The 10 Biggest Surprises Of The 2016 Oscars

1) Academy Gives Middle Finger To The Revenant, Hands Spotlight Best Picture

The race for Best Picture seemingly came full circle last night, as Spotlight – the early frontrunner that fell behind The Martian, then The Big Short, then The Revenant in the race – beat Golden Globe winners The Martian and The Revenant and PGA Best Picture winner The Big Short to be crowned 2016’s best film.

This was a shocker, as The Revenant had in recent weeks become the most obvious candidate to take home Best Picture. The Academy likes to reward box office as well as critical success, meaning The Revenant ($400 million and counting) seemingly had the edge on Spotlight ($59 million). In the end though, the Academy said expectations be damned, and gave Spotlight its top honor in 2016.