6 Best Oscar Best Actress Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 10, 2026

The Best Actress Oscar has crowned some of cinema’s most unforgettable performances. Charlize Theron won for Monster, Kathy Bates for Misery, Shirley MacLaine for Terms of Endearment and Meryl Streep for Sophie’s Choice. Sally Field in Norma Rae and Jane Fonda in Klute round out the six.

Monster (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 81% Metacritic 74

A fictionalised account of Aileen Wuornos, a sex worker turned serial killer of her own clients.

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

Kathy Bates as the most terrifying 'number one fan' ever put on screen.

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 stormy, loving relationship survives three decades of heartbreak.

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 concentration camp survivor's past conceals a decision no one should ever have to make.

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 textile mill worker risks everything to unionise her exploited and overworked coworkers.

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Klute (1971)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A small-town detective's missing-persons case leads him to a New York call girl who may be the key.

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. 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 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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