Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Aviator' Soars on Free Streaming

The 2004 biopic, which earned 11 Oscar nominations, is a hit on Tubi 22 years later.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:40pm

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After losing out on the Best Actor Oscar this year, Leonardo DiCaprio's acclaimed 2004 biopic "The Aviator" is finding new life on the free streaming platform Tubi. The Martin Scorsese-directed film, which earned 11 Academy Award nominations and won 5 Oscars, is currently one of the top 10 most-streamed movies on Tubi in the U.S.

Why it matters

"The Aviator" is considered one of the best biopics of the 2000s, earning a "Certified Fresh" rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Its resurgence on free streaming highlights the enduring appeal of quality films, even decades after their initial release, and the growing importance of free, ad-supported platforms in the streaming landscape.

The details

"The Aviator" was released in 2004 and starred DiCaprio as eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning 11 Oscar nominations and winning 5 awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. Despite DiCaprio's loss in the Best Actor category this year, the film's popularity on Tubi shows its lasting impact.

  • "The Aviator" was released in 2004.
  • The film earned 11 Oscar nominations and 5 wins at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005.
  • This year, 22 years after its release, "The Aviator" is one of the top 10 most-streamed movies on Tubi in the U.S.

The players

Leonardo DiCaprio

The acclaimed actor who starred as Howard Hughes in "The Aviator".

Martin Scorsese

The renowned director who helmed "The Aviator".

Cate Blanchett

The actress who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The Aviator".

Thelma Schoonmaker

The longtime Scorsese collaborator who won the Oscar for Best Editing for "The Aviator".

Tubi

The free, ad-supported streaming platform where "The Aviator" is currently one of the top 10 most-streamed movies in the U.S.

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The takeaway

"The Aviator"'s resurgence on free streaming platforms like Tubi demonstrates the enduring appeal of quality filmmaking, even decades after its initial release. This success highlights the growing importance of ad-supported streaming services in providing access to acclaimed movies for a wide audience.