The Netflix catalog is often belittled . While HBO, and Apple TV+ more recently, get the accolades and kudos, the red platform is unfairly seen as trash. Which, in part, is true, since its catalog is almost infinite and, by statistics, there must be disposable and forgettable movies and series. But, in the same way, if we dive there are also authentic jewels that triumphed at the Oscars. We have dived into the list of prestigious feature films that Netflix has on offer and we have rescued 15 films (plus one) awarded by the American Academy .
Rome
We couldn’t start with another movie. Alfonso Cuaron ‘s feature film was the main protagonist of the 91st Oscar Awards gala. The reason? That a film distributed by a platform and not shown in theaters (or with a minimum exhibition) could win the Best Film award. Finally, Rome took the prizes for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography .
Roma is inspired by Cuaron’s childhood memories. It tells the story of a family in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City in the 70s . He speaks of a time of transition for the country, of the indigenous people, of poverty, discrimination and social inequality. The Mexican director described it as his “most essential film”.
The hateful eight
One of Quentin Tarantino ‘s most polarizing films . Opinions among the filmmaker’s fans are divided: some consider it one of the director’s worst films, while others consider it undervalued. The truth is that it belongs to the group of feature films for which the filmmaker did not receive a nomination for his direction or script. He had to settle for an Oscar for Best Original Score for the timeless Ennio Morricone . Logical.
The Hateful Eight is a bizarre western that trades the desert for snow. Shortly after the Civil War, a group of strangers ends up trapped in a haberdashery while escaping a blizzard. There bounty hunters, criminals, a sheriff and locals meet. What seems like a chance meeting ends with a succession of secrets, lies and revelations that ends in the purest Tarantino style .
Whiplash
Before Damian Chazelle decided to revive classic Hollywood musicals with La La Land , the filmmaker made his name with the amazing Whiplash . His introductory letter to the general public garnered five nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, but ended up winning Best Sound Mixing, Best Editing, and a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor for a JK Simmons titanic . His “Not quite my tempo” is unforgettable .
The film is based on Chazelle’s own experience in a competitive college jazz band. Whiplash tells the story of a young aspiring drummer who wants to get into the most prestigious band in college. To do this, he will have to impress the demanding principal, who pushes the students beyond all limits , even playing with the mental health of the students.
Green Book
We could say that Green Book was a big surprise. The 91st Oscars seemed destined to elevate Rome or Vice . The public’s attention had been taken by Bohemian Rhapsody, A Star Is Born or Black Panther . But, hardly generating noise and to the surprise of many, this film managed to win the award for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali and Best Original Screenplay .
His is a story of the friendship between a white Italian-American driver and a prestigious black musician during his tour of the United States in the 1960s. The Green Book, or Green Book, was a guide to safe establishments for African-Americans in a decade where the racism would continue. Despite how dramatic it sounds, it is a light story that finds a place for ambale comedy.
Gladiator
The turn of the century and the millennium brought us this great Roman epic. Ridley Scott gave us the epic and unforgettable Gladiator . We could mention numerous lines of dialogue or indelible scenes from the film, but we’ll let the Oscars speak for themselves. 12 nominations and five awards: Best Picture, Best Actor for Russel Crowe, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects .
The film tells the story of the Spanish-Roman general Maximo Decimo Meridio . The war hero only wants to return to his house, but the emperor wants to name him heir and future Caesar. Upon his death, his son and his friend betrays him and condemns him to fight as a gladiator , where he seeks to survive and have his revenge to return home.
The good side of things
The good side of things mixes two of the most liked stories in the United States: one of overcoming and that of a love that arises unexpectedly between two people who help each other grow. And it does so by addressing a subject as complex as that of mental health. The film racked up eight nominations, including an all-time high for acting, but only Jennifer Lawrence took home the Best Actress statuette .
The interpreter shares the spotlight with Bradley Cooper , who plays a man who returns to his parents’ house after a few months in a psychiatric hospital . He wants to get his ex-wife back and, for this, he enlists the help of Lawrence. In exchange, he will have to participate in a dance contest with her, which will end up uniting them.
Marriage Stories
What an interpretive duel Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver gave us. Both added an Oscar nomination, which was added to the other four that Marriage Stories received , including Best Picture and Best Director. However, only Laura Dern was able to take the award for Best Supporting Actress .
