Top 25 Oscar-Winning Films Available on Netflix Today

While the Academy Awards aren’t always the ultimate measure of quality, they occasionally honor films that truly stand out. Other times, the winners reflect trends or cultural moments that may not age well, and sometimes the choices are downright puzzling.

Let’s focus on the instances when the Academy recognized films that are genuinely excellent or culturally significant. Below is a list of 25 outstanding Oscar-winning movies currently streaming on Netflix (noting that some of the platform’s most talked-about contenders, like The Irishman and Maestro, received numerous nominations but no wins).

Barbie (2023)

The vibrant, pink-infused optimism of the Barbenheimer summer feels like a distant memory in the bleak winter of 2025. Why not relive some of that magic by revisiting the film that made feminism accessible to the masses, even if only temporarily (before it was unceremoniously dismissed by late 2024). Margot Robbie’s breakout performance as Barbie, Ryan Gosling’s charmingly selfless portrayal of Ken, and the film’s message of female empowerment—which seemed obvious until it became clear many still hadn’t grasped it—make this a must-watch.

Oscar for: Best Original Song

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

While Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City received mixed reviews in 2023, this short film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s story was universally praised, earning Anderson his first Oscar—though he wasn’t present to accept it. Benedict Cumberbatch shines as Henry Sugar, a gambler who uses his inheritance to fund his habit. After discovering a mystical way to win by seeing through others’ eyes, he gains more insight than he anticipated. At just 40 minutes (39, to be precise), it’s a charming, visually stunning work that stands out even in Anderson’s impressive portfolio. The cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Richard Ayoade.

Oscar for: Best Live Action Short Film

Roma (2018)

Moving away from the intellectual sci-fi of Children of Men and Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón secured his second Best Director Oscar with this semi-autobiographical drama set in 1970s Mexico City during the country’s turbulent Dirty War. Yalitza Aparicio stars as Cleo Gutiérrez, a Mixtec maid working for an upper-middle-class family whose marriage is falling apart. When the husband abandons his family for his mistress, Cleo and the wife, Sophia, form a bond over their shared struggles. Cuarón masterfully captures the era and setting, and the performances are unforgettable. Roma won Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated for Best Picture, standing out as a far superior film to that year’s winner, Green Book.

Oscars for: Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón), Best Foreign Language Film (Mexico), Best Cinematography (Alfonso Cuarón)

Marriage Story (2020)

Noah Baumbach’s poignant and heart-wrenching portrayal of a failing marriage, nominated for six Oscars, feels like a contemporary American take on Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage, and rightfully earns its place alongside such classics. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver deliver deeply emotional performances as the conflicted couple Nicole and Charlie Barber, but Laura Dern steals the show as Nicole’s lawyer, Nora Fanshaw. Dern, one of the finest actresses of her generation, finally won her first Oscar for this role. Driver, Johansson, and Baumbach also received nominations for their outstanding work.

Oscar for: Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)

Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) continues his streak of Oscar acclaim, and once again, it’s entirely justified. This passion project, set in Fascist Italy between the World Wars, showcases stunning stop-motion animation. Del Toro stays true to the darker themes of Carlo Collodi’s original tale, proving that children’s stories don’t need to be overly sweet or patronizing. Kids, like adults, understand that sometimes the path to light is through darkness. The voice cast, featuring Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, and Cate Blanchett, is exceptional without overshadowing the story.

Oscar for: Best Animated Feature Film

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

This second adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 anti-war novel didn’t win Best Picture or Best Director like the 1930 version, but All Quiet still became the second-most awarded film at the 2023 Oscars, trailing only Everything Everywhere All at Once. While it may not match the impact of its predecessor, it remains a poignant exploration of war’s futility, set against the harrowing backdrop of World War I trenches.

Oscars for: Best International Feature (Germany), Best Original Score (Volker Bertelmann), Best Production Design (Christian M. Goldbeck and Ernestine Hipper), Best Cinematography (James Friend)

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Craig Foster, the filmmaker, spent a year building a unique bond with a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest, drawing parallels to his relationship with his son. If Foster could connect with such a foreign intelligence in its perilous natural habitat, perhaps there’s hope for humanity after all—or so the film suggests.

