Crime movies that capture the Best Picture award at the Oscars often blend riveting storytelling with complex characters, delivering cinematic experiences that resonate with audiences and critics alike. Here are all 11 Best Picture-winning crime movies ranked from the most to least acclaimed based on a combination of their cultural impact, critical reception, and legacy.

1.The Godfather (1972)– This masterpiece by Francis Ford Coppola is frequently cited as one of the greatest films in world cinema. Its portrayal of the Italian-American mafia is iconic, with unforgettable performances by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.

2.The Godfather Part II (1974)– Building on its predecessor’s foundation, this sequel doubles as a prequel and manages to delve deeper into crime’s corruption and the quest for power. It’s one of the few sequels considered on par with or even superior to the original.

3.No Country for Old Men (2007)– The Coen Brothers’ gripping tale of crime, fate, and morality in the modern American west features an Oscar-winning performance by Javier Bardem as one of cinema’s most chilling villains.

4.The French Connection (1971)– A gritty and raw depiction of police detectives chasing down a sophisticated drug smuggling ring. Its real-time car chase scenes remain some of the most exhilarating in film history.

5.The Departed (2006)– Martin Scorsese’s Boston-set crime drama is a complex web of deceit with an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. It earned Scorsese his long-awaited first Oscar for Best Director.

6.The Silence of the Lambs (1991)– This chilling psychological thriller features one of fiction’s most horrifying killers in Hannibal Lecter. It is a gripping cat-and-mouse game that won top awards across the board at the Oscars.

7.West Side Story (1961)– While more commonly known as a musical, this Romeo and Juliet retelling set amongst New York City gangs won accolades for its portrayal of urban crime and vibrant musical numbers.

8.On The Waterfront (1954)– With Marlon Brando’s career-defining performance, this crime drama highlighted corruption within labor unions and provided one of cinema’s most quoted lines: “I coulda been a contender.”

9.In The Heat Of The Night (1967)– Amidst civil rights era tension, this film paired a black detective with a white Southern police chief to solve a murder mystery harboring racial prejudices that mirrored societal issues of the time.

10.The Sting (1973)– This playful caper film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford is both light-hearted entertainment and a well-crafted commentary on con men during the Great Depression.

11.Chicago (2002)– At its core a scathing critique of the celebrity criminal culture of 1920s Chicago, this adaptation modernized crime stories through razzle-dazzle song-and-dance numbers which brought back musicals to mainstream cinema success.

These 11 films are landmarks not only in their genre but also in cinematic history, leaving indelible marks on audiences and shaping our understanding of narrative complexity within crime storytelling. Whether they fascinate through gritty realism or captivate with polished spectacle, each contributes uniquely to why crime as a genre continues to thrive in film today.