A streamer has won the Oscar for Best Picture, but, surprisingly, it isn’t the industry’s leader, Netflix. Instead, Apple TV+ has made history, taking the Academy Award’s top honor for “CODA.” It’s a win that is historic on a number of levels.
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Launched in November 2019, Apple TV+ landed Hollywood’s biggest prize in less than three years of existence. It took NEON, which won for “Parasite,” three years for that accomplishment, and A24, which won for “Moonlight,” pulled off Best Picture during its fourth complete year of operation.
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The Sian Heder helmed film became just the third film directed by a woman to win Best Picture after Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” and Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” last year. That, however, is just the beginning of its historical significance.
“CODA” is the first film to debut at the Sundance Film Festival to win Best Picture. It was the 15th film to earn a nomination after Todd Field’s “In The Bedroom,” Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ “Little Miss Sunshine,” Lone Scherfig’s “An Education,” Lee Daniels’ “Precious,” Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are All Right,” Debra Granik’s “Winter’s Bone,” Benh Zeitlin’s “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash,” John Crowley’s “Brooklyn,” Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea,” Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name” and Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah.” The festival was first held in 1978.
From an Oscar’s historical perspective, “Coda” is the first film to win with less than four total nominations since “Grand Hotel” in 1932. Yes, it’s been 90 years since a film won with less than four overall nominations. “Grand Hotel” was also the last time a film won Best Picture without Editing and Directing nominations. For perspective, that was at just the fifth Academy Awards ceremony, in the middle of the Great Depression and seven years before Hitler invaded Poland.
Additionally, “CODA” becomes the first Best Picture winner led by a predominantly deaf cast.
“CODA” is available on Apple TV+ worldwide.