A musician chasing his dream beyond the afterlife. A woman fighting for survival in space, miles away from Earth. A gripping war story that keeps you at the edge of your seat. Netflix has delivered some of the most unforgettable films that not only won hearts over but also made it to Hollywood’s most coveted golden statue—the Oscars. These movies are not just entertaining, they made history, stunned critics, and proved that streaming originals can stand toe-to-toe with big-screen blockbusters.  

From heart-wrenching dramas to visually stunning masterpieces, these Netflix original Oscar nominees and winners are must-watch movies that deserve a place on your list!

Back in 2021, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence's Don't Look Up, a sharp political satire hit the screens on Netflix and was soon a big hit. The story follows the efforts of two astronomers who discover a comet on a collision course with Earth to warn a nation that refuses to consider the truth about it. 

Along with the plotlines, the story serves as a very sharp and bitter critique of just how blind and ignorant society can be to all the truly dangerous issues that life brings. Despite mixed reviews, Don't Look Up drew massive viewership numbers and even secured four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, highlighting its influence and relevance.

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A peaceful protest against the Democratic National Convention in 1968 became a violent confrontation with police that led to the arrest of seven activists. The trial that followed gives life to Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7, a courtroom drama that captures the chaotic atmosphere of the trial. Among all the memorable performances was Sacha Baron Cohen as the charismatic Abbie Hoffman. 

The movie managed to score six Oscar nominations, including the coveted Best Picture, and Best Supporting Actor for Baron Cohen, but did not secure a final win. Nevertheless, it clinched the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast, highlighting its exceptional ensemble. 

In The Irishman, Martin Scorsese brought together Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci to tell the story of Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes a hitman and gets entangled with. This epic crime saga deals with the subjects of loyalty, betrayal, and the passage of time. At the 92nd Academy Awards, the film received 10 nominations, including Best Pictures, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor nods for both Pacino and Pesci. Although it did not bag a win, The Irishman stands as an iconic classic of Scorsese's mastery in the crime genre to date.

Two families, one Black and one White, attempt to live together in the Mississippi Delta and face racial conflicts. Their sons come back from the war, which helps them forge a bond, much to the shock of their community. In 2017, Dee Rees’ film Mudbound earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Mary J. Blige and Best Adapted Screenplay. Morrison's nomination also marked the first time a woman received a Best Cinematography nomination.

My Octopus Teacher is a deeply moving documentary that follows filmmaker Craig Foster as he stumbles into an extraordinary friendship with an octopus in the waters of a South African algae forest. What began as a simple act of observing marine life becomes a deep journey of connection, resilience, and discovery. 

Octopus, with its remarkable intelligence and survival skills, teaches lessons of life change about adaptation, trust, and the fragile beauty of nature. The stunning underwater cinematography of the film served breathtaking visuals and the emotional narrative mesmerized the audience and critics, earning it the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. 

A deeply personal and emotionally raw drama, Marriage Story follows the painful unfolding of a marriage between a theater director played by Adam Driver and his wife actress played by Scarlett Johansson. The film captures the ups and downs of its divorce, portraying the legal battles, the disgust, and moments of bittersweet nostalgia with brutal honesty.  

With a whopping six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, cemented its place as one of the most powerful dramas of the decade. Laura Dern’s standout performance as a sharp-witted divorce lawyer also won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

This powerful drama captures a warm recording session in Chicago of the 1920s, bringing the fierce energy of the Blues Legend Ma Renny to life. In Ma Renny's Black Bottom, you meet Viola Davis who stuns as the fearless Ma, while Chadwick Boseman delivers a soul-stirring final performance as an ambitious trumpeter with dreams of making it big. 

The film earned five Oscars nominations to its name with wins for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, perfectly recreating the era’s style and atmosphere. Boseman's performance also received a Best Actor nomination and remains one of his most unforgettable performances to date.

Guillermo del Toro's opinion on the beloved wooden puppet brings a dark but touching turn to the classic tale of Pinocchio. Situated in Italy during the fascist era, the film explores themes of life, death, and disobedience through breathtaking stop-motion animation. This adaptation, unlike traditional versions, leans towards a deeper, more philosophical narrative, showing Pinocchio in a darker setting with a rebellious spirit. 

The filmmakers have clearly meticulously created each picture of the movie to reflect del Toro's fantasy style with deep emotional depth. The impressive visuals of the film and the exclusive one-of-a-kind re-imagination of a well-known story won it the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Set in Montana in the 1920s, The Power of the Dog is a unique psychological drama that follows the complex relations between two brothers- one charming Phil Bank and the other reserved George. When George marries a widowed mother, Phil's displeasure increases, which establishes a slow-burning battle for dominance and emotional manipulation. 

Directed by Jane Campion, the film earned twelve Oscar nominations, spread across categories including Best Picture and Best Actor for Benedict Cumbart. Campion made history as the third woman ever to win Best Director, marking the film as a landmark in modern Western storytelling. 

A visually stunning deep dive into Hollywood’s Golden Age, Mank follows the brilliant but troubled screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish Citizen Kane. Directed by David Fincher, the film investigates Hollywood politics, exploring the politics and creative battles of 1930s Hollywood, and shedding light on the industry’s dark side. 

With its black-and-white cinematography and meticulous period details, Mank was a technical masterpiece, earning a jaw-dropping ten Oscar nominations and taking home the wins for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.

All Quiet on the Western Front is a gripping war epic that brings Erich Maria Remarque’s classic anti-war novel to life with haunting realism. Set in the trenches of World War I, it follows a young German soldier whose idealistic war notions are shattered when he faces its cruel realities. 

The powerful imagination and emotional depth of the film hit a raving rage with viewers and critics, leading to nine Oscars nods and four Academy Awards, including Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score.

In Roma, you follow Cleo, an indigenous domestic worker, as she moves through life in a middle-class house in Mexico City of the 1970s. The film catches women's quiet struggles and flexibility, which is often ignored in history, combining an intimate story with breathtaking cinematography. Alfonso Cuarón, who drew from his own childhood memories, created a film that echoed worldwide, earning ten Oscar nominations. 

Not only that, Roma went home big securing wins for Best Director for Cuarón, Best Cinematography, and Best Foreign Language Film (now Best International Feature), marking a historic win for the whole of Mexican cinema. So, whether you love powerful performances, gripping stories, or enjoy stunning cinematography, these movies serve everything that makes cinema memorable. If you have not watched them yet, now is the perfect time to see why they won Hollywood’s highest honor!

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Which of these Oscar-winning Netflix movies is your favorite? Or is there one you think deserved the award but did not win? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!