Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, from 2018, was a watershed moment for the film industry. Netflix, after revolutionizing how and where people view cinematic content, made a show of strength by coming for the industry’s most coveted honors: the Oscars. But they did it on their terms. Bucking the big theater chains’ demand for a 90-day exclusivity period, Netflix opted instead for a three-week limited theatrical release before making Roma available for streaming worldwide. Despite forgoing a traditional wide release, the black-and-white foreign-language film still managed to garner 10 Academy Award nominations in 2019, including Best Picture, and took home statues for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Netflix played by their own rules and still won the game. Now, they’ve reshaped the playing field.
This year, Netflix is eyeing a race where they’re arguably their own best competition. Topping their bill of Academy fare are Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, already viable contenders in the direction, writing, and acting categories, and nearly assured nominees for Best Picture.