On the strength of Martin Scorsese’s epic film The Irishman, which earned 10 Academy Award nominations, and Marriage Story, which earned six, the streaming company edged out Disney’s 23 nominations and Sony’s 20, and improved on the 15 nominations it secured last year. (The Logic)
Talking point: While Netflix leads the list of nominees for the first time, its relationship with the Hollywood establishment remains fraught; after last year’s ceremony, a group led by Steven Spielberg reportedly lobbied to require that films screen in theatres for an extended period of time to be Oscar-eligible. Netflix spent about US$15 billion for content in 2019 as it prepared for challenges from new streaming players like Disney Plus, though it tried to spend that money in a cost-effective way. Third-quarter earnings showed it was successfully turning that spending into subscriber growth, with slower growth forecast in the face of increased competition. Its stock rose on the news. Notable omissions from the list of nominees included women, people of colour and Adam Sandler.