Which film became the first streaming-service release to win Best Picture? CODA did.
The 2021 coming-of-age drama, written and directed by Siân Heder, centers on Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a Deaf fishing family. Ruby dreams of singing, but pursuing that ambition could separate her from relatives who depend on her to communicate with the hearing world.
Apple acquired CODA after its 2021 Sundance premiere and released it through Apple TV+. At the 94th Academy Awards, the film won Best Picture, making it the first streaming-backed release to receive Hollywood's top Oscar. Its victory came after Netflix films such as Roma, The Irishman, Mank, and The Power of the Dog had received nominations but not the prize.
CODA also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur. Kotsur became the first Deaf male performer to win an acting Oscar. The title is an acronym for “child of deaf adults,” a description of Ruby's role in her family.