6 Best Oscar Best Cinematography Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 11, 2026

Cinematography winners are some of the Oscars’ most visually breathtaking films. 1917 follows two soldiers racing to deliver a message, Blade Runner 2049 builds a stunning world around a replicant mystery, and Dances with Wolves frames the frontier in sweeping landscapes. The Last Emperor, Days of Heaven and Cabaret round out the six.

1917 (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 88% Metacritic 78

Two young soldiers race across enemy territory to deliver a message that could save sixteen hundred men.

Directed by Sam Mendes · 1h 59m · Rated R

Won 3 Oscars137 wins & 202 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 88% Metacritic 81

A replicant blade runner uncovers a secret that could unravel what is left of society.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 44m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars101 wins & 164 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, 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

Dances with Wolves (1990)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A Civil War soldier at a remote frontier post forms a deep bond with a neighbouring Sioux tribe.

Directed by Kevin Costner · 3h 01m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, MGM Plus, BBC America · 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

The Last Emperor (1987)

TMDB ★ 7.6

China's final emperor reflects on his extraordinary life, from the Forbidden City to a Communist prison.

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci · 2h 43m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Days of Heaven (1978)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A farmhand's scheme to marry his girlfriend to a dying rich farmer ends in tragedy on the Texas plains.

Directed by Terrence Malick · 1h 34m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · 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

Cabaret (1972)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 92% Metacritic 80

A Berlin cabaret performer's hedonistic world sours as the Nazi party quietly rises around her.

Directed by Bob Fosse · 2h 04m · Rated PG

Won 8 Oscars35 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

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. 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 Cinematography Winning Movies

1917 (2019)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Dances with Wolves (1990)

The Last Emperor (1987)

Days of Heaven (1978)

Cabaret (1972)

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