Cover These films haven’t just garnered accolades—they’ve transformed how global audiences experience storytelling through cinema (Photo: Studio Ghibli)
These films haven’t just garnered accolades—they’ve transformed how global audiences experience storytelling through cinema (Photo: Studio Ghibli)
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From Akira Kurosawa’s masterful storytelling to the groundbreaking success of ‘Parasite’, Asian cinema has made an indelible mark on the Oscars
Japanese cinema led the way for Asian representation at the Oscars. In 1951, Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon won the Honorary Foreign Language Film Award (now known as Best International Feature Film). The film’s non-linear narrative structure and subjective truth exploration revolutionised cinema storytelling. Its influence extends beyond Asia, inspiring countless Western filmmakers and earning its place in film school curricula worldwide.
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Following the success of Rashomon success, several Japanese films received recognition from the Academy. In 1954, Gate of Hell became the first colour film from Asia to win an Honorary Award, praised for its stunning cinematography and meticulous attention to period detail. The film’s director, Teinosuke Kinugasa, crafted a visual experience that showcased the artistic possibilities of colour in storytelling.
Animation excellence: Studio Ghibli’s triumph
In 2003, Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away made history by becoming the first (and so far only) non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This masterpiece follows young Chihiro’s journey through a mysterious spirit world, combining Japanese folklore with universal themes of courage, identity, and environmental consciousness. The film’s success highlighted animation’s power to transcend cultural and language barriers, paving the way for greater appreciation of Asian animation in Western markets.
Above Every frame of ‘Spirited Away’ was crafted with extraordinary attention to detail, from the intricate design of the bathhouse to the subtle expressions of the characters (Photo: Studio Ghibli)
Every frame of ‘Spirited Away’ was crafted with extraordinary attention to detail, from the intricate design of the bathhouse to the subtle expressions of the characters (Photo: Studio Ghibli)
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Breaking through cultural barriers
For decades, Asian films remained primarily in the Foreign Language Film category. However, Ang Lee’s wuxia martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which starred Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen, marked a significant shift. The film earned 10 Oscar nominations—unprecedented for a non-English language film at the time—and won four, including Best Foreign Language Film. Its success demonstrated that martial arts films could transcend genre conventions to tell profound stories about love, duty, and personal freedom.
See also: 14 homegrown Asian actors who made it big in Hollywood throughout the years
Lee continued to push boundaries with Life of Pi (2012), winning Best Director and proving that Asian filmmakers could excel in Hollywood productions while maintaining their cultural perspectives. The film’s exploration of faith, survival and the power of storytelling resonated with audiences globally.
Above Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien in Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (Photo: Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia)
Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien in Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (Photo: Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia)
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Indian cinema breaks through
While technically a British production, Slumdog Millionaire (2008) brought Indian storytelling and talent to the forefront of Hollywood recognition. The film won eight out of 10 Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture and Best Director for Danny Boyle.
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Slumdog Millionaire showcased Mumbai’s vibrant energy and the compelling narratives emerging from the subcontinent. While debates arose about its representation of India, the film undeniably opened doors for South Asian talent in Western cinema and highlighted the global appeal of stories rooted in Asian experiences.
Above Dev Patel as Jamal Malik and Freida Pinto as Latika in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (Photo: Celador Films)
Dev Patel as Jamal Malik and Freida Pinto as Latika in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (Photo: Celador Films)
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The ‘Parasite’ phenomenon
Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy thriller film Parasite (2019) achieved what many considered impossible: becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. The South Korean film’s examination of class inequality struck a chord with viewers worldwide. Its four Oscar wins, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, marked a watershed moment for Asian cinema.
Read more: From Seoul to Cannes: How Korean movies conquered the world’s most prestigious film festivals
The film’s success wasn’t just about breaking records—it opened doors for other Asian filmmakers and challenged the notion that subtitled films couldn’t achieve mainstream success in English-speaking markets.
Above Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung and Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo in ‘Parasite’ (Photo: CJ Entertainment)
Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung and Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo in ‘Parasite’ (Photo: CJ Entertainment)
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‘Nomadland’, ‘Minari’ and other contemporary successes
Recent years have seen continued recognition of Asian talent at the Academy Awards. Chloé Zhao made history as the first woman of colour to win Best Director for Nomadland (2021). The same year, Youn Yuh-jung became the first Korean actress to win an Oscar for her role in Minari, a semi-autobiographical take on director Lee Isaac Chung’s upbringing which follows a family of South Korean immigrants who moved to rural Arkansas during the 1980s. Their achievements reflect both the growing global appreciation for Asian storytelling and the Academy’s efforts to diversify its membership and recognition.
See also: Minari’s Youn Yuh-jung becomes first Oscar-winning Korean actress
Above The cast of ‘Minari’, including the Oscar-winning Youn Yuh-jung (Photo: A24)
The cast of ‘Minari’, including the Oscar-winning Youn Yuh-jung (Photo: A24)
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‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’: A new era
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) represents a stunning achievement for Asian representation in Hollywood. The film’s seven wins (of its 11 nominations) at the 2023 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh (the first Asian woman to win the award), and Best Supporting Actor and Actress for Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis respectively, marked a transformative moment in Academy history.
Don’t miss: Oscars 2023: The winners include Michelle Yeoh and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
This genre-defying film, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, weaves together elements of martial arts, science fiction, and family drama while exploring themes of immigrant experiences and intergenerational relationships.
Above Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre Beaubeirdre and Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (Photo: A24)
Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre Beaubeirdre and Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (Photo: A24)
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What makes these films stand out?
Asian filmmakers often approach narrative structure differently from Western conventions because they frequently employ non-linear storytelling, complex character relationships, dynamic cinematography, and layered meanings that reward multiple viewings. Asian cinema has consistently pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling, and streaming platforms have made these films more accessible than ever, helping build appreciation for Asian cinema among newer generations.
These Oscar-winning Asian films have influenced filmmaking worldwide in several ways, from encouraging Western audiences to embrace subtitled content to introducing new storytelling techniques and visual styles, to breaking down preconceptions about what constitutes ‘Oscar-worthy’ films.
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