CODA has become the first picture from a streaming service to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, demonstrating the streamers’ growing supremacy at Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony. The Apple TV Plus film chronicles Ruby Rossi’s (Emilia Jones) hardships as the only hearing member of a deaf family as she attempts to forge a life apart from her family. Apple purchased the rides to CODA for $25 million in a bidding war following the film’s Sundance premiere last year.
Along with Best Picture, Troy Kotsur of CODA was named Best Supporting Actor for his part in the film, and Siân Heder, the film’s writer-director, was named Best Adapted Screenplay.
Streaming services have already had films nominated for Best Picture, but none have won the coveted top honour. Amazon was the first, securing a Best Picture nomination for Manchester by the Sea in 2017, though the film was ultimately defeated by Moonlight on the night.
This year, Netflix films Roma, The Irishman, Marriage Story, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, as well as Don’t Look Up and The Power of the Dog, were all nominated for Best Picture. It had the most Academy Award nominations this year, 27 in all, but won only the Best Director award for Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog.
Apple reportedly spent more over $10 million on its Oscars campaign for CODA, which is more than the total budget for the film.
