Netflix has two films featuring fantastic performances from Ethan Hawke, including one that earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 2026 Oscars. Throughout Hawke’s extensive career as an actor, he’s starred in a diverse catalog of films, ranging from horror movies like Sinister, dramas like Dead Poets Society, and thrillers like The Northman.
In his career, he’s also received a few Academy Award nominations. He was first nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2001’s Training Day, and received another nomination in the same category for his performance in 2014’s Boyhood. He has also earned nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for Before Sunset and Before Midnight.
In 2026, Hawke earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role in Blue Moon. The film is now streaming on Netflix, and can be perfectly paired with another Hawke film that features his most terrifying performance.
Blue Moon And The Black Phone Are Both Streaming On Netflix
Blue Moon was recently added to Netflix ahead of the 2026 Oscars in March. Directed by Richard Linklater, the film stars Hawke as Lorenz Hart, a lyricist who was part of the songwriting duo Rodgers and Hart. It follows Lorenz’s night at a bar on the opening night of Oklahoma!, which Rodgers wrote with his new creative partner, Oscar Hammerstein II.
In addition to Hawke, the cast includes Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott. Blue Moon is nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. It’s another great team-up between Linklater and Hawke, who have worked together on the Before trilogy and Boyhood.
Another Hawke film that’s now streaming on Netflix is 2022’s The Black Phone. The film features Hawke’s most haunting performance as The Grabber, a serial killer who kidnaps kids and keeps them in his basement before killing them. However, his latest captive, Finney, discovers he can speak with The Grabber’s past victims through a disconnected phone in the basement.
Directed by Scott Derrickson, The Black Phone was a critical and box office hit, earning an 81% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing over $161 million worldwide. Hawke returned as The Grabber in 2025’s Black Phone 2, which also performed well at the box office, grossing over $132.2 million worldwide.
Both Films Display Ethan Hawke’s Versatility As An Actor
While Blue Moon and The Black Phone paired together is a wildly contrasting double feature, they’re worth watching to see Hawke’s range as an actor. In Blue Moon, Hawke expertly portrays Hart as a relentless and intelligent man, who is deeply passionate and knowledgeable about the arts and his craft.
While he presents himself as a confident individual, he is anxious about Rodgers and Hammerstein’s working relationship, as well as his career, and begins to unravel as the night progresses. Hawke does a brilliant job at revealing the inner struggles of someone who presents themselves with a tough exterior.
In The Black Phone, Hawke is truly frightening as The Grabber, who is more than just a regular killer. He enjoys toying with his victims, giving them punishments rather than simply killing them. He’s a sadistic person, and Hawke brilliantly portrays how unhinged and brutal he is.
The Grabber and Lorenz Hart are two drastically different roles for Hawke, but they demonstrate his versatility. He can effectively play a complex songwriter and a horrifying serial killer. Blue Moon is a must-watch before the 2026 Oscars, and The Black Phone pairs nicely with it.