In the end, not only did The Hurt Locker win major categories such as best director and best picture, but it won six out of the nine categories it was nominated in.

And realism won over fantasy. Kathryn Bigelow won the best directing Oscar for her gritty war drama The Hurt Locker. She broke into the all-boys club to become the first woman to win the award.

The Hurt Locker would go on to receive nine Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Renner, Best Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow. It would win six of those ...