This is the story of a theater director and an actress who get divorced. The separation pushes both of them to the limit and brings out the worst in them, both personally and professionally. They want to learn to have a cordial relationship for their son, but divorces are never easy, especially when other people are involved. It is worth it only for its two protagonists.
Infiltrated in the Ku Klux Klan
Infiltrated in the Ku Klux Klan tells a story as unlikely as it is real. Ron Stallworth was hired in 1972 as the first African-American officer for the Colorado Springs Police Department. He became known for infiltrating the infamous racist gang while black. The irony was enough to draw many people to this satirical comedy.
All that attention landed him mixed luck at awards. For one thing, the feature film was successful by receiving six Oscar Award nominations , including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor. However, this is only translated into a single statuette, that of Best Adapted Screenplay .
The theory of everything
In the 2010s, cinema experienced a boom in biopics. One of the most famous was The Theory of Everything , which chronicled the life of one of the greatest known minds in all of history: Stephen Hawkins . A man who not only revolutionized our way of understanding the universe, but also managed to cheat death.
The film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, but only took one – the most deserved, on the other hand -. Eddie Redmayne was rewarded for his extraordinary work bringing the famous physicist to life. In addition to his surprising physical resemblance, his body acting to show the evolution of ALS was awarded with the award.
Elizabeth
Anything Cate Blanchett does is worthy of attention and praise. On this occasion, Netflix brings us Elizabeth , a biography of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The actress stars in this period drama accompanied by a spectacular cast that achieved the acclaim of the specialized press and the public.
Despite criticism for its anti-Catholicism and lack of historical rigor, the film received six Oscar nominations. However, stiff competition from Shakespeare in Love , Saving Private Ryan and Life Is Beautiful relegated her to settling for a lesser accolade: Best Makeup .
Spider-Man: A New Universe
The best Spider-Man movie belongs neither to Tobey Maguire’s saga, nor to Andrew Garfield’s or Tom Holland’s. In fact, it’s not even a live action movie. The best Spider-Man movie is Spider-Man: A New Universe , Sony’s surprisingly animated introduction to the spidery multiverse.
The adventure does not focus on Peter Parker, but on Miles Morales , who has to take over when the original superhero passes away. Its spectacular design, original animation, and its protagonist’s coming-of-age story earned it all the awards for Best Animated Film , including, of course, the Oscar.
All about my mother-Talk to her
Spain has not had much luck with the Oscars. The one who has had the most success, along with Gil Parrondo, has been Pedro Almodovar. Who does not remember Penelope Cruz shouting “Pedrooo!”? The Manchego filmmaker has won two awards to her credit, one for Best Original Screenplay for Talk to Her and another for Best International Film for All About My Mother .
Netflix gives us the opportunity to see the two films and many others from his filmography. Among her, we also find Pain and Glory and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown , the other two films for which he was nominated. Ironies of life, Talk to her did not win any Goya award.
Shrek
Shrek ‘s story was the most curious. He was born as a revenge of a former Disney director against his former employer. He was neither more nor less than the founder of the Dreamworks studio. Within the company, it was not the most desired project either. But this satire of the Factory films hit the table by winning the first Oscar for Best Animated Film in history. Revenge accomplished.
The most irreverent ogre in cinema conquered the public with his break with the classic Disney scheme. So much so that he got a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, in which he was up against A Beautiful Mind and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring .
Shark
Who said that on Netflix we couldn’t find masterpieces? The platform’s catalog allows us to enjoy Jaws , Steven Spielberg ‘s extraordinary film . In its day, the film was the highest-grossing film of all time until it was superseded by Star Wars , and its legacy lives on today in popular culture.
Curiously, his success with the public and critics did not carry over to the awards. “Solo” managed to take home three awards: Best Editing, Best Soundtrack and Best Sound . It lost in the Best Picture category to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , and surprisingly, Spielberg wasn’t even nominated.
Brokeback Mountain
We end with a groundbreaking movie. The adaptation of the Brokeback Mountain story marked a before and after in queer representation in the cinema . The romance between these two cowboys received worldwide acclaim, not only for their courage, but also for their sensitivity in dealing with the subject. However, it had a bittersweet end at the Oscars.
On paper, the film triumphed at the gala: eight nominations, of which it won in the category of Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Soundtrack . It only failed for Best Picture, an award that everyone assumed it was going to win but which, to the surprise of almost everyone, ended up going to the movie Crash .
