Overview of Roma at the 2019 Oscars
Roma premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in August 2018 and received widespread acclaim before its limited theatrical release in the United States on 20 November 2018, followed by a wider rollout on 14 December 2a018. At the 91st Academy Awards, held in 2019, Roma became one of the most awarded films of the season and set records for a non–English language film. This article explains its nominations, competitive wins, key creative credits, and verifiable details so readers understand its Oscar performance and lasting impact.
Nominations and wins at the 91st Academy Awards
At the 91st Academy Awards, Roma led all films with 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. It won three Oscars, matching a record for non–English language features. Below is a compact table of the most notable nominations and wins with verified details and why they matter.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Total nominations | 10 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences official records |
| Best Picture | Nominated | Official 91st Oscars nominations list |
| Best Director | Nominated | Official 91st Oscars nominations list |
| Best Actress (Yalitza Aparicio) | Nominated | Official 91st Oscars nominations list |
| Best Supporting Actress (Marina de Tavira) | Nominated | Official 91st Oscars nominations list |
| Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | Official 91st Oscars nominations list |
| Best Cinematography | Won | Academy official results, 24 February 2019 |
| Best Film Editing | Won | Academy official results, 24 February 2019 |
| Best Sound Mixing | Won | Academy official results, 24 February 2019 |
| Best Original Score | Nominated | Official 91st Oscars nominations list |
Historic context for non–English language Oscars
Before Roma, the highest honor for a non–English language film was Best Foreign Language Film (now Best International Feature Film), which does not compete against English titles. Roma was the first non–English language film to be nominated for Best Picture in the contemporary Best Picture format, reflecting its substantial critical and industry recognition across categories.
Key creative credits and roles
Roma was written, directed, and edited by Alfonso Cuarón, who also served as cinematographer for key sequences, a rare combination that shaped its distinctive visual style. The film was produced by Cuarón, Nicolás Celis, and Gabriela Rodríguez, with music composed by Gustavo Santaolalla. Its craft roles highlight why it dominated technical categories at the Oscars.
- Director: Alfonso Cuarón
- Screenplay: Alfonso Cuarón
- Producer: Alfonso Cuarón, Nicolás Celis, Gabriela Rodríguez
- Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón
- Film editing: Alfonso Cuarón
- Production design: Eugenio Caballero
- Costume design: Esthela Rodríguez
- Original score: Gustavo Santaolalla
Box office and distribution details
Distributed by Netflix in many territories after its festival premiere and theatrical rollout, Roma performed strongly for a platform release. While specific dollar figures are less relevant than its cultural reach, the film earned millions in limited theatrical runs worldwide and became a benchmark for high–quality streaming originals, demonstrating how major awards recognition can intersect with alternative distribution models.
Critical reception and legacy
Roma holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and appeared on more than 280 critics’ year-end top-10 lists, a near-universal acknowledgment of its artistry. Its 10 Oscar nominations without a win for acting or screenplay underscored how its victories were concentrated in technical crafts, validating its production design, cinematography, and sound work. The film is frequently cited in discussions of masterful modern cinema and remains a reference point for conversations about representation, class, and storytelling in film.
Comparison to other top contenders at the 91st Oscars
While Roma led with 10 nominations, other major films that year included The Favourite with 10 nominations and A Star Is Born with 8. Roma’s wins in technical categories distinguished it, whereas The Favourite won 1 award. The following table summarizes key nomination and win counts to clarify how Roma stacked up against its main competitors.
| Film | Nominations | Wins | Notable wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roma | 10 | 3 | Cinematography, Film Editing, Sound Mixing |
| The Favourite | 10 | 1 | Costume Design |
| A Star Is Born | 8 | 1 | Original Song |
Evergreen takeaways about Roma at the Oscars
Roma at the 2019 Oscars is best understood as a milestone for non–English language cinema and a testament to craft excellence. Its 10 nominations expanded what is possible for foreign-language films in the top category, and its wins in key technical arenas validated its meticulous filmmaking. For long-term reference, its credits, nominations, and measurable achievements remain reliable indicators of its quality and influence, making it a durable case study in awards analysis.