Oscars 2022: 10 Winning Movies and Short Films to Stream Now

From moody cowboys to musicals, dive into ten feats of cinematic storytelling from the 94th Academy Awards, available to stream online

In the last two years, the global film industry has ridden huge waves. With closed cinemas and delayed releases, many hotly-anticipated stories got caught up in the tossing and turning. As things return to (slightly more) normal, themes of isolation, reconnection, and escapism have proven more powerful than ever before. It’s no surprise that these themes feature heavily in this year’s Oscar-winning movies.

The 94th Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 27: here are ten international winners we recommend to fill your creative well with immersive, diverse, and innovative storytelling. Find out which award they won, and where to watch them online.

Oscars 2022: Return to the Red Carpet

After covid caused chaos at last year’s Academy Awards, this year they returned to their usual location: the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with a musical background from Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, Reba McEntire, Beyoncé, and the cast of Encanto performing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”—with Megan Thee Stallion, Becky G and Luis Fonsi (of "Despacito" fame) providing an Oscars remix.

Undoubtedly, the biggest shock of the night was the moment when Will Smith walked on stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock after he made an insensitive joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith. Many actors and fans were quick to condemn his behavior. He later used his Best Actor acceptance speech to apologize to the academy, but the night's festivities were definitely unsettled.

That wasn't all of the drama, either. The showrunners controversially pre-recorded some key categories, replacing them in the live show with honorary categories “Fan Favorite” and “Most Cheer-Worthy Moment”, presumably to try and draw waning audiences back post-covid. They were won by Zack Snyder films Army of the Dead and Justice League. But times are changing, and this was apparent ever since nominations were announced—many of the nominees (and winners) were launched on streaming platforms. As audiences continually shift, it will be interesting to see how the Oscars tries to keep up (or not) in future.

This year was also exciting for its international nominees in many categories.

With several nominations, Flee follows a man named Amin as he approaches his wedding day and has to reveal a secret about his terrifying journey from Afghanistan to Denmark as a child. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is a Bhutanese drama about a teacher sent to an isolated school who grows fond of the children he teaches. Parallel Mothers (Spanish: Madres Paralelas) was nominated for Best Original Score with lead Penélope Cruz nominated for Best Actress, and follows two women who find themselves in the same labor ward under very different circumstances.

Though these films weren’t winners on the night, each marks a great step forward for international recognition of non-English language cinema.

Ten Oscar-winning movies and shorts you can stream now

Above all, the Academy Awards is about celebrating the year in film, sharing artful and impactful stories. From dramas to dramedy and live-action to animation, find these titles via digital rental or on a streaming service, and host a movie night (or weekend!) to remember.

1. Coda

In this moving coming-of-age family drama, we find teenager Ruby balancing musical aspirations with the fishing business of her family, who are all deaf (CODA stands for Child of Deaf Adults). When their business is threatened, she must choose between staying to support them, or pursuing her dreams. It was a surprise Best Picture winner, and the first to be hosted exclusively on a streaming service.

Which awards did it win? Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Sian Heder), Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur).

Where can I watch it? Apple TV+.

2. The Power of the Dog

A queer psychological drama set on a cut-off Montana ranch in the 1920s, The Power of the Dog follows brothers Phil and George. When George marries Rose and adopts her teen son Peter, Phil struggles to adapt to their presence but eventually forms a bond with Peter. Jane Campion is the third female winner of the Best Director category.

Which award did it win? Best Director (Jane Campion).

Where can I watch it? Netflix.

3. Drive My Car

The first Japanese film to be nominated for Best Picture, and eventual winner of Best International Feature, Drive My Car is based on a short story by Haruki Murakami. In it, an actor accepts a job across the country, while mourning the sudden death of his wife (and earlier his daughter). He and his chauffeur—a young woman the same age as his daughter would have been—form a unique bond.

Which award did it win? Best International Feature.

Where can I watch it? HBO Max, BFI Player, Curzon at Home.

4. Dune

Dune was the headline winner of the awards this year, with no fewer than six wins. Based on the first half of Frank Herbert’s mammoth novel, this sci-fi story follows young Paul Atreides as his noble family takes over a valuable planet named Arrakis. When disaster strikes, he and his mother must learn to survive in the harsh deserts and meet the indigenous people, who the noble houses have greatly underestimated.

Which awards did it win? Best Sound, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects.

Where can I watch it? HBO Max, or purchase via Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, etc.

5. West Side Story

Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the long-beloved musical is alive with the colors and sounds of New York in 1957. Two warring gangs, the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, are shaken when ex-Jet Tony and the leader of the Sharks’s sister, Maria, fall in love and plan to run away. Ariana DeBose, who played Anita, was the star of the show on Oscars night and accepted her Best Supporting Actress award while expressing her pride at achieving her dream as an "openly queer woman of color" in the industry. "There is indeed a place for us," she added.

Which award did it win? Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose).

Where can I watch it? Disney+.

6. Encanto

Disney’s homage to Colombia, Encanto has shaken things up in the animation world. It's been celebrated for its shift away from certain Disney conventions to tell a story committed to diverse characters, and built on exhaustive research into Colombian culture and history.

Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, its hit song reached number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart.

In this Disney musical, Mirabel Madrigal is born into a family with magical powers, but doesn’t have a power herself. Instead, she must rekindle her family’s fraught relationships and ensure the magic doesn’t die out completely.

Which award did it win? Best Animated Feature.

Where can I watch it? Disney+.

7. The Windshield Wiper

Directed by Alberto Mielgo (who you may know from Netflix’s Love, Death, and Robots) and Leo Sanchez, this Spanish-American short features a man asking what love is, while smoking his way through a pack of cigarettes. A series of vignettes explores possible answers.

Which award did it win? Best Animated Short.

Where can I watch it? Find the film in full on YouTube.

8. The Long Goodbye

For an emotional gut-punch, The Long Goodbye is a British live-action short co-written by and starring Riz Ahmed. A South Asian family living in London are getting ready for a celebration when an all-white militia group attacks them, and the last few minutes consist of a rhythmic and poetic monologue by Ahmed.

Which award did it win? Best Live-Action Short.

Where can I watch it? Find the film in full on YouTube.

9. The Queen of Basketball

This charming documentary tells the story of the first woman ever to be asked to join an NBA basketball team: Lusia “Lucy” Harris. Born in Mississippi, Harris competed for her university team and played for the USA at the Olympics, where she became the first woman to score an Olympic basket. Here, she fondly reminisces over her many successes.

Which award did it win? Best Documentary Short.

Where can I watch it? Available in full on Vimeo.

10. King Richard

For many, Will Smith’s Best Actor win will be overshadowed by his behavior. Perhaps it makes sense then to highlight the excellent performance of Aunjanue Ellis, who played Richard Williams's then-wife Oracene "Brandy" Price, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. King Richard is a biographical sports film following the father of famed tennis players Venus and Serena, and their journey towards victory together.

Which award did it win? Best Actor (Will Smith).

Where can I watch it? Rent or buy from YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, and others.

Tell your own stories with these filmmaking resources

Do you have a story you simply need to share with the world? Here's some more inspiration to get you started...

1. From Korean classics to Old Hollywood talkies, stream films from around the world with these free online movie archives.

2. Discover nine women shaping the film industry and their films in genres including action, horror, documentary, and comedy.

3. Play with natural light in your own filmmaking, with this cinematography course by Albin Sjödin.

4. Finally, get experimental with this course on directing short films, by Jiajie Yu Yan.