6 Best Oscar Best Actress Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 10, 2026

The Academy Award for Best Actress has crowned some of cinema’s most powerful and unforgettable leading performances. In Misery (1990): A famous novelist is held captive and tormented by his obsessive, deranged self-proclaimed biggest fan. Just as strong is Sophie’s Choice (1982): A Holocaust survivor’s devastating past resurfaces as she navigates a new life and love in postwar Brooklyn.

Monster (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 81% Metacritic 74

A troubled sex worker's desperate search for love and survival spirals into a killing spree.

Directed by Patty Jenkins · 1h 49m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar31 wins & 26 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Misery (1990)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A famous novelist is held captive and tormented by his obsessive, deranged self-proclaimed biggest fan.

Directed by Rob Reiner · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, AMC, HBO Max · Rent: Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Terms of Endearment (1983)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A mother and daughter's turbulent, loving relationship endures three decades of heartbreak and joy.

Directed by James L. Brooks · 2h 12m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium 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

Sophie's Choice (1982)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A Holocaust survivor's devastating past resurfaces as she navigates a new life and love in postwar Brooklyn.

Directed by Alan J. Pakula · 2h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Philo, Peacock Premium Plus, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Norma Rae (1979)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A Southern textile mill worker risks her livelihood to organize her exploited coworkers into a union.

Directed by Martin Ritt · 1h 50m · Rated PG

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Klute (1971)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A call girl helps a detective investigate a disappearance while confronting her own dangerous stalker.

Directed by Alan J. Pakula · 1h 54m · 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, 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 Actress Winning Movies

Monster (2003)

Misery (1990)

Terms of Endearment (1983)

Sophie's Choice (1982)

Norma Rae (1979)

Klute (1971)

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