We’re in the period between the Oscar nominations and the swanky awards show itself (the 2026 ceremony is set for Sunday, March 15). This period is “catch-up season” for many movie buffs, a chance to tick any movies missed off their Academy Awards watchlist before the glitzy Hollywood event.
Fortunately, most Oscar 2026 movies have now landed on one of the best streaming services (or can be streamed on PVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple), and this week, one Oscar contender has just arrived on Netflix, “Blue Moon.” Directed by Richard Linklater and inspired by the (quite tragic life) of Lorenz Hart, it’s one of my favorite biographical dramas of 2025.
Competing in the Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay categories, it hasn’t quite enjoyed the wave of attention some of the movies hoping to win Best Picture have. That’s why I’m thrilled to see it now streaming on Netflix, and this should give it another chance in the spotlight.
Ethan Hawke gives an award-worthy performance in ‘Blue Moon’
When talking about “Blue Moon,” there’s only one place to start: Ethan Hawke. The actor plays Lorenz Hart, one-half of the legendary Broadway duo Rodgers and Hart. The pair were behind such hits as “The Boys from Suracus,” “On Your Toes,” and “By Jupiter.” But this 2025 movie doesn’t center on Hart in his prime; it starts on the opening night of “Oklahoma!”
This was significant, as it represented a turning point in the Rodgers and Hart partnership. The acclaimed musical was Rodgers’ first project with Oscar Hammerstein II, and the pair would go on to have an even more fruitful relationship. I’m not even a Broadway nut, and even I was aware of the works of Rodgers and Hammerstein before watching “Blue Moon.”
The movie begins with Hart sneaking off to Sardi’s restaurant to lament his collaborator’s newfound success and to drown his sorrows. Hawke is transformative as Hart, and not just because it’s made to look balding and about a foot shorter to match the real-life man’s appearance. Hawke sinks into the role, and Hart is quite a character to bring to the screen.
Like all the best flawed protagonists, many of Hart’s problems come from his self-destructive tendencies, making him a tragic figure. Yet, there’s also a real charm to the man, and his banter with bar owner Eddie (Bobby Cannavale) is quite engaging. When a young object of his affection, an art student named Elizabeth (Margaret Qualley), arrives on the scene, the sympathy levels rise as Hart pines after a socialite who has him wrapped around her finger.
Hawke shines throughout “Blue Moon,” but his real Oscar moment comes when the “Oklahoma!” opening night party kicks off at the bar. Hart attempts to congratulate Rodgers (wonderfully played by Andrew Scott) on his new work. The pain is etched across Hawke’s face, but Linklater does well to show Rodgers’ side of the growing tension, not villainizing either.
‘Blue Moon’ is a fittingly theatrical flick
Much (perhaps most) of the conversation surrounding “Blue Moon” centers on Hawke’s screen-stealing performance, and I can see why. If he were to scoop the Best Actor Oscar in a few weeks, I’d be on my feet applauding his richly deserved recognition. But there’s more to love about this movie.
I’m a sucker for single-location movies and for movies driven by sharp dialogue; “Blue Moon” offers both. It’s no wonder I was an easy mark. There’s a theatrical quality to the entire picture; you could easily see it all playing out on a Broadway stage with very few changes, and that’s simply delightful given the subject matter. Linklater allows the actors, speaking a tight screenplay by Robert Kaplow, to hook audiences, and hook you, it will.
Linklater has form when it comes to crafting dialogue-driven flicks; see his phenomenal “Before” movies as proof. And while “Blue Moon” doesn’t offer the cinematic tourism of that trilogy, it’s equally good at exploring well-sketched characters, and in this case, a deeply flawed one. Melancholic throughout, “Blue Moon” is often funny, but cut with a deep layer of sadness. Hawke anchors an excellent cast, and the conclusion is sobering.
Don’t just take my word for it, either. “Blue Moon” has an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s “Critics Consensus” reads, “While not the flashiest Richard Linklater film, Blue Moon boasts a wonderful performance by Ethan Hawke as he embodies a man hanging on by a thread while the audience hangs on to every word said.”
Whether you’re playing Oscar catch-up or not, “Blue Moon” is a new Netflix movie that I thoroughly recommend adding to your watchlist. But if you want to consider all your options before committing, here’s a guide to everything new on Netflix in February 2026.
Watch “Blue Moon” on Netflix now
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