Does 'Furious 7' Deserve to Win Best Picture?

Some would argue that it is far too early to begin discussing candidates for next year's Academy Award for Best Picture. However, Vin Diesel is not beheld to such social mores, ready and willing to cast his vote for which film deserves to snag the honor come early 2016: Furious 7. Last week, the franchise headliner told Variety that his upcoming septequel "will probably win best picture at the Oscars, unless the Oscars don’t want to be relevant ever." A valid argument by anyone's estimation.

Airtight as Diesel's psychology might be, you might have a hard time believing that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will end up granting its top trophy to the James Wan action-adventure. But you're letting your preconceived notions get the best of you! Just because a movie is fun, that doesn't mean it can't also be high art.

If you take a look at Furious 7's present status on Rotten Tomatoes, you'll find an impressive 86% fresh rating — a grade that any movie might be proud of. But is it Best Picture-worthy?

In fact, it's beyond Best Picture-worthy. As it stands, Furious 7 rates higher on the review aggregate site than 25 past winners of the trophy, which can only mean it more than deserves the very same honor that these middling films once claimed. Here's a list of all the big winners that Furious 7 has already outshone.

The Broadway Melody

2nd Best Picture winner

42% fresh

The Greatest Show on Earth25th Best Picture winner44% fresh

Cimarron4th Best Picture winner53% fresh

Out of Africa58th Best Picture winner53% fresh

Cavalcade6th Best Picture winner57% fresh

The Great Ziegfeld9th Best Picture winner65% fresh

Forrest Gump67th Best Picture winner72% fresh

The Life of Emile Zola10th Best Picture winner74% fresh

Around the World in 80 Days29th Best Picture Winner74% fresh

A Beautiful Mind74th Best Picture winner75% fresh

Crash78th Best Picture winner75% fresh

Gigi31st Best Picture winner76% fresh

Gladiator73rd Best Picture winner76% fresh

Going My Way17th Best Picture winner78% fresh

Gentleman's Agreement20th Best Picture winner78% fresh

Braveheart68th Best Picture winner78% fresh

A Man for All Seasons39th Best Picture winner81% fresh

Driving Miss Daisy62nd Best Picture winner81% fresh

Dances with Wolves63rd Best Picture winner82% fresh

Tom Jones36th Best Picture winner83% fresh

Oliver!41st Best Picture winner83% fresh

Chariots of Fire54th Best Picture winner84% fresh

The English Patient69th Best Picture winner84% fresh

Grand Hotel5th Best Picture winner85% fresh

The Sound of Music38th Best Picture winner85% fresh

And a tie: Chicago75th Best Picture winner86% fresh

Images: Universal Pictures (2)