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Though it’s not come without arguments on Twitter, the end of awards season is finally almost here: The 2022 Oscars will air this Sunday, March 27, on ABC.
That’s less than a week away, which means you don’t have much time left to catch up on your Oscars watch list. But the good news is that all ten of the 2021 movies nominated for Best Picture are available to stream from the comfort of your home, making it easier than ever to stay on top of it.
But, of course, we’re all busy people, and some of these movies are very long. Never fear, because Decider is here. In an effort to help you cut down on the noise, Decider has assembled a list of the 2022 Best Picture nominees. Below, you can find information on where you can watch the film, and why you may want to prioritize (or not) seeing each film before the Oscars.
You’ve got Best Picture frontrunners like The Power of the Dog and CODA streaming on Netflix and Apple TV+ respectively, and Best Actor frontrunners like King Richard available to rent on VOD, meaning it will be cheap and easy to catch up on the buzziest films this awards season. And scroll down to the bottom for more on which Oscar nominations are on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, and more.
Happy viewing!
'The Power of the Dog'
Director: Jane Campion
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons
Streaming on: Netflix for free
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actress (Kirsten Dunst), Best Supporting Actor (Jesse Plemons), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing
If you only have time for one Oscar-nominated film before Sunday’s awards, then make it The Power of the Dog. Though the race between the frontrunners is tight, Jane Campion’s brooding western is still favored to win, if not for Best Picture, then at least for Best Director. More than that, it’s an excellent movie—a searing yet empathetic examination of masculinity and sexuality, with a twist you won’t soon forget. Even if it doesn’t win Best Picture, The Power of the Dog will be a part of film discussions for years to come.
'CODA'
Director: Sian Heder
Cast: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, and Marlee Matlin
Streaming on: Apple TV+ for free
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur), Best Adapted Screenplay
If you want to keep up with the frontrunners, then you don’t want to miss CODA, Sian Heder’s coming-of-age drama about a girl who is the only hearing member of her Deaf family. After winning the top prizes at the Writers and Producers Guild Awards this weekend, it’s poised for a Best Picture upset. Plus, it’s a quick, easy watch that will leave you crying, but also hopeful about humanity. Don’t let the haters lead you astray. Just because CODA is a “feel-good movie” doesn’t mean it’s not great—it’s a sincere, emotional, unabashedly uplifting tale.
'West Side Story'
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno
Streaming on: Disney+ and HBO Max for free, or rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Google Play, YouTube, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound
Whether or not Ariana DeBose manages to snag Best Supporting Actress for her passionate performance as Anita, trust me, you want to watch Steven Spielberg’s take on West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein’s iconic score sounds better than ever on these new recordings, the dancing is absolutely off the charts, and the performances will sweep you up in this timeless tale of love and tragedy. This is a movie, and musical theater nerds will be obsessing over it for years to come.
'King Richard'
Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Cast: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Jon Bernthal
Streaming on: Rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Google Play, Vudu, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ariana DeBose), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound
While it doesn’t look likely that King Richard has a shot at Best Picture, it’s looking increasingly likely that Will Smith will finally win his first Best Actor statue for the titular role, Richard Williams. Williams is a somewhat unusual subject for a biopic—he’s not the world-class athlete, but he is the world-class athlete’s dad. But despite my initial skepticism, I was won over by the gripping tale of how Williams, through persistence and what feels like a little bit of magic, managed to pull his family out of poverty by betting it all on his two daughters—Venus and Serena. And if you want to see the performance that will win Smith his long-coveted Oscar, you won’t want to miss it.
'Drive My Car'
Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tōko Miura, Reika Kirishima
Streaming on: HBO Max for free, or rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Vudu, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ariana DeBose), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Sound
As you catch up on the 2022 Oscar nominees, be sure not to miss Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s quiet masterpiece, Drive My Car, which is now conveniently streaming free on HBO Max. The first Japanese film ever to be nominated for Best Picture, it’s an exquisite deep dive into grief, suffering, and human connection. Don’t let the three-hour runtime or the subtitles scare you away—Hamaguchi will reward your patience. Though it may not take home Best Picture, it’s also nominated for Best International Film.
'Dune'
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin
Streaming on: HBO Max for free, or rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Vudu, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Editing, and Best Sound
You probably don’t need me to tell you to watch Dune, considering this sci-fi epic is the only Best Picture nomination to be a smash hit at the box office and on HBO Max. But just in case you haven’t, now is as good a chance as any to catch up. With the promise of Dune Part 2 on the horizon, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel will likely be a prominent part of pop culture for the next decade.
'Licorice Pizza'
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Bradley Cooper
Streaming on: Rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Vudu, YouTube, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson’s nostalgic coming-of-age drama has been a somewhat controversial nomination this awards season, both because it depicts a romance between a teenage boy and a 25-year-old woman, and because of two scenes that invite audiences to laugh at a Japanese woman’s expense. The latter is absolutely offensive and inexcusable, but the former is, in my humble opinion, handled with nuance and care. Anderson’s directorial skill is undeniable, and the result is a sweet and gorgeous romance. Maybe it’s not a must-watch for everyone, but cinephiles will want to put this one on their list.
'Don't Look Up'
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Meryl Streep
Streaming on: Netflix for free
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing
Though disliked by critics, Adam McKay’s derisive satire of climate change the U.S. government was widely watched on Netflix and has a decent shot at winning Best Picture. While not my favorite film, I found it to be a fascinating rant. It’s bitter and disjointed and grim— with one too many celebrity cameos—it’s also a big swing I couldn’t help but admire. But I’d prioritize the other movies on this list first.
'Nightmare Alley'
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman
Streaming on: HBO Max for free, or rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Vudu, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design
Though I thoroughly enjoyed Guillermo del Toro’s creepy, carny-themed psychological thriller, unfortunately, it seems unlikely it will take home any of the top prizes on Sunday night. That said, if you find yourself with extra time, do give it a watch. Bradley Cooper is excellent as an overly ambitious carny who cons just a little too close to the sun, and while you’ll see the twist coming, it will still send shivers down your spine.
'Belfast'
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, and Jude Hill
Streaming on: Rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV+, Google Play, Vudu, and more
Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Best Supporting Actor (Ciarán Hinds), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Sound
Of all the Best Picture nominations, by far the most forgettable—and the one you really don’t need to watch—is Belfast. Branagh’s semi-autobiographical retrospective on his childhood growing up in Northern Ireland, observing the violent conflicts between Protestants and Catholics in his neighborhood, is surprisingly shallow. It’s perfectly pleasant, the performances are decent, and the production design is detailed—but beyond that, there’s not much there there. To quote Stephen Sondheim: It’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s just nice.
