Oscars 2021: How and where to watch the Best Picture nominees
The nominees for the Best Picture award at the 2021 Oscars have been announced, ahead of the ceremony on 25 April.
After a year of cinematic delays, the films in contention to succeed Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite as the Academy Awards’ reigning champion have been unveiled, some of which are yet to be released in the UK.
Eight films in total were nominated in the category, but it’s worth noting that 2021 is the final year before a rule change officially sets the nominee count at 10.
After 1944, only five films were nominated for Best Picture before an increase was reintroduced in 2009. While never officially confirmed, it’s expected this was due to The Dark Knight missing out on a nomination the previous year.
Below is all the release information you need on this year’s Oscar Best Picture nominees.
The Father
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Olivia Colman), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design
Florian Zeller’s adaptation of his own 2012 stage play Le Père stars Anthony Hopkins as an elderly man struggling with memory loss. It was supposed to be released in the first week of 2021, but has been repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic.
It’s currently scheduled to be released on 11 June, shortly after cinemas reopen.
Judas and the Black Messiah
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Daniel Kaluuya), Best Supporting Actor (Lakeith Stanfield), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song
Shaka King’s tense drama, which stars Daniel Kaluuya as Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton, bypassed a theatrical run in favour of a VOD release in the UK, a month after premiering in the US on HBO Max.
It’s currently available to rent for £15.99.
Mank
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Gary Oldman), Best Supporting Actress (Amanda Seyfried), Best Director (David Fincher), Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling
This divisive David Fincher film, which leads the nominations pack with an impressive 10 nods, was the earliest Best Picture to be released (a cinema run in November before arriving on Netflix in early December). Time will tell whether any of its nominations will turn into wins. It failed to take home any awards at the Golden Globes despite being nominated in six categories.
It can be streamed on Netflix.
Minari
Nominations:Best Picture, Best Actor (Steven Yeun), Best Supporting Actress (Youn Yuh-jung), Best Director (Lee Isaac Chung), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score
Minari is very much the indie darling of this year’s crop. The film, about a Korean American family that moves to a farm in Arkansas, is available to stream on VOD in the UK.
Nomadland
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Frances McDormand), Best Director (Chloé Zhao), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography
At this stage, you probably feel like you’ve seen Best Picture frontrunner Nomadland because it’s been in the headlines non-stop since September. Chloé Zhao’s drama has won plaudit after plaudit since its festival debut and was set to be released in the UK on New Year’s Day before being pulled due to the pandemic.
It will now premiere on Disney Plus’s Star channel on 30 April – five days after the Oscars take place.
Promising Young Woman
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Best Director (Emerald Fennell), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing
The awards journey of Emerald Fennell’s black comedy thriller, about a woman whose life has been altered by a tragic event, has been an interesting one. It was originally set to be released in the UK back in April 2020, but suffered multiple delays due to the Covid pandemic.
It can be watched in the UK on Sky and Now.
Sound of Metal
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Riz Ahmed), Best Supporting Actor (Paul Raci), Best Original Screenplay, best Film Editing, Best Sound
Darius Marder’s acclaimed drama, following a heavy metal drummer (Riz Ahmed) who begins to lose his hearing, can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, with a cinema release scheduled to follow on 17 May.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Sacha Baron Cohen), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song
The second of Netflix’s Best Picture nominations is Aaron Sorkin’s courtroom ensemble. It’s available to watch on the streaming service now.
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