6 Best Golden Globe Best Actor Drama Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 12, 2026

The Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama rewards transformations, and these films have plenty. Bohemian Rhapsody follows a rock frontman to a legendary charity concert, The Theory of Everything follows a physicist’s career and marriage tested by his diagnosis, and Ray tracks a blind musical prodigy overcoming poverty and addiction. There Will Be Blood, Philadelphia and My Left Foot round out the six.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 60% Metacritic 49

Queen's rise builds to a note-for-note recreation of their legendary Live Aid set.

Directed by Bryan Singer · 2h 15m · Rated PG-13

Won 4 Oscars50 wins & 81 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Theory of Everything (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 81% Metacritic 71

Stephen Hawking's scientific rise unfolds alongside his marriage and his ALS diagnosis.

Directed by James Marsh · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar25 wins & 128 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

There Will Be Blood (2007)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 91% Metacritic 93

A ruthless oil prospector's ambition curdles into obsession and violence in early 20th-century California.

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson · 2h 38m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars114 wins & 138 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ray (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A note-perfect Ray Charles biopic anchored entirely by Jamie Foxx's performance.

Directed by Taylor Hackford · 2h 32m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Philadelphia (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 81% Metacritic 66

A lawyer fired for having AIDS sues his old firm with the help of a reluctant, homophobic attorney.

Directed by Jonathan Demme · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Won 2 Oscars21 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989)

TMDB ★ 8.0

An Irish writer and painter born with cerebral palsy overcomes profound physical limits.

Directed by Jim Sheridan · 1h 43m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Golden Globe Best Actor Drama Winning Movies

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

The Theory of Everything (2014)

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Ray (2004)

Philadelphia (1993)

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989)

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