Top 10 Exact Scenes That Won the Actor the Oscar

Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland in “Judy” (2019)
If director Rupert Goold’s 2019 biopic “Judy” rises above being a straightforward love letter to its subject, it’s largely thanks to Renée Zellweger’s commanding lead performance. While the film doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it’s undeniably moving, and Zellweger fully embodies Garland—portraying her as a real, three-dimensional person rather than just the larger-than-life icon she was. At the film’s climax, a troubled Garland reckons with her own legacy, pleading with her concert audience to remember her. Try to hold back the tears as she pushes through her signature number, and you’ll see exactly why Academy voters crowned Zellweger that year.

Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in “The Aviator” (2004)
Martin Scorsese’s epic Howard Hughes biopic was as bombastic and grand in scale as Hughes’ own life. Naturally, Scorsese included the aviator’s real-life romance with silver screen legend Katharine Hepburn—a role that proved to be the opportunity of a lifetime for then-nominee Cate Blanchett. Rather than just portraying Hepburn, Blanchett delivers a scarily accurate embodiment of the four-time Oscar winner, nailing her public persona and signature Transatlantic accent. In true screwball comedy fashion—just like the films Hepburn was known for—even the eccentric Hughes struggles to keep up with Blanchett’s loquacious performance. In just a few short minutes, Scorsese and Blanchett paint a complete picture—and secure Blanchett’s Best Supporting Actress win.

Viola Davis as Rose Maxson in “Fences” (2016)
An adaptation of August Wilson’s play of the same name, director Denzel Washington’s Fences offers a subtle yet devastating look into the inner life of Troy Maxson, a bitter and troubled garbageman in late 1950s Pittsburgh—played by Washington himself. Viola Davis portrays Rose, Troy’s long-suffering wife, who stands by him despite his anger, melancholy, and, most painfully, his repeated infidelity. But when she learns that his mistress, Alberta, is expecting his child, the usually reserved Rose erupts, condemning Troy’s selfishness and mourning the years she sacrificed in their marriage. Watching this scene, it’s clear as to why Davis went from a two-time nominee to a well-deserving Oscar winner.

Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018)
Despite its troubled production, directorial setbacks, and long road to the screen, Bohemian Rhapsody—much like Freddie Mercury himself—defied the odds, earning four Academy Awards. Among them was Rami Malek’s win for his electrifying lead performance as Mercury. While the film’s reviews were deeply polarized, Malek was the one element nearly everyone could agree on. Though not British, the Emmy-winning “Mr. Robot” star fully captured the Queen frontman’s magnetic stage presence and private vulnerability. Nowhere is this more evident than in the meticulously recreated Live Aid benefit concert, where Malek delivers a showstopping tribute—just as Freddie once did.

Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men” (2007)
This is one scene that never fails to send chills down our spines. Before his Oscar-winning turn in “No Country for Old Men”, Javier Bardem wasn’t exactly a household name, despite earning a Best Actor nomination for 2000’s “Before Night Falls”. But after the Coen brothers’ thrilling Best Picture winner, it became impossible to forget him—especially in your nightmares. As the unsettling, enigmatic hitman Anton Chigurh, Bardem’s most haunting scene unfolds in a quiet gas station, where he intimidates an unsuspecting clerk. By the time the scene miraculously ends with Chigurh sparing the man’s life, he’s already delivered a chilling, cryptic lesson on mortality and fate.

Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in “Monster” (2003)
There’s a reason legendary film critic Roger Ebert called Charlize Theron’s Monster performance “one of the greatest [...] in the history of the cinema.” In director Patty Jenkins’ film, Theron embodies Aileen Wuornos, often dubbed America’s “first female serial killer.” While much of the film’s acclaim has focused on Theron’s astonishing physical transformation, her acting is just as—if not more—remarkable. Case in point: the film’s heartbreaking final moments, when Wuornos makes a call to her lover, Selby Wall (played by Christina Ricci). As the walls close in, Theron’s Wuornos lays herself bare, assuring Selby she’ll take the fall—never implicating her in the process.

Emma Stone as Mia Dolan in “La La Land” (2016)
It’s a bit of a shame that Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” is now largely remembered for Warren Beatty’s infamous Best Picture mix-up, rather than its own merits. The film stands as a beautifully crafted homage to classic Hollywood musicals, infused with Chazelle’s dynamic directorial flare. At least Emma Stone got the recognition she deserved—winning the Oscar for Best Actress thanks to her raw, heartfelt performance as Mia. One scene, in particular, serves as a defining moment for her character: the musical number “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”. In a single song—and one long, unbroken take—Stone captures Mia’s entire emotional journey, delivering a performance that feels anything but clichéd.

Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald in “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
Marketed as an inspirational boxing movie in the vein of “Rocky”, “Million Dollar Baby” stunned audiences by delivering a gut-wrenching emotional blow. Directed by Clint Eastwood—who also stars—the film follows Hilary Swank as Maggie, a scrappy, determined Los Angeles waitress-turned-boxer. Under the guidance of her gruff but caring coach, Frankie Dunn, she fights her way to a $1 million title match. But in a heartbreaking twist, a dirty move leaves Maggie bedridden and dependent on life support. The scene that cemented Swank’s second Oscar win finds her pleading with Frankie to end her suffering—a moment as devastating to describe as it is to watch. In the end, this was a fight Swank undeniably won.

Anne Hathaway as Fantine in “Les Misérables” (2012)
It was never a question of if Anne Hathaway would win an Oscar—only when. That moment arrived with Tom Hooper, the Oscar-winning director of “The King’s Speech,” and his sweeping adaptation of “Les Misérables”. Cast as Fantine, a destitute factory employee forced into sex work to support her daughter, Cosette, Hathaway faced the daunting task of bringing one of musical theater’s most beloved characters to life. But the moment she delivered the first haunting notes of “I Dreamed a Dream”, it was clear—she wasn’t just a contender; she was the frontrunner. Her eventual Best Supporting Actress win felt inevitable, and you don’t have to be “misérable” yourself to understand why.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Al Pacino as Frank Slade in “Scent of a Woman” (1992)

Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell in “Jerry Maguire” (1996)

Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove in “Monster’s Ball” (2001)

Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in “Inglourious Basterds” (2009)

Lupita Nyong’o as Patsey in “12 Years a Slave” (2013)
Much like Javier Bardem before her, Lupita Nyong’o seemed to come out of nowhere to deliver one of the rawest, most haunting performances in film history. Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” follows Solomon Northup, a free Black man in 1841 who is kidnapped and forced into over a decade of indentured servitude. Along the way, he meets Patsey, a fellow enslaved person trapped under the control of Michael Fassbender’s sadistic, unhinged Edwin Epps. In a scene that left audiences in stunned silence, Epps brutally confronts Patsey for visiting a neighboring plantation—just to get a bar of soap. As disturbing as it is essential, this moment alone was enough to secure Nyong’o her Oscar.


Which scene do you think most deserved an Oscar? Are there any we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.