Apple TV+ original film 'CODA' wins Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars

During Sunday's 94th Academy Awards, Apple TV+ was represented by a pair of films that were nominated for a total of six awards, with "CODA" alongside "The Tragedy of Macbeth" for three categories apiece.

CODA

"CODA" took the top prize of the awards, winning the Best Picture category. The Apple TV+ beat out nine other major movies that were up for the award, including "Drive My Car," "Dune," "Licorice Pizza," "The Power of the Dog," and "West Side Story."

The film is a landmark winner in a number of ways, including being the first Best Picture nomination for Apple TV+. It is also the first movie featuring a predominantly deaf cast to be honored in the category and the first movie from a streaming service to win the award.

Troy Kotsur, who played father "Frank Rossi" in "CODA," won his category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role, following earlier accolades at the BAFTAs and other ceremonies. Kotsur also made history by being the first deaf male actor to ever receive an Oscar nomination, arriving 35 years after co-star Marlee Matlin won best actress for 1987's "Children of a Lesser God."

Sian Heder picked up the award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "CODA," beating out the writers behind "Drive My Car," "Dune," "The Lost Daughter," and "The Power of the Dog" to the gong.

"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. "We join our teams all over the world in celebrating Sian, 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."

Jamie Erlicht, Apple's head of Worldwide Video, said "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 Sian; Troy; the cast; the creative team; producers Patrick, Philippe, and Fabrice; and everyone who helped bring inclusion and accessibility to the forefront through this remarkable film."

Apple CEO Tim Cook took to Twitter shortly after the win, posting a photograph of the cast at the event. "Team CODA created a profoundly beautiful movie, a story of hope and heart that celebrates our differences," Cook writes about the "historic wins" by the film.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Denzel Washington's portrayal of the titular character in "The Tragedy of Macbeth" wasn't quite enough to win Best Actor against Will Smith for "King Richard." The nomination was Washington's tenth at the Oscars, and he previously won Best Actor for "Training Day" in 2002 and Best Supporting Actor for "Glory" in 1990.

Bruno Delbonnel narrowly missed the Best Cinematography award for his work in "The Tragedy of Macbeth," in a category that also included "Dune," "Nightmare Alley," "The Power of the Dog," and "West Side Story." Greig Fraser ultimately won for his work on "Dune."

Stefan Dechant didn't win the category for Best Production Design for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," with it won by Patrice Vermette and Zsuzsanna Sipos for "Dune."