1975 Saw One of the Best Best Picture Lineups Ever

Paul Thomas Anderson says the 2025 Best Picture nominees were similarly strong, but the 1975 slate may be unmatched.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:05pm

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In his Academy Award acceptance speech, director Paul Thomas Anderson compared the quality of the 2025 Best Picture nominees to the legendary slate of films up for the award in 1975. That year saw Nashville, Barry Lyndon, Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest all nominated, leading many to argue it may be the best Best Picture lineup of all time.

Why it matters

The 1975 Best Picture race is considered a high-water mark for American cinema, with several films from that year going on to be regarded as all-time classics. Anderson's comments highlight how the 2025 field was similarly stacked with excellent, acclaimed films, making the competition that year just as fierce.

The details

The five films nominated for Best Picture in 1975 were Nashville, Barry Lyndon, Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Many critics and film fans consider this to be the greatest lineup of Best Picture nominees in Academy Awards history, with each film going on to be widely praised and influential. Jaws in particular is seen as a landmark achievement that helped usher in the modern blockbuster era, while One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest remains one of only three films to ever sweep the five major Oscar categories.

  • The 1975 Academy Awards ceremony took place in March of that year.

The players

Paul Thomas Anderson

An acclaimed American filmmaker who recently won the Best Picture Oscar for his film One Battle After Another.

Nashville

A 1975 musical comedy-drama directed by Robert Altman, featuring a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines.

Barry Lyndon

A 1975 historical drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick, considered a visual masterpiece.

Dog Day Afternoon

A 1975 crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, widely regarded as one of the best films of the 1970s.

Jaws

A 1975 thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, considered a landmark achievement that helped usher in the modern blockbuster era.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

A 1975 drama film directed by Milos Forman, one of only three films to ever sweep the five major Oscar categories.

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What they’re saying

“Essentially, he said that even though his movie won, there was no 'best' among the nominees, since every nominee for 2025 was excellent, similar to 1975.”

— Paul Thomas Anderson, Director

The takeaway

The 1975 Best Picture race is widely regarded as one of the greatest lineups of nominees in Academy Awards history, with several films from that year going on to be considered all-time classics. Paul Thomas Anderson's comments about the 2025 field being similarly strong highlight how exceptional that particular year was for American cinema.