Apple TV+ became the first streaming service to bag an Oscar for Best Picture, thanks to CODA‘s strong showing Sunday night at the Academy Awards. The movie won a trio of the prestigious awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.
Troy Kotsur, who nabbed the latter of the three, also made history by becoming the first deaf man to pick up an Academy Award.
CODA wins big at the Oscars
Critics lauded CODA ever since it debuted on Apple TV+ last August. After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last January, Apple picked it up in a record $25 million deal.
The movie went on to secure awards from the BAFTAs, Critics Choice, the Screen Actors Guild and the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Then, on Sunday, CODA snatched the biggest prize in the entertainment industry.
“On behalf of everyone at Apple, we are so grateful to the Academy for the honors bestowed on CODA this evening,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of worldwide video, in a press release after the win.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Best Picture and more
CODA tells the story of high school senior Ruby, the only hearing person in her Deaf family, who is torn between holding that family together as an interpreter and departing for a music school to pursue her own dreams.
In his review, Cult of Mac‘s Scout Tafoya wrote that CODA checks all the boxes for a Sundance hit: “The cast is lovable, the musical moments work, it’ll jerk your tears and give you chills.”
CODA writer Siân Heder picked up the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition to Kotsur, the film stars Amelia Jones, Marlee Matlin and Daniel Durant.
Watch CODA on Apple TV+
CODA is now streaming on Apple TV+. Subscribers can watch it on any Apple device, and in the Apple TV app for smart TVs and streaming devices.