Oscar for: Best Documentary Feature

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

Set during a sweltering, blues-infused afternoon in 1927 Chicago, the legendary Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) arrives at a recording studio to cut a new album. Hired by white promoters, she knows their respect hinges solely on her commercial success. As the session unfolds, tensions flare, particularly between Ma Rainey and Levee Green, played by Chadwick Boseman. Davis delivered a powerhouse performance, earning a Best Actress nomination, while Boseman was widely expected to win a posthumous Best Actor award. Sadly, the Academy’s history of overlooking Black talent persisted—only one Black actress (Halle Berry) has won Best Actress in 95 years, and just five Black actors have won overall.

Oscars for: Best Costume Design (Ann Roth), Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Sergio López-Rivera, Mia Neal, and Jamika Wilson)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Despite the disappointing box office and Oscar reception of its prequel/follow-up Furiosa, the legacy of this 2015 action masterpiece remains untarnished. In hindsight, George Miller’s epic would have been a far superior Best Picture choice over the actual winner (who even remembers The Revenant?). It’s always worth revisiting the chaotic, high-octane world of Max, Immortan Joe, the War Boys, and the unforgettable Doof Warrior.

Oscars for: Costume Design (Jenny Beavan), Film Editing (Margaret Sixel), Makeup and Hairstyling (Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega, and Damian Martin), Production Design (Colin Gibson, Lisa Thompson), Sound Editing (Mark Mangini and David White), Sound Mixing (Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff, and Ben Osmo)

RRR (2022)

Despite its grand scale, sharp social commentary, and mass appeal, it’s surprising RRR didn’t receive more Oscar nominations. However, winning India’s first-ever Original Song Oscar was a monumental achievement, especially against heavyweights like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. The film is a masterclass in blockbuster filmmaking, blending jaw-dropping action sequences, electrifying musical numbers, and a powerful anti-colonial message. Hollywood could learn a thing or two from this masterpiece.

Oscars for: Best Original Song ("Naatu Naatu")

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Julia Roberts won her first Academy Award for her captivating portrayal of the titular character, a determined small-town paralegal who takes on a giant corporation in a landmark toxic pollution lawsuit. In today’s world, where agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency are weakening and courts favor corporations, the story feels almost like a hopeful fantasy. Steven Soderbergh’s vibrant direction (who won an Oscar the same year for Traffic) adds to the film’s charm, though spending time with Erin Brockovich is undeniably more enjoyable.

Oscars for: Best Actress (Julia Roberts)

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Similar to Brokeback Mountain, much of the buzz around Jane Campion’s film centered on its queer themes (gay cowboys? groundbreaking!). However, its true strength lies in Campion’s deliberate, patient direction—a rarity in modern cinema—and its stunning cinematography. Benedict Cumberbatch plays one of two contrasting brothers whose fragile dynamic is disrupted by newcomers at their 1925 Montana ranch.

Oscar for: Best Director (Jane Campion)

Period. End of Sentence. (2018)

This 25-minute documentary highlights women in Kathikera, a village near Delhi, India, as they challenge the deep-rooted stigma surrounding menstruation. Discovering that sanitary pads can be produced locally, the women establish a factory to make and distribute their own pads, sparking a quiet yet transformative revolution in menstrual health awareness.

Oscar for: Best Documentary Short Subject

The Last Days (1998)

During the final year of World War II, the Nazis in Hungary intensified their deportation and extermination efforts, prioritizing genocide over military strategy. This documentary follows five Holocaust survivors, now American citizens, as they return to the concentration camps they miraculously escaped.

Oscar for: Best Documentary Feature

The White Helmets (2016)

Amid the many war and crisis documentaries that have earned Oscar nominations and wins, The White Helmets stands out. It tells the story of the Syrian Civil Defense, a volunteer group dedicated to search and rescue missions following bombings. The film’s most compelling moments come from interviews with volunteers, who share glimpses of their lives before and during the war, highlighting the human toll of the ongoing conflict. Even years later, the Syrian Civil War persists, as does the vital work of the SCD.

Oscar for: Best Documentary (Short Subject)

American Factory (2019)

The debut film from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions, clinched an Oscar. It explores an abandoned GM plant in Ohio bought by a Chinese billionaire for his glass manufacturing firm, Fuyao. While the plant provided jobs for 2,000 American workers, the cultural and managerial clashes between Chinese executives and American employees revealed deep-seated challenges. The documentary adopts a fly-on-the-wall style, presenting the story without imposing heroes or villains—just people navigating a complex situation.

