700-page novel American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, Christopher Nolan delivers an intense, thought-provoking exploration of the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the development of the atomic bomb. With an Oscar-winning performance by Cillian Murphy, the film delves deep into Oppenheimer’s inner turmoil as he grapples with the moral consequences of his world-changing creation. Likened to Frankenstein’s Monster by Wendy Ide of The Guardian, Oppenheimer is the story of a man’s creation that stretches to horrors beyond his control.
The film’s structure, weaving between timelines, adds layers of complexity, capturing both the scientific breakthroughs and the personal costs of Oppenheimer’s role in World War II. Cillian Murphy’s impossibly haunted face as the father of the atomic bomb puts the Irish actor’s icy blue eyes to their most impactful use and he is backed by a who’s who of the finest actors working today including Emily Blunt and Matt Damon, with Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a key figure in Oppenheimer’s downfall.
What stands out most in Oppenheimer is its unflinching exploration of ambition, guilt, and the fallout from decisions made under extraordinary circumstances. The film doesn’t just recount historical events, but challenges viewers to confront the ethical dilemmas at the heart of science and warfare. It’s a visually stunning, intellectually stimulating film that lingers long after the credits roll.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022, Best Film 2023)
An adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic anti-war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front is haunting and visually stunning. Directed by Edward Berger, the film follows the journey of a young German soldier as he navigates the brutal realities of World War I, where the distinction between friend and foe becomes irrelevant in the face of the chaos senseless violence.
Paul Kammerer in the lead captures Paul’s transition from youthful enthusiasm to profound disillusionment. The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the psychological trauma of war, as Paul grapples with loss, fear, and survival. The themes of tension and desperation among the soldiers on the front line makes everything feel intensely real and urgent.
While the film is a technical triumph, it’s also a deeply emotional and thought-provoking commentary on the futility of war. The stark contrasts between the soldiers’ experiences on the front and the detachment of the generals provide a sharp critique of the disconnect between those who fight and those who command. Ultimately, All Quiet on the Western Front serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and the lasting impact it leaves on those involved.
The Power of the Dog (2021, Best Film 2022)
Benedict Cumberbatch has proven himself over a lengthy career as a more than capable actor in a variety of roles. A long-time cult favourite for his time as Sherlock Holmes and recently becoming a bigger household name in Marvel's cinematic universe as Doctor Strange. But with The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion, and based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name may have graced us with his finest performance to date as Phil Burbank.
This is a story of many things: power, greed, shame, love, resentment, jealousy, hate, sexuality and perhaps every other negative human emotion that can be mustered, all layered into a quiet, suspenseful package. It is a slow-burning, character-focused psychological drama showcasing just how much someone may be hiding.
The Power of the Dog may take place in the old west but really it is no more a Western than any other feature that doesn't. Perhaps the best thing about the setting is its landscapes. Filming in New Zealand to stand in for 1920s Montana, making for some stunning visuals with slow-panning frames worthy of display on your living room wall.
Aiding the cinematography is the utterly masterful and beautifully offbeat score by Jonny Greenwood, which really is its own character, creating an atmosphere of unease from the get-go. In this way, it is comparable to Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 masterpiece There Will Be Blood, also scored by Greenwood, in which a similar feeling of impending doom is established immediately through its music. In some ways, it's very reminiscent of the spaghetti westerns and even horror movies of yesteryear with its intrusive, sharp, blaring sounds.
Nomadland (2020, Best Film 2021)
Directed by Chloé Zhao, Nomadland is a quiet yet powerful meditation on life, loss, and the pursuit of freedom. Frances McDormand delivers her own Oscar-winning performance as Fern, a woman in her 60s who, after the collapse of her town's economy, becomes a modern-day nomad, traveling across the American West in her van. The film captures her journey immersing the audience in the loneliness and beauty of life on the road.
Zhao uses wide, sweeping landscapes to reflect the internal emptiness and personal resilience of Fern. The film’s pacing is slow and methodical, allowing viewers to connect deeply with the characters, many of whom are real-life nomads sharing their own actual stories. This authenticity gives Nomadland a raw, documentary-like feel.
At its core, Nomadland is about finding purpose in an uncertain world. It’s a deep exploration of how people cope with change, survive hardship, and find community. With its stunning cinematography and heartfelt performances, the film offers a quiet yet profound commentary on the human condition, making it a deeply moving experience.
1917 (2019, Best Film 2020)
1917, directed by Sam Mendes, is another World War I epic but told differently- not just in story but perspective and structure. 1917 follows the journey of two British soldiers, Will and Tom, tasked with delivering a critical message to save a battalion from walking into a deadly trap. What makes it unique is how it’s designed to appear as if it’s one continuous shot, which pulls viewers into the chaos of trench warfare, where every moment feels like a race against time. Mendes expertly uses this technique to enhance the urgency of the mission, making their journey feel intensely real.
The bond of the two soldiers, played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, is tested throughout the film and provides an emotional contrast against the constant threat of danger. As you’d expect, the closeness that you share with them builds steady tension, capturing the sheer scale of the war with heart-pounding sequences and stunning cinematography, following the soldiers through trenches, fields, and battle sites.
1917 doesn’t linger on politics or the larger picture of war as All Quiet on the Western Front does, but focuses on the human cost of conflict, highlighting how war impacts individuals on a personal level. The closeness to the events along with its cinematography creates a visceral experience that captivates from start to finish, making 1917 both an exhilarating cinematic experience and a poignant meditation on the horrors of war.
These incredible films remind us of the power of cinema and the diversity of its stories. This year’s nominees for the Best Film BAFTA are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave and Emilia Perez. Which one are you rooting for?
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