It's no secret that critics and general audiences don't often see eye to eye. Movies that general audiences love and flock to like Avengers aren't the types of movies to earn critical acclaim and awards. On the other hand, the movies that do earn critical acclaim and awards are often seen as "slow" or "boring" or "pretentious" by general audiences.
Of course, that's not always the case. Sometimes critics and audiences find common ground and adore a particular movie in equal measure. It's rare, but it does happen. It's interesting, then, to see how much the two groups tend to diverge. Or come together to find that common ground.
These are the Best Picture winners of the 2010s, ranked according to IMDb. Some of them may surprise you.
The Shape Of Water - 7.3
Coming in last on the list is Guillermo del Toro's weird monster movie romance thing, The Shape of Water. While critics adored the film for its mature story and visual splendor, general audiences didn't really know what to make of it. Many of the top-rated reviews are fiercely critical of the film, with headlines like "The Shape of Garbage," "disappointing twaddle," and simply "Are you kidding me?"
It's clear that many people took issue with the film and believed that it was undeserving of the top prize. It remains one of the most contentious Best Winner pictures of the decade.
Moonlight - 7.4
Moonlight will forever remain one of the most controversial Best Picture winners of all time. Not one seemed to know what it was before the infamous Oscars fiasco, but many people believed that La La Land was a shoo-in for Best Picture.
Some people thought it was a sociopolitical move and nothing more, and its relatively low IMDb score reflects that hesitance. However, it's clear that critics genuinely adored the film, and it sits at an unbelievable 99 on Metacritic. Out of 53 critical reviews, only 14 gave it less than a perfect 10/10.
Birdman - 7.7
Birdman was one of the quietest Best Picture winners of the decade. While it received endless acclaim from critics (91% Rotten Tomatoes, 87 on Metacritic), it only grossed $103 million at the box office and scored a relatively meager 7.7/10 on IMDb. Like most movies with a gimmick (in this case, the whole one-shot thing), Birdman was often criticized for adhering to style over substance.
The weird and ambiguous story certainly didn't help its reputation, either. When it comes to Birdman, most people give a simple shrug and a "yeah, it was pretty good." Nothing more, nothing less.
Argo - 7.7
For some, Argo should have been better than it was. The typically acclaimed Ben Affleck was both behind and in front of the camera, and it contained a stellar cast that included the likes of Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman. And while most people agreed that it was a tense, exciting, and very well-acted movie, it also drew a lot of criticism and ire for its numerous historical inaccuracies.
And this seems to be what sunk it in the ratings on IMDb, with the top-rated reviews being "Took a lot of liberties," "Based on the truth?," and "Formulaic and historically inaccurate."
The Artist - 7.9
Along with Birdman, The Artist is another Best Picture winner that sort of came and went without much of a fuss. Seriously, ask ten people on the street - we bet none of them even remember The Artist.
It received strong reviews for its obvious stylistic qualities and impeccable acting, but it fell a little short in the popularity department, grossing just $44 million in North America. It also sits at a relatively meager 7.9/10 on IMDb. Certainly not a bad score, but maybe not Best Picture material and a far cry from the movie's 89 Metascore.
The King's Speech - 8.0
The King's Speech is one of those rare Oscar-bait movies that actually strike a chord with general audiences. It's weird, because this is the type of movie that typically draws ire from general audiences - slow, a pretentious historical biopic, self-congratulatory, and obvious Oscar bait.
And yet it grossed over $400 million at the worldwide box office and sits at a very respectable 8.0/10 on IMDb. Maybe everyone's love for Colin Firth caused them to look past all that. He is an endearing and charming fellow, after all...
Spotlight - 8.1
Some people saw Spotlight as rather undeserving of the Best Picture award. It only took home one other award that night (Best Original Screenplay), and some people saw it as the obvious safe bet against more eclectic and unpredictable choices like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, and The Revenant (which won Best Director, a usual sign of an impending Best Picture win).
Regardless, it's obvious that many people adore Spotlight, as it sits at 93 on Metacritic and 8.1/10 on IMDb. It's just one of those movies that everyone quietly enjoys and agrees on.
12 Years A Slave - 8.1
Before release, 12 Years a Slave was regarded by some as just another slavery-related Oscar-bait movie. But that perception changed when everyone actually watched it. It's brutal and uncomfortable to watch, but it is in that brutality that the movie finds its thematic resonance.
It received unanimous praise from critics (96 on Metacritic) and equal acclaim from general audiences, with most IMDb users calling it heartbreaking, required viewing, and yet another Steve McQueen masterpiece.
Green Book - 8.2
Green Book is typically regarded as one of the most controversial Best Picture winners. It received generally average reviews from critics (78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic), was criticized for its "white savior" complex, and came out of nowhere to steal the Best Picture award (over favorites like Roma, A Star Is Born, and, well, The Favourite).
That said, it clearly resonated with general audiences, grossing $330 million at the worldwide box office and landing an 8.2/10 on IMDb. Deserving or not, it is clearly adored.
Parasite - 8.6
And coming in first is Parasite, the rare Best Picture winner that both the Academy and general audiences can agree on. Parasite seemingly came out of nowhere, that rare foreign film that catches on in the North American mainstream. It made Academy Award history by winning Best Picture, making it the first non-English film to win the prestigious award.
And unlike many on this list, audiences share the critics' enthusiasm, and it sits at 8.6/10 on IMDb, making it the site 21st highest-rated movie.