It’s award season and that means that the big one, the Mac Daddy of them all, the Academy Awards, is coming up on February 28th. But how can you prepare before the red carpet is rolled out? Check out these 5 Oscar-winning movies you can watch on Netflix right now to get you into the award show spirit.
1.) Wings (1927)
We’re going back to where it all began. Wings, a silent film (don’t worry, there is actually sound, just no speaking), was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Set during WWI, two men fall in love with the same woman, but as they enlist to become combat pilots their rivalry morphs into a lasting friendship. While it might not be exactly what we’ve come to expect from a Best Picture these days, it’s hard to pass up this bit of Oscar history.
2.) Amadeus (1985)
Sweeping 8 of the 11 awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture, Amadeus tells the story of Mozart and Salieri, a so-so composer bent on ruining his famous rival. It’s an over-the-top (if not quite historically accurate) extravaganza of a movie that had the entire Academy buzzing upon its release. In fact, it still generates talk even 30 years later.
3.) Forrest Gump (1994)
While some people think of it as pointless fluff and others consider it an American treasure, there is no denying that everyone is familiar with Forrest Gump. The movie brought home 6 Oscars (it was nominated for 13) including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Hanks, as well as provided the world with a plethora of quotable moments. Now excuse me while I grab a box of chocolates and settle down to watch this one.
4.) Shakespeare in Love (1998)
This comedy-drama depicts the love affair of Viola, a lady of noble birth, and playwright William Shakespeare as he writes his masterpiece, Romeo & Juliet. This clever period piece weaves together history and literature in a truly delightful way. And as the Best Picture winning movie will tell you, all an audience really needs is love and a bit with a dog.
5.) Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
The film that would launch beloved J-Law into A-list status, Silver Linings Playbook is a sometimes heartwarming but always complicated drama about family and love. When Pat (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents after a stint in a mental health facility, he sets out to win back his ex-wife until he meets a woman (Jennifer Lawrence) who turns out to be as unstable as he is. Oh, and there is an epic dance scene.
