Oscars 2021: 15 nominated movies to stream in Canada on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and more
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Despite 2020 being an unprecedented year, Hollywood kept fans entertained with a slew of films that have been recognized both by critics and movie lovers. There were several gems that garnered rave reviews, including Chloé Zhao's "Nomadland," Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7" and Emerald Fennell's "Promising Young Woman."
This year's Oscar nominees are more diverse than ever — nine actors of colour were honoured for their work in the industry. This was also the first time in Oscars history that two women received nominations for best director: Zhao and Fennell. Zhao is also the first woman of colour and first woman of Asian descent to be recognized in this category.
This year's Best Actor lineup not only features more first-time nominees than ever before, but is also the most diverse ever. "Minari" star Steven Yeun is the first Asian American to be nominated, and "Sound of Metal" star Riz Ahmed is only the second actor of South Asian descent ever recognized in this category. Chadwick Boseman also received a posthumous Oscar nomination, with this being his first recognition at the Oscars.
When are the 2021 Oscars?
The 93rd annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. EST. The show will be broadcast on CTV in Canada, and is slated for an in-person ceremony that’s meant to look like a movie instead of an awards show.
If you're looking to catch up on the nominated films and place your bets on the likely winners, we've rounded up a list of the must-see movies to get you started.
How can I stream Oscar-nominated movies?
With theatre closures, many of this year's stellar films are currently available to stream from the comfort of our own homes.
Scroll through for this year's top Oscar-nominated movies that you'll want to add to your watch list ahead of this year's awards ceremony.
Where to stream Best Picture nominees
Nomadland
Chloé Zhao's "Nomadland" has already won the top prize at several awards shows this season, and is favoured to win both Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards. The film follows Fern (Frances McDormand), a woman in her sixties who embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a modern-day nomad in her van. The movie has earned six nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Zhao and Best Actress for McDormand.
Where to stream: Disney+ Star
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7" earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Sacha Baron Cohen and Best Original Song. The movie, inspired by a true story, follows one of the most notorious trials in history - the 1969 Chicago Seven trial. The movie also stars Eddie Redmayne and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Sorkin picked up the award for Best Original Screenplay at the Golden Globes and has a good chance of scoring at the Oscars too.
Where to stream: Netflix
Mank
David Fincher's "Mank" leads the 2021 Oscar nominations with 10 nods, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. This film is a biographical drama set in 1930s Hollywood, following alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) as he races to finish the screenplay for “Citizen Kane.” Oldman has been nominated for Best Actor and Amanda Seyfried for Best Supporting Actress.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Father
With six nominations in hand, "The Father" follows an elderly man (Anthony Hopkins) with dementia, who tries to make sense of his surroundings while refusing any help from his daughter (Olivia Colman). In addition to Best Picture, the film is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Hopkins and Best Supporting Actress for Colman.
Where to stream: Available for rent on digital and on-demand platforms (iTunes, Google Play)
Judas and the Black Messiah
This biographical drama follows the betrayal of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in late 1960s Chicago at the hands of William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), an FBI informant. Kaluuya has managed to bag almost all the awards for Best Supporting Actor and is likely to nab an Oscar as well. "Judas and the Black Messiah" earned six nods, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Original song.
Where to stream: Available for rent on digital and on-demand platforms (iTunes, Amazon Prime Video)
Minari
Nominated for Best Picture, "Minari" has earned rave reviews from critics and movie-goers alike. Based on writer-director Lee Isaac Chung’s childhood, the film follows a Korean-American family as they put down roots in Arkansas and pursue the American dream. The movie has also been nominated for Best Director, Best Actor for Steven Yeun and Best Supporting Actress for Youn Yuh-jung.
Where to stream: Available for rent on digital and on-demand platforms (iTunes, Amazon Prime Video)
Promising Young Woman
Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, "Promising Young Woman" has been a hit among critics and the audience as the film serves as a strong social commentary on assault. The revenge thriller follows Cassie (Carey Mulligan), a medical school dropout who seeks vengeance against those who wronged her best friend. The movie earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actress for Mulligan. Fennell has already won Best Original Screenplay at the Critics Choice Awards and the BAFTAs, solidifying her chances of winning at the Oscars.
Where to stream: Available for rental on digital and on-demand platforms (iTunes, Google Play)
Sound of Metal
With six nominations in hand, "Sound of Metal" follows a heavy metal drummer (Riz Ahmed) whose life changes when he starts losing his hearing. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor for Riz Ahmed and Best Supporting Actor for Paul Raci.
Where to stream: Available for rent on digital and on-demand platforms (iTunes, Google Play)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Based on the play of the same name by August Wilson, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" takes us to an afternoon in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) joins her band for a recording session, but clashes with her new trumpet player Levee (Chadwick Boseman). While this film didn't earn a Best Picture nod, it gave Boseman a posthumous nomination for Best Actor, and Davis a nod for Best Actress.
Where to stream: Netflix
One Night in Miami...
Much to the dismay of many, this film didn't earn a Best Picture nod, but earned nominations for Best Supporting Actor for Leslie Odom Jr., Best Original Song and Best Adapted Screenplay. Regina King makes her directorial debut with this one, which is written by Kemp Powers and is based on his play of the same name. It follows a fictional account of an evening in 1964 when Cassius Clay (Eli Goree), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Sam Cooke (Odom Jr.) and Malcom X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) discuss the responsibility of being successful black men during the civil rights movement.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video
Where to stream Oscar-nominated Animated Feature Films
Soul
Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx) is a middle-school band teacher who accidentally trips and lands himself in The Great Before – where new souls get their personalities before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a new soul, 22 (voiced by Tina Fey), to try to get back to Earth.
Where to stream: Disney+
Onward
In a magical fantasy world, elf brothers Ian and Barney Lightfoot (Tom Holland, Chris Pratt) are given a spell to spend an entire day with their deceased father for 24 hours. The spell, however, backfires and they only get half their dad back with just a day to fix things.
Where to stream: Disney+
Over the Moon
"Over the Moon" tells the story of a girl named Fei Fei who lost her mother when she was very young. To stop her father from getting remarried and to prove that true love exists, she builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of Chang’e, the legendary moon goddess of Chinese mythical folklores.
Where to stream: Netflix
Wolfwalkers
Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey), and her father, Bill (Sean Bean), are sent to track and kill the last of the wolves that live in the woods. However, when Robyn meets Mebh (Eva Whittaker), a wild girl who was raised by wolves, she starts a new friendship.
Where to stream: Apple TV+
A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Shaun (voiced by Justin Fletcher) and the flock race to help an adorable alien find her way home after her ship crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm and sparks a UFO frenzy.
Where to stream: Netflix
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