In honor of the 98th Academy Awards last night, this week we’re focusing on movies that have claimed the golden statue.There’s a catch, though.Instead of looking at current nominees and winners, we’re exploring some of the 20th century's Oscar winners streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The number one pick this week is a Best Picture masterpiece with so much quotable dialogue, it’s ridiculous; then, we’re diving into a psychological horror movie that will require some fava beans and a nice bottle of Chianti.Rounding out the list is a 1985 classic that has captured the hearts of viewers for decades.Enjoy these five movies this week on Prime Video.
5 Out of Africa (1985) A love story for the ages Easily one of the 1980s' most acclaimed romance films, is an epic drama loosely adapted from Karen Blixen’s 1937 autobiography, among other sources, about her life in Kenya from 1913 to 1931.Produced and directed by Sydney Pollack, the movie is known for its sweeping, heartfelt portrayal of Blixen’s life.Meryl Streep stars as Karen, a Danish aristocrat who moves to Africa to join her husband in running what she believes will be their dairy farm.
However, when she arrives, she discovers he has invested their money in a coffee plantation.After he has an affair and leaves, Karen is left to run the farm.Seeking help, she turns to free-spirited big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (the late Robert Redford) and quickly falls in love.
However, in realizing he prefers a simpler life to her upper-class background, she has a decision to make—love or personal growth.received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning seven in 1986—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Best Original Score.Out of Africa PG History Romance Drama Release Date December 20, 1985 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Michael Kitchen, Malick Bowens Runtime 161 Minutes Director Sydney Pollack Writers Kurt Luedtke Main Genre History Budget 31000000.0 Studio(s) Universal Pictures, Mirage Entertainment, Mirage Enterprises IMDb ID tt0089755 TMDB User Rating 7 .17 Powered by Expand Collapse 4 The Pianist (2002) Adrien Brody in his best performance Boasting a 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, is a biographical war drama telling the true story of a Polish-Jewish classical musician struggling to survive the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War 2.
Adrien Brody stars as Wladyslaw Szpilman, a radio station pianist who watches life change before his very eyes as the war begins.After being forced into the Warsaw Ghetto, he is later separated from his family during Operation Reinhard.As the situation worsens, he endures years of starvation, horror, and isolation while hiding in the ruins of Warsaw, relying on luck and sympathetic strangers to survive until the war ends.
Just before it does, though, he’s discovered by a German officer who spares his life after hearing him play a piano.While the film is heart-wrenching, it ends in liberation.received seven Academy Award nominations, winning three in 2003—Best Actor (Brody), Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Pianist R Biography Drama Music Release Date March 28, 2003 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox, Michal Zebrowski, Ed Stoppard, Maureen Lipman, Jessica Kate Meyer Runtime 150 Minutes Director Roman Polanski Writers Ronald Harwood, Wladyslaw Szpilman Main Genre Biography Powered by Expand Collapse 3 Rain Man (1988) No umbrellas required In 1988, took audiences by storm.A-listers Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman star in the hit road-trip dramedy from Barry Levinson.Charlie Babbitt (Cruise) is a selfish, abrasive collectible car dealer who finds out his estranged father left a $3 million fortune to an older brother he had no clue existed.
Raymond (Hoffman) is an autistic savant with superb recall abilities in a mental institution who follows strict routines and is quite obsessed with watching featuring Judge Joseph Wapner.Motivated by money, Charlie kidnaps Raymond from the institution, and the two embark on a cross-country road trip that not only transforms their relationship as brothers but also as individuals understanding themselves in the world they're in.received eight Academy Award nominations and won four in 1989— Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Hoffman), and Best Screenplay.
As of 2025, it is the only film to win both the Berlin International Film Festival’s Golden Bear award and the Academy Award for Best Picture in the same year.Rain Man R Drama Release Date December 16, 1988 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Valeria Golino, Gerald R.Molen, Jack Murdock, Michael D.
Roberts, Ralph Seymour, Lucinda Jenney, Bonnie Hunt, Kim Robillard, Beth Grant, Dolan Dougherty, Loretta Wendt Jolivette, Donald E.Jones, Bryon P.Caunar, Donna J.
Dickson, Earl Roat, William Montgomery Jr., Elizabeth Lower, Michael C.Hall, Kneeles Reeves, Jack W.Cope, Nick Mazzola, Ralph Tabakin, Ray Baker, Isadore Figler, Sam Roth, Nanci M.