Oscar for: Best Documentary Feature

Apollo 13 (1995)

Ron Howard’s star-studded docudrama about the ill-fated moon mission is not only superior to that year’s Best Picture winner (Braveheart), but also surpasses the film that earned Howard his Oscar (A Beautiful Mind). Balancing tension and restraint, the film captures the true story of the aborted mission without resorting to melodrama.

Oscars for: Best Film Editing (Mike Hill and Daniel Hanley), Best Sound (Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan, and David MacMillan)

The Sting (1973)

A quintessential film of its era, The Sting is a Depression-era period piece that feels like a relic of a bygone age. Director George Roy Hill reunited Paul Newman and Robert Redford after their success in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, casting them as charming con artists plotting an elaborate revenge scheme against a crime boss. The film’s meticulous attention to detail and intricate plot make it a timeless crowd-pleaser.

Oscars for: Best Picture, Best Director (George Roy Hill), Best Original Screenplay (David S. Ward), Best Art Direction (Henry Bumstead and James W. Payne), Best Costume Design (Edith Head), Best Film Editing (William Reynolds), Best Scoring (Marvin Hamlisch)

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

While its trans representation is problematic—casting Jared Leto, a cis actor, as a trans woman—the film’s portrayal of the AIDS crisis and the fight for survival within the LGBTQ+ community carries some significance. Matthew McConaughey’s Oscar-winning performance anchors the story, offering a reminder of the struggles faced during that era and the possibility of better days ahead.

Oscars for: Best Actor (Matthew McConaughey), Best Supporting Actor (Jared Leto)

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Made on a modest budget, the 33rd entry in Japan’s iconic sci-fi series (excluding Hollywood versions) delivers both thrilling kaiju action and a poignant exploration of war’s aftermath on survivors. Bonus points for portraying Godzilla as a colossal, furious feline.

Oscar for: Best Visual Effects (Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi, and Tatsuji Nojima)

Parasite (2019)

The 2020 Oscars took place just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic began, making Parasite’s Best Picture win feel like a symbolic divide between "Then"—a time when a foreign film could triumph in Hollywood—and "Now." Directed by Bong Joon-ho, this darkly comedic tale of class struggle and fate’s cruelty resonated deeply.

Oscars for: Best Picture, Best Director (Bong Joon-ho), Best Original Screenplay (Bong Joon-ho), Best International Film

Whiplash (2014)

Miles Teller stars as Andrew Neiman, a driven jazz drummer in his first year at New York’s prestigious Shaffer Conservatory. His talent catches the eye of Terence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), the ruthless conductor of the school’s studio band. Fletcher’s harsh methods push Neiman to his limits, fueling his obsession with greatness.

Oscars for: Best Supporting Actor (J. K. Simmons), Best Film Editing (Tom Cross), Best Sound Mixing (Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, and Thomas Curley)

Schindler's List (1993)

Steven Spielberg broke away from his blockbuster image with this harrowing true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German industrialist who saved Jewish workers during the Holocaust. While not a lighthearted watch, it’s a powerful reminder of the horrors of fascism and the importance of standing against it.

Oscars for: Best Picture, Best Director (Steven Spielberg), Best Adapted Screenplay (Steve Zaillian), Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski), Best Art Direction (Allan Starski, Ewa Braun), Best Film Editing (Michael Kahn), Best Original Score (John Williams)

Mank (2020)

David Fincher’s film delves into the life of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) and the creation of Citizen Kane. It’s a gripping and often intense drama that outperformed its subject at the Oscars: while Kane won one award from nine nominations, Mank secured two wins from ten nominations.

Oscars for: Best Cinematography (Erik Messerschmidt), Best Production Design (Donald Graham Burt and Jan Pascale)

If Anything Happens I Love You (2020)

This brief yet powerful film, under 15 minutes long and featuring a minimalist animation style, conveys more emotion than many feature-length movies. It portrays two parents struggling with the loss of their daughter in a school shooting, depicting their growing distance as they navigate their grief.

Oscar for: Best Animated Short Film