6 Best Oscar Best Cinematography Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 11, 2026

The Academy Award for Best Cinematography has crowned some of cinema’s most visually breathtaking and technically masterful achievements. In 1917 (2019): Two young soldiers race against time to deliver a message that could save thousands of lives. Worth seeking out is Dances with Wolves (1990): A Civil War soldier stationed at a remote frontier post forms a deep bond with a neighboring Sioux tribe.

1917 (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 88% Metacritic 78

Two young soldiers race against time to deliver a message that could save thousands of lives.

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 young blade runner uncovers a secret that could plunge society into chaos, leading him to a legendary predecessor.

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 stationed at a remote frontier post forms a deep bond with a neighboring 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 migrant farm worker's scheme for his girlfriend to marry a dying wealthy farmer spirals into tragedy.

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 cabaret performer's decadent Berlin nightlife is shadowed by the rising tide of Nazism.

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, 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 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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