- Gary Oldman’s Oscar-winning film, Darkest Hour, is set to begin streaming on Paramount+ starting November 1.
- The 2018 victory for Best Actor marked Oldman’s first-ever Academy Award after a career spanning over three decades.
- The film, which depicts Winston Churchill’s early days as Prime Minister during WWII, was a critical success, earning an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Many critics view the award as a long-overdue career recognition, especially given the strong competition that year.
A Decades-Long Wait Ends With Oscar Gold
After lighting up the screen for over 35 years in iconic roles, from Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy to his beloved turn in the Harry Potter series, Gary Oldman finally secured his first Oscar in 2018. His transformative performance as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the World War II drama Darkest Hour earned him the coveted statuette for Best Actor. Now, fans who missed this critically acclaimed film, or simply want to relive the powerful performance, will have their chance as the movie arrives on a new streaming home, Paramount+, on November 1.
A Controversial but Celebrated Victory
Darkest Hour was a major awards contender, securing six Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture. However, Oldman’s win is often seen by critics as more of a lifetime achievement award than a singular victory for the performance itself. He was up against formidable contenders like Timothée Chalamet for Call Me By Your Name and Daniel Kaluuya for Get Out, leading to debates about whether the award was a nod to his extensive and influential career. Regardless, his portrayal of the defiant British leader was hailed as a masterful and transformative turn, capturing the complexity and courage of a man facing an existential threat to his nation.
Inside Britain’s Darkest Hour
Directed by Joe Wright, the film plunges viewers into the tense early days of World War II. As Adolf Hitler’s forces advance across Western Europe, Neville Chamberlain is forced to resign, paving the way for Winston Churchill to become Prime Minister. Faced with intense pressure from his own party to negotiate a peace treaty with Nazi Germany, Churchill makes the courageous and history-altering decision to fight on. Supported by a stellar cast including Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, and Ben Mendelsohn, Oldman powerfully embodies Churchill’s struggle to rally a nation and convince his skeptical colleagues to stand against tyranny.
From World War II to Modern Espionage
While Darkest Hour represents a peak in his film career, Oldman has not slowed down. He is currently starring as the slovenly but brilliant spymaster Jackson Lamb in Apple TV+’s smash-hit series, Slow Horses. The show’s immense popularity and critical acclaim have already secured its renewal through a seventh season. Meanwhile, director Joe Wright recently helmed another historical project, the Sky Original series Mussolini: Son of the Century, which also received widespread praise for its depiction of the Italian dictator’s rise to power.
Don’t miss the chance to witness the performance that finally earned a cinematic legend his Oscar when Darkest Hour lands on Paramount+ on November 1.
Image Referance: https://collider.com/gary-oldman-ww2-movie-oscar-darkest-hour-paramount-plus-streaming-november-2025/