Harvey, Kenneth E.Lowden, Jocko Marcellino, John Thorstensen, Blanche Salter, Jake Hoffman, Royce D.Applegate, June Christopher, Anna Mathias, Archie Hahn, Luisa Leschin, Ira Miller, Chris Mulkey, Tracy Newman, Julie Payne, Reni Santoni, Bridget Sienna, Ruth Silveira, Jonathan Stark, Lynne Marie Stewart, Arnold F.
Turner, Gigi Vorgan Runtime 134 Minutes Director Barry Levinson Writers Barry Levinson, Ron Bass Main Genre Drama Powered by Expand Collapse 2 The Silence of the Lambs (1991) The most impressive horror movie of the 90s While I think is deserving of a perfect critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, the hit film has held steady over the years at 95 percent.The gripping psychological horror flick is based on the 1988 novel of the same name and features iconic performances by Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in only 16 minutes of screen time.To catch a serial killer who’s busy kidnapping, torturing, murdering, and skinning women, the FBI sends trainee Clarice Starling (Foster) to interview an imprisoned subject they believe can offer insight on Buffalo Bill, a composite character inspired by real-life serial killers.
Dr.Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) is a grotesquely captivating and brilliant psychiatrist who's also a violent psychopath and cannibal serving life behind bars at a hospital for the criminally insane.He’s enamored when Clarice arrives, and in exchange for personal details about her traumatic past, he chillingly agrees to provide cryptic clues on how to locate and apprehend Buffalo Bill.
won what’s known as the Big Five Academy Awards in 1992—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Hopkins), Best Actress (Foster), and Best Adapted Screenplay.After three decades, the hit movie remains the only horror film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.The Silence of the Lambs R Crime Thriller Drama Release Date February 14, 1991 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Diane Baker, Kasi Lemmons, Frankie Faison, Tracey Walter, Charles Napier, Danny Darst, Alex Coleman, Dan Butler, Paul Lazar, Ron Vawter, Roger Corman, Lawrence A.
Bonney, Lawrence T.Wrentz, Don Brockett, Frank Seals Jr., Stuart Rudin, Maria Skorobogatov, Jeffrie Lane, Leib Lensky Runtime 119 minutes Director Jonathan Demme Writers Ted Tally, Thomas Harris Producers Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt Main Genre Thriller Executive Producer(s) Gary Goetzman Powered by Expand Collapse 1 Forrest Gump (1994) He can run like the wind blows is one of the greatest movies of the 1990s.This must-see Robert Zemeckis gem recounts the history of the United States from the 1950s through the 1970s from the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75.
Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field, and Gary Sinise deliver astonishing performances.Forrest Gump (Hanks) might be simple and slow-witted, but he’s quick with unintended wit and has never seen himself as disadvantaged, thanks to his loving, supportive mother (Field).His childlike optimism is an inspiration everywhere he goes, whether he's dominating on the gridiron as a college football star, fighting in Vietnam, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving survivors of his platoon, or captaining a shrimp boat.
Aside from his mama, he cares most about his sweet but troubled childhood friend and only love, Jenny (Wright).received 13 Academy Award nominations and won six in 1995—Best Picture, Best Actor (Hanks), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing.Forrest Gump PG-13 Comedy Drama Romance Release Date July 6, 1994 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Mykelti Williamson, Michael Conner Humphreys, Hanna Hall, Haley Joel Osment, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Rebecca Williams, Bob Penny, Harold G.
Herthum, George Kelly, John Randall, Sam Anderson, Margo Moorer, Ione M.Telech, Christine Seabrook, John Worsham, Peter Dobson, Alexander Zemeckis, Logan Livingston Gomez, Ben Waddel, Elizabeth Hanks, Tyler Long Runtime 142 minutes Director Robert Zemeckis Writers Eric Roth, Winston Groom Producers Steve Starkey, Steve Tisch, Wendy Finerman Main Genre Drama Budget $55 million Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Powered by Expand Collapse Don’t let Prime Video’s latest price increase deter you from keeping your subscription.Its selection of award-winning movies alone is worth it! Amazon Prime Video Subscription with ads Yes, via Prime membership or $9/month Simultaneous streams 3 Live TV No Price Included with Amazon Prime subscription ($15/month or $139/year) or $9/month standalone Visit Amazon Prime Video Expand Collapse
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