Apple TV's Oscar Journey: From Streaming Service to Hollywood Powerhouse

As we wait for Sunday's 98th Academy Awards, where Apple has six nominations for F1: The Movie, The Lost Bus, and Come See Me In The Good Light, here's the complete list of every Oscar nomination and win Apple TV has ever scored.

The Early Years: Breaking Into Hollywood (2021)

Apple's first foray into Oscar contention came with two animated features in 2021. Wolfwalkers, the hand-drawn Irish fantasy film, earned a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, showcasing Apple's commitment to artistic storytelling. The same year, Tom Hanks' WWII thriller Greyhound received a Best Sound nomination, proving Apple could compete in technical categories as well.

The Breakthrough: CODA's Historic Win (2022)

Apple's streaming service made history in 2022 when CODA became the first film from a streaming platform to win Best Picture. The coming-of-age drama about a hearing girl in a deaf family didn't stop there—it also won Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur (the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar) and Best Adapted Screenplay for writer-director Sian Heder. This triple victory established Apple TV+ as a legitimate contender in Hollywood.

Building Momentum: Diverse Recognition (2023-2024)

In 2023, Apple earned its second Best Animated Short Film win with The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, a charming adaptation of the beloved children's book. The same year saw Brian Tyree Henry nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Causeway, a drama about a soldier's return home.

2024 marked Apple's most prolific Oscar year yet. Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon dominated with nine nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and a historic Best Actress nomination for Lily Gladstone (the first Native American woman nominated in this category). The epic Napoleon also earned three technical nominations, demonstrating Apple's range from prestige dramas to grand historical epics.

The Current Landscape: Six Nominations Strong (2026)

Heading into the 98th Academy Awards, Apple maintains its momentum with three films earning six total nominations:

• F1: The Movie: Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing
• The Lost Bus: Best Visual Effects
• Come See Me in Good Light: Best Documentary Feature Film

What This Means for Apple TV+

Apple's Oscar success represents more than just awards—it's a validation of their strategy to invest heavily in original content. With a subscription price of $12.99 per month, Apple TV+ has built a library that includes not only award contenders but also popular series like Severance, The Morning Show, and Silo.

The streaming service's Oscar journey mirrors its broader ambitions in entertainment. From the $25 million acquisition of CODA at Sundance to the reported $200 million budget for Killers of the Flower Moon, Apple has shown it's willing to spend big to compete with Netflix, Amazon, and traditional studios.

As the 98th Academy Awards approach, Apple TV+ stands as proof that a tech company can successfully transition into premium content creation, earning both critical acclaim and industry respect in the process.