The 2019 Oscar Nominees: The Complete List and Historical Analysis of the 91st Academy Awards

The 2019 Oscar nominees represented the pinnacle of cinematic achievement for the 91st Academy Awards, held on February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre. While Green Book ultimately secured the Best Picture title, the year was defined by the historic ten nominations each for Roma and The Favourite, as well as Black Panther’s groundbreaking inclusion as the first superhero film nominated for the top prize.

Looking back from 2026, the 91st Academy Awards remains a pivotal moment in film history. It was the year that saw the "No Host" experiment, a significant surge in the influence of streaming platforms, and a diverse array of stories that challenged traditional Hollywood narratives. This comprehensive guide details the complete list of nominees and winners, providing the necessary context for one of the most talked-about years in the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

The Best Picture Nominees: A Diverse Field

The 2019 Best Picture race was one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. The category featured eight films that spanned a wide range of genres, from intimate black-and-white dramas to high-octane superhero epics and musical biopics.

Green Book (Winner)

Directed by Peter Farrelly, Green Book told the story of an Italian-American bouncer (Viggo Mortensen) who becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist (Mahershala Ali) on a tour through the 1960s American South. While the film was a "feel-good" crowd-pleaser that won the top prize, its victory was met with significant debate regarding its "white savior" narrative and historical accuracy. Despite the controversy, the film’s message of friendship resonated with a majority of Academy voters.

Roma

Alfonso Cuarón’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece, Roma, was a technical and emotional marvel. Nominated for ten awards, it was the first Netflix production to be a serious contender for Best Picture. Filmed in stunning black-and-white and featuring a cast of largely non-professional actors, the film followed the life of a live-in indigenous domestic worker in 1970s Mexico City. It won for Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography.

The Favourite

Yorgos Lanthimos brought his unique, absurdist style to the historical drama genre with The Favourite. The film centered on the power struggle between two cousins (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone) vying for the favor of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). With ten nominations, it tied with Roma for the most nods of the year. Olivia Colman’s performance was particularly lauded, eventually earning her the Best Actress Oscar.

Black Panther

In 2019, Black Panther made history as the first superhero movie to ever be nominated for Best Picture. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film was a cultural phenomenon that combined high-stakes action with deep themes of African identity, isolationism, and legacy. It proved that "genre" films could achieve the highest levels of critical and Academy recognition.

Bohemian Rhapsody

The Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was a massive box-office success that translated into significant Oscar attention. Despite a turbulent production history, the film received five nominations. Rami Malek’s transformative performance as the Queen frontman was the film's centerpiece, earning him the Best Actor trophy.

A Star Is Born

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, a remake of the classic A Star Is Born, was both a critical and commercial darling. Starring Cooper alongside Lady Gaga, the film explored the intersection of fame, addiction, and love. It received eight nominations, with "Shallow" becoming one of the most iconic Oscar-winning songs of the decade.

BlacKkKlansman

Spike Lee returned to the Oscar stage with BlacKkKlansman, a film based on the true story of Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer who successfully infiltrated the local Ku Klux Klan. The film was praised for its sharp wit and its searing relevance to contemporary social issues, earning Lee his first competitive Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Vice

Adam McKay’s satirical take on the life of Dick Cheney, Vice, featured a physically unrecognizable Christian Bale in the lead role. The film utilized McKay’s signature fast-paced, educational-comedy style to break down the complexities of American political power.

Complete List of Nominees and Winners by Category

The following table provides a comprehensive view of the major categories from the 91st Academy Awards.

Key Supporting and Technical Categories

Beyond the "Big Five," the 2019 Oscars recognized excellence in writing, animation, and technical craftsmanship. These categories often highlight films that might not have the broad reach of Best Picture nominees but represent the absolute best in their respective crafts.

Writing Categories

The 2019 screenwriting awards were split between Green Book (Original Screenplay) and BlacKkKlansman (Adapted Screenplay).

• Original Screenplay: The writers of Green Book (Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, and Peter Farrelly) won in a competitive field that included The Favourite, First Reformed, Roma, and Vice.
• Adapted Screenplay: Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott won for BlacKkKlansman. This was a historic win for Lee, whose career had spanned decades without a competitive Oscar until this moment.

Animated and International Features

• Animated Feature Film: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took the world by storm with its innovative animation style and fresh take on the superhero mythos. It defeated industry giants like Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet and Pixar’s Incredibles 2.
• Foreign Language Film: As expected, Roma (Mexico) won this category. However, the field was incredibly strong, featuring films like Cold War (Poland), Shoplifters (Japan), Capernaum (Lebanon), and Never Look Away (Germany).

