Netflix’s original films continue to pack on the accolades this awards season. Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” along with Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” were both nominated today in the prestigious Best Picture category for this year’s Oscars ceremony.
Both films have been megahits for the streamer, with “The Irishman” averaging 2.6 million viewers per minute in the U.S. when it debuted on Nov. 27. “Marriage Story” led the pack of nominees at the Golden Globes, garnering six nominations, the most of any film this year.
For “Marriage Story,” Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver were both nominated for Best Actress and Best Actor, while Laura Dern snagged a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. For “The Irishman,” Al Pacino and Joe Pesci are both contending for the Best Supporting Actor award.
Martin Scorsese is up for Best Director for “The Irishman,” while Noah Baumbach was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for “Marriage Story.”
Netflix got additional nods with Anthony Hopkins for an Actor in a Supporting Role in “The Two Popes,” “American Factory” (produced by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company) and “The Edge of Democracy” in the Documentary Feature category and “I Lost My Body” and “Klaus” in the Animated Feature Film category.
While “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story” are top contenders at the Oscars, their eligibility doesn’t come without controversy. In April 2019, the Justice Department had to get involved when the Academy attempted to make rules that would ban streaming services — Hulu and Amazon were included — from winning an Oscar. In a letter obtained by Variety, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division wrote to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences saying that banning streaming services “may raise antitrust concerns.”