Note: These are the competitive award winners only. From 1947—1955, Honorary Oscars were periodically awarded to foreign language films.
- 2019: Parasite — South Korea
- 2018: Roma — Mexico [Foreign Language Film]
- 2017: A Fantastic Woman — Chile [Foreign Language Film]
- 2016: The Salesman — Iran [Foreign Language Film]
- 2015: Son of Saul — Hungary [Foreign Language Film]
- 2014: Ida — Poland [Foreign Language Film]
- 2013: The Great Beauty — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 2012: Amour — Austria [Foreign Language Film]
- 2011: A Separation — Iran [Foreign Language Film]
- 2010: In a Better World — Denmark [Foreign Language Film]
- 2009: The Secret in Their Eyes — Argentina [Foreign Language Film]
- 2008: Departures — Japan [Foreign Language Film]
- 2007: The Counterfeiters — Austria [Foreign Language Film]
- 2006: The Lives of Others — Germany [Foreign Language Film]
- 2005: Tsotsi — South Africa [Foreign Language Film]
- 2004: The Sea Inside — Spain [Foreign Language Film]
- 2003: The Barbarian Invasions — Canada [Foreign Language Film]
- 2002: Nowhere in Africa — Germany [Foreign Language Film]
- 2001: No Man's Land — Bosnia & Herzegovina [Foreign Language Film]
- 2000: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — Taiwan [Foreign Language Film]
- 1999: All About My Mother — Spain [Foreign Language Film]
- 1998: Life Is Beautiful — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1997: Character — The Netherlands [Foreign Language Film]
- 1996: Kolya — Czech Republic [Foreign Language Film]
- 1995: Antonia's Line — The Netherlands [Foreign Language Film]
- 1994: Burnt by the Sun — Russia [Foreign Language Film]
- 1993: Belle Epoque — Spain [Foreign Language Film]
- 1992: Indochine — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1991: Mediterraneo — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1990: Journey of Hope — Switzerland [Foreign Language Film]
- 1989: Cinema Paradiso — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1988: Pelle the Conqueror — Denmark [Foreign Language Film]
- 1987: Babette's Feast — Denmark [Foreign Language Film]
- 1986: The Assault — The Netherlands [Foreign Language Film]
- 1985: The Official Story — Argentina [Foreign Language Film]
- 1984: Dangerous Moves — Switzerland [Foreign Language Film]
- 1983: Fanny & Alexander — Sweden [Foreign Language Film]
- 1982: Volver a Empezar (To Begin Again) — Spain [Foreign Language Film]
- 1981: Mephisto — Hungary [Foreign Language Film]
- 1980: Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears — Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [Foreign Language Film]
- 1979: The Tin Drum — Federal Republic of Germany [Foreign Language Film]
- 1978: Get Out Your Handkerchiefs — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1977: Madame Rosa — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1976: Black and White in Color — Ivory Coast [Foreign Language Film]
- 1975: Dersu Uzala — Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [Foreign Language Film]
- 1974: Amarcord — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1973: Day for Night — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1972: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1971: The Garden of the Finzi Continis — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1970: Investigation of a Citizen above Suspicion — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1969: Z — Algeria [Foreign Language Film]
- 1968: War and Peace — Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [Foreign Language Film]
- 1967: Closely Watched Trains — Czechoslovakia [Foreign Language Film]
- 1966: A Man and a Woman — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1965: The Shop on Main Street — Czechoslovakia [Foreign Language Film]
- 1964: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1963: Federico Fellini's 8-1/2 — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1962: Sundays and Cybele — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1961: Through a Glass Darkly — Sweden [Foreign Language Film]
- 1960: The Virgin Spring — Sweden [Foreign Language Film]
- 1959: Black Orpheus — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1958: My Uncle — France [Foreign Language Film]
- 1957: The Nights of Cabiria — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
- 1956: La Strada — Italy [Foreign Language Film]
