Top 10 Netflix Picks: Oscar-Winning Films You Cannot Miss

Published 02/11/2025, 10:34 PM EST

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Hollywood’s biggest night is just around the corner, but you do not have to wait for the Oscars to roll out the red carpet. Some of the finest Academy Award-winning films are already waiting for you, right on Netflix! There is no need to dress up or even leave your couch. Just hit play and dive into stories that stole the show, from blurred lines between fantasy and reality to last shots at redemption with powerful characters that shook the world and more.

So, grab your popcorn and get into it, because if Hollywood’s best can stream from your living room, why miss out? Whether you crave mind-bending twists, unforgettable performances, or sweeping romances that break your heart in the best way, these films prove why they took home the gold. 

Marriage Story

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Laura Dern won Best Supporting Actress at the 92nd Academy Awards for her role in Marriage Story, a raw and emotional take on love, divorce, and everything in between. Directed by Noah Baumbach, the film follows Charlie played by Adam Driver, a passionate theater director, and Nicole played by Scarlett Johansson, an actress rediscovering her independence, as they navigate a painful separation. 

What starts as an amicable split spirals into a dramatic heated legal battle, exposing the heartbreak, misunderstandings, and unspoken love still lingering between them. With gripping performances and a deeply personal story, Marriage Story delivers a powerful relationship drama that will have you on the edge hooked eagerly waiting for their next move!

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American Factory

Set in Ohio, a closed General Motors plant finds new life when a Chinese billionaire reopens it as Fuyao Glass America. The documentary style Oscar-winning film of American Factory captures this cultural collision, highlighting the challenges and hopes of both American and Chinese workers striving to find common ground. The film's gripping tale of globalization and labor dynamics earned it the Best Documentary Feature award at the 92nd Academy Awards. 

Roma

Winner of Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography at the 91st Academy Awards, Roma is Alfonso Cuarón’s stunning black-and-white masterpiece. Set in 1970s Mexico City, it follows Cleo, a devoted housekeeper navigating personal heartbreak while political unrest unfolds around her. As the family she works for faces upheaval, Cleo’s own life takes an unexpected turn, leading to moments of devastating loss. 

With its breathtaking cinematography and deeply emotional storytelling, Roma is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of the unsung women who shape our lives.

Moonlight

In the heart of Miami's Liberty City, young Chiron, often called "Little," is moving through a world that constantly overlooks him. In a chance encounter with Juan, a compassionate drug dealer, offers Chiron a glimpse of kindness and guidance amidst the chaos of his upbringing. As he matures, Chiron grapples with his identity, sexuality, and the harsh realities of life unfolding a narrative in three heart-warming acts, each showing a pivotal chapter in Chiron's life, highlighting his struggles and triumphs in a society that often marginalizes individuals like him. 

Moonlight gained huge critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, with Mahershala Ali earning Best Supporting Actor for his role as Juan, and Barry Jenkins securing Best Adapted Screenplay. The film's one-of-a-kind storytelling and deep exploration of identity make it a must-watch!

The Hateful Eight

In Quentin Tarantino's, The Hateful Eight, a fierce snowstorm forces a group of characters into Minnie's Haberdashery, a remote Wyoming outpost. Among them are Major Marquis Warren, a former Union soldier turned bounty hunter, John Ruth, another bounty hunter known as The Hangman, escorting fugitive Daisy Domergue to her execution, and Chris Mannix, who claims to be the new sheriff of Red Rock. 

As the blizzard rages outside, tensions rise inside, revealing hidden motives and brewing distrust. The film's suspenseful atmosphere is heightened by Ennio Morricone's haunting performance, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 88th Oscars. So, what are you waiting for, go grab a look at this masterpiece on Netflix before it is gone!

The Social Network

In 2010, The Social Network hit theaters, offering a different and gripping look at the origins of Facebook. Directed by David Fincher and penned by Aaron Sorkin, the film follows Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg as he creates a platform that transforms global communication. Jesse Eisenberg delivers a compelling performance as Zuckerberg, perfectly capturing the complexities of ambition and innovation. 

The film moves fast and keeps you hooked with sharp dialogue from start to finish. No wonder it won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score!

Hugo

Coming to you from the heart of 1930s Paris, you meet young Hugo Cabret whose world revolves around this mysterious, mechanical possession his father left behind. Determined to unlock its secrets, Hugo crosses paths with Isabelle, a spirited girl whose key literally brings the automaton to life. 

Through this journey, Hugo not only uncovers the automaton's message but also rekindles George Méliès' forgotten legacy, celebrating the magic of early cinema. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Hugo is a visual masterpiece that won five Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction and is the perfect family-friendly pick for a fun movie night!

There Will Be Blood

Daniel Plainview will stop at nothing to build his oil empire in There Will Be Blood which is a gripping tale of greed, ambition, and destruction. As he clashes with a fiery preacher he ends up sacrificing everything for wealth.  Slowly his descent into madness starts which becomes both terrifying and mesmerizing down the storyline offering a gripping twist to the plot.

Daniel Day-Lewis here delivers an unforgettable, Oscar-winning performance, bringing Plainview’s ruthless nature to life. Plus, the film’s breathtaking cinematography, which also won an Academy Award, stunningly captures the harsh beauty of the oil fields, making every scene feel hauntingly real.

Inception

Christopher Nolan's Inception is a mind-bending heist thriller that takes place within the world of dreams. Following the ever-charming Leonardo DiCaprio who stars as Dom Cobb a convicted thief who likes to steal people’s secrets. Given a rare chance to clear his name, he must do the impossible—plant an idea in someone else’s mind instead of stealing one. Here, you get to follow Cobb as he navigates a layered dream world in which time bends, gravity shifts and blurs. 

From breathtaking visuals like the famous hallway fight scene to Hans Zimmer’s unforgettable score Inception is an experience that keeps audiences on edge. Its groundbreaking cinematography, sound design and jaw-dropping effects earned it a whopping of four Oscars at the 83rd Academy Awards cementing its place among Hollywood’s blockbusters till date!

Pan's Labyrinth

Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth is a haunting tale set in 1944 Spain, follows young Ofelia who discovers an ancient labyrinth near their home, where she meets a mysterious faun who tells her that she is a lost princess from an underground realm and must complete three dangerous tasks to prove her identity and return to her kingdom. As Ofelia takes on these quests, she meets both magical creatures and the harsh realities of war, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.

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Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth masterfully twists in a haunting fairy tale with the brutal backdrop of post-Civil War Spain, creating a visually stunning narrative earning it not one but three Academy Awards including Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup. From horrors, gripping drama, heartwarming underdog tales, to mind-bending thrillers, each film on this list earned its place in Hollywood history, and you do not want to miss out this chance to stream them on Netflix now!

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Which of these films is your all-time favorite? Or did we miss one that deserves a spot? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!  

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Akshaya Deeksha

186 articles

Akshaya Deeksha is an Entertainment Writer at NetflixJunkie. With her passion to explore the evolving world of entertainment and her journalistic sense, she specializes in cinematic storytelling and Hollywood developments. Her expertise in lifestyle writing allows her to connect with readers through relatable content.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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