A run through of the academy award nominees and winners from 1972 to 1976. Popular franchises like the Godfather and Rocky rise above others and how film underdogs surprise crowds. Watch as fresh actors get thrust into the limelight after winning an oscar, and favorite stars get nominated time and time again.

A run through of the academy award nominees and winners from 1977 to 19781. There were a variety of types of films, from politically involved to intimate everyday representations to big budget blockbuster films. Watch all the surprises and sentimental moments unfold.

A run through of the academy award nominees and winners from 1982 to 1986. The changing roles of men and women in society and political turmoil was directly reflected on screen through films like Tootsie and Platoon. Actors of different races also begin receiving recognition such as Ben Kingsley in Gandhi and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields.

A run through of the academy award nominees and winners from 1987 to 1991. These years were filled with overdue recognition and undeserved snubs. Influential films like Do the Right thing was overlooked for best picture, and Barbara Streisand is excluded from the all male best director lineup.

A run through of the academy award nominees and winners from 1992 to 1996. Women took on more central roles in films, and independent filmmakers started rivaling the big studios. Directors like Quentin Tarantino and the Cohen Brothers made a huge splash with films such as Pulp Fiction and Fargo. Schindler's List and Forrest Gump, both were highly revered and took home many awards.

A run through of the academy award nominees and winners from 1997 to 2002. These were the years the rivalry between Steven Spielberg from Dreamworks and Harvey Weinstein from Miramax burned as they competed to win best picture with their respective films year after year. Titanic broke all box office records when it was released and won eleven oscars.