The Kevin Costner western was well received, but many thought Martin Scorsese鈥檚 鈥Goodfellas鈥 would take the win. When 鈥Dances With Wolves鈥 got the prize, it became the first western to win Best Picture since 1931鈥檚 鈥Cimarron.鈥 As for Mr. Scorsese, he had to wait until his win for 2006鈥檚 鈥The Departed鈥 before he got to take home a statue.

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'Dances With Wolves' won seven Academy Awards.