6 Best Oscar Best Actor Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 10, 2026

The Academy Award for Best Actor has crowned some of cinema’s most towering, transformative performances. In The Godfather Part II (1974): A young Vito Corleone rises to power in New York as his son Michael consolidates and expands the family empire. Don’t overlook There Will Be Blood (2007): A ruthless silver miner turned oilman builds an empire while his ambition consumes everyone around him.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 91% Metacritic 93

A ruthless silver miner turned oilman builds an empire while his ambition consumes everyone around him.

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

Philadelphia (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 81% Metacritic 66

A lawyer fired from his firm after revealing his AIDS diagnosis sues for wrongful termination.

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

A man born with cerebral palsy becomes an acclaimed writer and artist using only his left foot.

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

Raging Bull (1980)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 92% Metacritic 90

A self-destructive boxer's explosive temper and jealousy destroy his career and family relationships.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 09m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars24 wins & 28 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Godfather Part II (1974)

IMDb ★ 9.0 RT 96% Metacritic 90

A young Vito Corleone rises to power in New York as his son Michael consolidates and expands the family empire.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 3h 22m · Rated R

Won 6 Oscars17 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

On the Waterfront (1954)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 99% Metacritic 91

A washed-up boxer turned dockworker struggles with his conscience after witnessing union corruption and murder.

Directed by Elia Kazan · 1h 48m · Rated NR

Won 8 Oscars30 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · 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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Oscar Best Actor Winning Movies

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Philadelphia (1993)

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

Raging Bull (1980)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

On the Waterfront (1954)

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