Apple TV+, not Netflix, becomes 1st streaming service to win Best Picture with CODA
Streaming history has finally been made at the Oscars — just not by Netflix.
The Apple TV+ film CODA won Best Picture at Sunday's Academy Awards, beating Netflix's The Power of the Dog and marking the first time a movie released by a streaming service won the top Oscar. CODA also became the first Best Picture winner featuring a predominantly deaf cast.
It was a stunning defeat for Netflix, as the streamer's The Power of the Dog was once the overwhelming favorite to win Best Picture. It had a whopping 12 nominations, while CODA had just three, and it's highly unusual to win Best Picture with so few nods. In fact, CODA was missing crucial nominations for directing and editing, and at least one of those has always been needed to win Best Picture.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The historic win for Apple is a symbolic moment pointing to streaming's growing dominance in the entertainment industry. But it's also a major blow to Netflix, which has been trying to win Best Picture for years. In 2019, Netflix's Roma was the frontrunner but came up short to Green Book, and pundits speculated voters may have been reluctant to award Hollywood's top honor to a streaming movie.
Clearly, the Academy didn't feel the same way this year, considering an Apple TV+ film won, yet Netflix was still unable to pull off the victory. This time, the loss could have more to do with voters gravitating toward a feel-good crowd-pleaser like CODA over The Power of the Dog, a film detractors have called somewhat cold. In the end, The Power of the Dog only won a single Oscar for Best Director.
It's surely inevitable that Netflix will win Best Picture eventually. But the streamer will no longer get to boast that it was the first one there — and it's all thanks to Apple TV+, a service that, when Netflix lost Best Picture for the first time in 2019, didn't even exist yet.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Try 6 free issues of The Week Junior
Spark your child's curiosity with The Week Junior - the award-winning current affairs magazine for 8-14s.
By The Week Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The horror movies the Academy forgot
The Week Recommends For your consideration: five movies that should have made the cut
By David Faris Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published