6 Best Oscar Best Visual Effects Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 12, 2026

intensethought provoking

The Academy Award for Best Visual Effects has crowned some of cinema’s most groundbreaking and awe-inspiring technical achievements. In Interstellar (2014): A team of explorers travels through a wormhole in search of a new habitable planet for humanity. Worth seeking out is Jurassic Park (1993): A scientific theme park showcasing genetically resurrected dinosaurs descends into deadly chaos.

Dune (2021) 01

Dune (2021)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A young nobleman becomes entangled in a war for control of the galaxy's most valuable resource.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 35m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV, HBO Max · 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
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) 02

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
Ex Machina (2014) 03

Ex Machina (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A young programmer is invited to administer a groundbreaking test to a strikingly advanced humanoid AI.

Directed by Alex Garland · 1h 48m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu · 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, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Interstellar (2014) 04

Interstellar (2014)

IMDb ★ 8.7 RT 73% Metacritic 74

A team of explorers travels through a wormhole in search of a new habitable planet for humanity.

Directed by Christopher Nolan · 2h 49m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar45 wins & 148 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · 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
Gravity (2013) 05

Gravity (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 96% Metacritic 96

Two astronauts stranded in orbit after a catastrophic accident fight to find a way back to Earth.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón · 1h 31m · Rated PG-13

Won 7 Oscars242 wins & 189 nominations

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
Jurassic Park (1993) 06

Jurassic Park (1993)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 91% Metacritic 68

A scientific theme park showcasing genetically resurrected dinosaurs descends into deadly chaos.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 07m · Rated PG-13

Won 3 Oscars44 wins & 27 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, Philo, YouTube TV, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel · 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.

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Vlad Zakh

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.