Oscars Buzz Sends Viewers Flocking to Streaming Platforms

Award season fever is clearly shaping what Americans are watching. New data from JustWatch shows that Oscar-nominated films dominated February’s streaming charts in the United States, as audiences rushed to catch up on buzzy contenders ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night.

The latest rankings, released from Los Angeles, reveal that titles linked to the Academy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards saw noticeable spikes in demand, with viewers actively searching for and streaming this year’s most talked-about films and shows.

HBO Max Takes the Lead in February

When it comes to platform dominance, HBO Max stood out from the competition. The service secured six spots across the combined top 10 movie and TV charts.

Its medical drama The Pitt claimed the number one television position, while fantasy series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms followed closely behind in second place.

The platform also placed two films inside the movie top five, reinforcing its strong performance during a month packed with awards buzz.

Meanwhile, Hulu and Prime Video each earned four entries across the charts. Hulu captured the top movie spot with Predator: Badlands, showing that blockbuster franchises still carry serious weight with viewers.

Oscar Nominees Drive Movie Rankings

Among February’s most-streamed movies were awards contenders such as Bugonia, Blue Moon, and One Battle After Another. Long-running audience favorite Sinners also continued its impressive chart presence, marking more than five months on the streaming rankings.

Netflix landed three total placements across the movie and TV charts, including a strong showing for Blue Moon. Apple TV+ maintained visibility as well, with original titles like Shrinking and Eternity attracting consistent interest.

TV Favorites Hold Their Ground

On the television side, returning hits and high-profile dramas fueled February’s top 10. In addition to HBO Max’s leading titles, Prime Video’s The Night Manager and Fallout secured solid positions.

Family-friendly and prestige content also made waves, with Disney+ appearing on the charts through titles like Wonder Man and Paradise.

What to Watch in March

Streaming momentum shows no signs of slowing. Several fan-favorite series are set to premiere or return in March, including Outlander on Starz and Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.

Netflix subscribers can also look forward to the long-awaited return of One Piece, while Apple TV+ and HBO Max are rolling out new original programming aimed at maintaining subscriber engagement.

How the Rankings Are Calculated

JustWatch’s Streaming Charts are based on user activity across the United States, including clicks on streaming offers, watchlist additions and titles marked as “seen.” The data reflects behavior from 60 million monthly users and covers activity between February 1 and February 28, 2026.

Impact and Consequences

February’s data underscores how award season significantly influences streaming behavior. As major ceremonies approach, audiences actively seek out nominated films, driving engagement spikes and reshuffling platform rankings.

For streaming services, strong chart performance can translate into subscriber growth, brand visibility and competitive leverage. Platforms with high-performing exclusives may gain an advantage in an increasingly crowded market.

What’s Next?

With the Academy Awards concluded and fresh March releases arriving, the focus will shift from award-driven interest to franchise returns and original series launches.

Analysts will be watching closely to see whether HBO Max maintains its dominance or if rivals like Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video reclaim the spotlight.

Upcoming debuts and returning favorites could reshape the charts yet again.

Summary

February’s U.S. streaming charts reveal that Oscar-nominated films and high-profile series heavily influenced viewer demand.

HBO Max led the month with six combined top 10 placements, while Hulu and Prime Video followed closely.

As award season transitions into a packed March release calendar, the battle for streaming supremacy is set to intensify.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Oscar nominees fueled a surge in February streaming activity
• HBO Max secured six top 10 spots across movies and TV
• Hulu claimed the number one movie position with Predator: Badlands
• Netflix and Apple TV+ maintained strong chart presence
• TV hits like The Pitt and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms led rankings
• March releases are expected to reshape streaming competition
• Rankings are based on activity from 60 million JustWatch users