Well, the 2021 Academy Awards are over, and as the dust settles on the glitzy Hollywood film awards, one victor emerges with a bagful of Oscars below its arm. That victor is Netflix.
Netflix Storms Oscars, Grabbing Seven Awards
Netflix has been a very busy bee of late. It has surged in popularity during the pandemic (although new subscriptions to Netflix are now slowing down), won the rights to a selection of Sony's movie content (starting in 2022), and now it has left the 2021 Academy Awards with a rake of Oscars to its name.
As we all know, the Oscars is a massive ceremony, and the most coveted of awards, so Netflix has done well to come away with seven golden statues. Unfortunately, it didn't win Best Picture award, and it wasn't eligible for any of the acting awards. So what exactly did Netflix come away with?
What Did Netflix Win at the Oscars?
Here's a rundown of the awards Netflix took at the 2021 Academy Awards.
- Cinematography Award for Mank
- Product Design Award for Mank
- Make-Up and Hairstyling Award for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Costume Design Award for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Best Documentary Feature Award for My Octopus Teacher
- Best Live-Action Short Award for Two Distant Strangers
- Best Animated Short Award for If Anything Happens I Love You
So, not a bad haul in all. Unfortunately for Netflix, the Best Actor award went to Anthony Hopkins for his role in The Father (which is a Sony movie, so might end up on Netflix anyway, next year). Everyone expected Chadwick Boseman would earn this award posthumously, following his passing in August of last year.
Netflix received 35 nominations in total; the most nominations at this year's Academy Awards. Coming away with seven statuettes in total is an excellent run for the streaming platform.
Who Won Best Picture at the 2021 Oscars?
As mentioned, Netflix missed out on Best Picture, so who took that award? Well, it was Sony subsidiary Searchlight Pictures that not only took the Best Picture award for Nomadland but also Best Director for Chloe Zhao, and Frances McDormand claimed Best Actress for hor role in the movie.
Will Netflix Win Big at the Academy Awards 2022?
Maybe so, but that remains to be seen; it all depends on what movies Netflix releases in the next 12 months. These need to be original features, don't forget, so Netflix can't lean on its new relationship with Sony in order to bag the Best Picture award next year; that would go directly to Sony.
As streaming continues to prove incredibly popular, even as we come out of the COVID pandemic, all eyes are on the many platforms providing streamed movie content to see which one is offering the best value for money and best movies. Netflix can't be far off taking that crown.