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Netflix creates plenty of award-winning television shows, but during 2019 they truly outdid themselves in the film category. Two (technically three) Netflix films earned nominations at the Academy Awards, becoming one of the studios with the most nominations. Here’s why Netflix’s Oscar-win for Best Documentary and Laura Dern’s Best Supporting Actress win are so important for this streaming platform.

Mahershala Ali and Laura Dern, winner of the Actress in a Supporting Role award for 'Marriage Story'
Mahershala Ali and Laura Dern, winner of the Actress in a Supporting Role award for ‘Marriage Story’ | Getty Images

Netflix released its original movie, ‘Marriage Story’ during 2019

Marriage Story proved to be a milestone for this streaming platform, first enjoying its theatrical run for a month before premiering on the streaming platform. Although it was only available in select theaters, the exposure caused the Netflix original to later become a trending topic on Twitter.

Fans commented on everything from Adam Driver’s singing to Laura Dern ordering a kale salad, with the actress later becoming a starring topic of the Spirit Awards. Additionally, Laura Dern of Marriage Story walked away with her first-ever Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actress category. (She also earned a Golden Globe in the same category.)

“Noah wrote a movie about love and about breaching divisions in the name and in the honor of family and home, and hopefully for all of us, in the name of our planet,” Laura Dern said during her Oscar acceptance speech.

Adam Driver earned a nomination for Best Actor for his role in this film, while earned the nomination for Best Actress. The director behind Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach, earned the nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Robert De Niro attends a screening of 'The Irishman'
Robert De Niro attends a screening of ‘The Irishman’ | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix

‘The Irishman’ earned a handful of nominations at the Academy Awards

Complete with new anti-aging technology, Netflix premiered The Irishman in 2019. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this movie also enjoyed a short theatrical run, before becoming available to Netflix subscribers.

Along with Joker and 1917, The Irishman was one of the movies with the most nominations at this award show. It earned Academy Award nominations in the Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director categories.

The film did not walk away with an Oscar or a Golden Globe, although it also received multiple nominations at that award show. However, that does not make the nominations any less important for Netflix.

‘Marriage Story’ and ‘The Irishman’ are huge wins for this streaming platform

According to CNET, “Netflix entered the 2020 Oscars ceremony with 24 nominations on its scorecard — more than any other studio.” These nominations, of course, are not the first Netflix originals to earn recognition from the award show.

This was, however, the first time a Netflix Original won an Oscar for acting. Netflix and its documentary, American Factory, won the Oscar for best feature documentary. This film told the story of an Ohio plant reopened by a Chinese billionaire.

While Netflix has since created itself a handful of critically acclaimed television shows, (Stranger Things, Queer Eye, and The Crown just to name a few,) this award show illustrates the platform’s slow, but steady, step into the biggest film award shows.

Netflix originals, including Marriage Story and The Irishman, are available for streaming on this platform. 

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