Craft and Technical Wins

• Best Original Song: "Shallow" from A Star Is Born was the definitive winner, giving Lady Gaga her first Oscar.
• Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón made history by winning for cinematography on a film he also directed (Roma).
• Best Film Editing: Bohemian Rhapsody won, despite some critical debate over the frenetic pacing of its concert sequences.
• Best Costume Design & Production Design: Black Panther won both, marking the first time a Marvel Cinematic Universe film won an Academy Award. Ruth E. Carter (Costumes) and Hannah Beachler (Production Design) both became the first African-American women to win in their respective categories.

The "No Host" Phenomenon of 2019

The 91st Academy Awards were unique because they were the first since 1989 to proceed without a formal host. Originally, comedian Kevin Hart was slated for the role, but he stepped down following a controversy regarding past tweets. Instead of finding a replacement, the Academy opted for a presenter-led ceremony.

Surprisingly, the format was widely praised for its efficiency. The show moved faster, focusing more on the awards and the films themselves rather than long opening monologues or comedy sketches. This successful experiment led to the "no host" format being utilized again in 2020 and 2021. From our perspective in 2026, we can see this as a turning point where the Academy began prioritizing shorter, more streamlined broadcasts to combat declining television ratings.

Cultural Impact and Long-term Legacy

The 2019 nominees reflected a Hollywood in transition. Several key trends emerged from this list that have continued to shape the industry through the mid-2020s:

1. The Rise of Streaming: Roma proved that streaming services could produce "prestige" cinema that commands the Academy's respect. This paved the way for future winners like CODA (Apple TV+).
2. Genre Legitimacy: The success of Black Panther and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse signaled that the Academy was finally ready to look past the "popcorn movie" label and reward superhero and animated films for their artistic merit.
3. Global Cinema: The strong performance of Roma and Cold War across multiple major categories foreshadowed the historic Best Picture win for the South Korean film Parasite just one year later.
4. Representation: With wins for Regina King, Mahershala Ali, Spike Lee, Ruth E. Carter, and Hannah Beachler, the 2019 Oscars were a significant step forward in the "Oscars So White" conversation, although the Best Picture win for Green Book showed that the Academy still leaned toward more traditional narratives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the most Oscars in 2019?

The film with the most wins at the 91st Academy Awards was Bohemian Rhapsody, which took home four Oscars (Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing). Roma, Black Panther, and Green Book each followed with three wins.

Was Black Panther the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture?

Yes, Black Panther was the first superhero film in the history of the Academy Awards to receive a nomination for Best Picture. While The Dark Knight (2008) is often cited as the film that prompted the Academy to expand the Best Picture field to ten nominees, it did not receive a nomination for the top prize itself.

Why was there no host for the 2019 Oscars?

Kevin Hart was originally announced as the host but withdrew after several of his past homophobic tweets resurfaced. He declined to apologize at the time, stating he had already addressed the issue years prior. The Academy decided not to replace him, resulting in the first hostless ceremony in 30 years.

Did Lady Gaga win an Oscar for A Star Is Born?

Lady Gaga won the Oscar for Best Original Song for "Shallow." While she was also nominated for Best Actress for her role as Ally Maine, she lost that category to Olivia Colman (The Favourite).

What was the controversy surrounding Green Book's win?

While Green Book was popular with audiences, it faced criticism for its depiction of race relations. Critics argued it relied on the "white savior" trope, where a white protagonist learns to be less prejudiced through their relationship with a person of color. Additionally, the family of Dr. Don Shirley (played by Mahershala Ali) claimed they were not consulted and that the film's portrayal of Shirley’s relationship with Tony Lip was inaccurate.

Recommended Next Steps for Film Enthusiasts

To fully appreciate the legacy of the 2019 Oscar nominees, viewing the "Big Three" of that year—Green Book, Roma, and The Favourite—is essential. These films represent three very different approaches to storytelling that defined the era. As of 2026, most of these films are readily available on major streaming platforms like Netflix (which hosts Roma) and Disney+ (which hosts Black Panther).

If you are interested in the evolution of the Academy Awards, compare these winners to the 2020 winners (such as Parasite). You will notice a clear progression toward more global, diverse, and unconventional storytelling that began with the risks taken by the 2019 nominees. For those researching film history, the official Academy Awards database (Oscars.org) remains the definitive source for verified historical records and full lists of nominees in technical categories like Scientific and Technical Awards.