Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.howtogeek.com
Netflix has an extensive collection of award-winning movies, and some of its best picks are also great for a relaxed weekend watch. From a sweeping wartime romance to a hip-hop underdog story, these films offer very different reasons to settle in for your movie night.
This time, I’m picking three Oscar-winning films that have left a mark in their own ways. My top pick is a summer romance that will be a feast for your eyes. Here’s what you need to know about these titles, all streaming on Netflix U.S. this October.
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Pearl Harbor
Love blooms amid a world at war
If you’re looking for a war movie with more to offer than just the action, Pearl Harbor is worth adding to your watch list. The story follows childhood friends Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett), who become military pilots as World War II unfolds. Rafe falls in love with nurse Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), but when he volunteers to fight in Britain, he leaves both her and Danny behind. After Rafe is presumed dead, Evelyn and Danny grow closer through their shared grief, making his return all the more complicated.
The film eventually turns its focus to the attack on Pearl Harbor, where the cast finds itself caught in the chaos. This is a whirlwind of emotions, drama, and chaos, and a promising weekend watch if you’re in the mood for a nice mix of romance and tragedy.
Pearl Harbor won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing, awarded to George Watters II and Christopher Boyes.
Pearl Harbor
- Release Date
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May 25, 2001
- Runtime
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183 minutes
- Director
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Michael Bay
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8 Mile
Take your shot when it counts
You’ve probably heard “Lose Yourself” before, but 8 Mile gives you a reason to revisit the film that inspired the song. Eminem stars as Jimmy Smith Jr., also known as B-Rabbit, an aspiring rapper trying to find his place in Detroit’s hip-hop scene. Between money troubles, his factory job, and a difficult home life, Jimmy has plenty to deal with before he even steps up to the stage.
After freezing during a rap battle, he has to work through his self-doubt if he wants another chance. His friends encourage him, but the next move is his to make. Directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer, and Brittany Murphy, the film follows Jimmy’s struggles as he tries to prove that he belongs in a world where every battle puts him on the spot.
“Lose Yourself,” with music by Eminem, Jeff Bass, and Luis Resto and lyrics by Eminem, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. The rap battles bring a lot of energy, but Jimmy’s journey is still the focus. If you enjoy a nice underdog story with music at its heart, 8 Mile is a strong addition to your watch list.
8 Mile
- Release Date
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November 8, 2002
- Runtime
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111 minutes
- Director
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Curtis Hanson
1
Call Me by Your Name
A summer that lives on loop
My top pick, Call Me by Your Name, is an acclaimed summer romance and one of the most visually beautiful movies I’ve watched. It follows Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a 17-year-old spending the summer at his family’s villa in northern Italy. His routine changes when Oliver (Armie Hammer), an American graduate student, arrives to assist Elio’s father. As the two spend more time together, they slowly connect and develop something deeper.
But Oliver’s visit has an end date, lending even the happier moments a little sadness. Chalamet brings Elio to life amid the sun-kissed Italian setting as he tries to understand what he’s feeling.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the movie slowly fleshes out this relationship through their conversations, outings, and small moments. This is the final installment in Guadagnino’s thematic “Desire” trilogy, after I Am Love and A Bigger Splash.
Call Me by Your Name won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, which went to James Ivory. It’s a bittersweet film worth watching if you’re in the mood for a sensual, soft romance.
Find more titles to stream
You can also explore more movies on Netflix by browsing through the Oscar winners and nominees section or searching by genre to find more films that match your mood. To narrow your search, use Netflix’s secret codes to filter titles by genres and tropes.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
