Apple on Sunday became the first streaming service to win a best picture Oscar at the 94th Academy Awards.
Apple Original Film CODA beat rival Netflix’s The Power of the Dog, which won Jane Campion her second statue (first for directing).
“What an incredible journey it has been since the moment we first saw CODA to today’s historic recognition from the Academy,” Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video, said in a statement. “It has been a true joy to witness the positive impact on humanity that this story and its performances have had worldwide. We send our warmest congratulations to […] everyone who helped bring inclusion and accessibility to the forefront through this remarkable film.”
As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), 17-year-old Ruby (Emilia Jones) is the only hearing member of a deaf family. But when their fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and her fear of abandoning her parents.
CODA is the first motion picture starring a predominantly deaf cast to earn a Best Picture Oscar nomination, let alone win. Star Tony Kotsur—the first deaf male nominee in the Best Supporting Actor category—and Best Adapted Screenplay contender Siân Heder also took home statues in their respective categories. (Co-star Marlee Matlin collected a golden statue in 1987 for her role in Children of a Lesser God.)
“On behalf of everyone at Apple, we are so grateful to the Academy for the honors bestowed on CODA,” Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video, said. “We join our teams all over the world in celebrating Siân, Troy, the producers, and the entire cast and crew for bringing such a powerful representation of the deaf community to audiences, and breaking so many barriers in the process. It has been so rewarding to share this life-affirming vibrant story, which reminds us of the power of film to bring the world together.”
Despite an impressive 27 nominations, Netflix left Sunday’s ceremony with only one golden statue (Campion). Disney+, meanwhile, won for Encanto (Best Animated Feature Film), Cruella (Best Costume Design), and Summer of Soul (Best Documentary [feature]), and despite three nods for Being the Ricardos and Coming 2 America, Amazon Prime ended the night empty-handed.
