16 Oscar-Nominated Movies You Can Stream Right Now
Before you sit down for Sunday's telecast, make sure to watch these nominated films.
20151023_Moonlight_D08_C2_K2_0537.tifDavid Bornfriend
La La Land and Hidden Figures are currently duking it out at the box office to see who can benefit most from this year’s Oscar bounce (spoiler alert: Hidden Figures is winning), but you don’t have to drop $50 on tickets and a tub of popcorn to see many of the films vying for Oscar gold during Sunday’s ceremony—including some of the big frontrunners. Before you fill out that Oscar pool ballot in ink, put on your comfiest sweats, grab a seat on the couch, and have yourself an Academy Awards stream-athon.
- Though he’s been making movies for nearly 25 years, Denis Villeneuve has remained under the radar—a shame, as he’s brought such unique sensibilities to movies like *Enemy* and *Sicario*. Appropriately, *Arrival* changed all that for the Canadian director. Part sci-fi feature and part linguistics lesson, the film stars Amy Adams as a linguist who is desperately trying to create a universal language in order to communicate with an alien species that has descended to Earth. But even beyond that, the film serves as a stark reminder that progress takes time and, as such, requires patience—which, given the current political climate, is [a timely sentiment](https://slim-weight.info/2016/11/arrival-movie-review/). Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Every Oscar ceremony seems to anoint at least one indie darling, and David Mackenzie’s *Hell or High Water* is this year’s sweatiest and most gritty. The film, written by actor Taylor Sheridan (who also penned the *Sicario* script), is a modern-day Western in which two brothers—played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster—go on a bank-robbing spree across West Texas, each for his own specific reasons. As with any good Western, there’s a lawman on their trail—in this case, a veteran Texas Ranger played by a perfectly no-nonsense Jeff Bridges (who earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the part). The dude abides. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- With *Moonlight*, writer-director Barry Jenkins has fully established himself as one of cinema’s rising auteurs, creating a deeply moving look at the life of a young black man as he matures from a child to an adult in one of Miami’s toughest neighborhoods. Though it was shot quickly, cheaply, and independently, it’s clear that Jenkins’ team was as passionate about the project as he was; it earned an impressive eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali, and Best Supporting Actress for Naomie Harris. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Whether or not Kenneth Lonergan’s *Manchester by the Sea* walks away with any gold, it’s already made history for earning the first-ever Best Picture nomination for a streaming studio (courtesy of Amazon). But given that it has earned a total of six nominations—including Best Picture, plus Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Lonergan—at least one win seems inevitable. Casey Affleck delivers the goods as Lee Chandler, a janitor successfully managing to avoid life after a horrific tragedy tears him apart from his wife and children. But when his brother dies and names Lee as guardian to his 16-year-old nephew, he’s forced to go back to the home—and people—he left behind. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Almost more amazing than Jeff Nichols’ *Loving* itself is the fact that Nichols is not yet a household name. In the past five years alone, he’s been responsible for some of the most compelling films to hit the big screen—*Take Shelter*, *Mud*, and *Midnight Special*—but has yet to really catch the Academy’s eye. With *Loving*, he’s starting to get the awards attention he deserves. And rightly so, its his most impactful movie to date. The film stars Joel Edgerton and Oscar nominee Ruth Negga as Richard and Mildred Loving, the couple whose landmark Supreme Court case, *Loving v. Virginia*, struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Amy Adams pops up again in fashion designer/filmmaker Tom Ford’s follow-up to 2009’s *A Single Man*. Told as a story within a story, Adams plays Susan Morrow, a wealthy but lonely art gallery owner whose life, including her marriage, is a carefully constructed façade. Out of the blue, she receives a copy of the novel her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal), had always planned to write, which he has dedicated to her. As Morrow becomes more engrossed in the book, the fictional world—in which a family road trip through Texas turns deadly—plays out onscreen, too. Michael Shannon, who received a Best Supporting Actor nod, scored the film’s only nomination, but understandably this kind of gritty neo-noir vibe isn’t for everyone. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- The reviews have been somewhat mixed on Pablo Larraín’s *Jackie*, which aims to be an intimate portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of her husband’s assassination. And it is that, in some ways. But the movie jumps back and forth in time, with much of it focusing on the production of the First Lady’s famous 1962 tour of the White House. It doesn’t work for everyone, but everyone agrees that Natalie Portman’s portrayal of the iconic Jackie Kennedy make her a frontrunner for the Best Actress Oscar. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- To American audiences, Paul Verhoeven is the guy who made *RoboCop*, *Total Recall*, and *Starship Troopers*. But he never set out to be Hollywood’s go-to sci-fi guy; his earliest successes were in the dramatic genre, and he had a tendency to create controversy because of his penchant for sex and violence. All of which makes *Elle*, starring Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert as a woman searching to track down the man who raped her, a return to form for the *Showgirls* director. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, YouTube
- It wouldn’t really be an Oscar ceremony without Meryl Streep being nominated for *something*. And she truly outdid herself this year, as her Best Actress nod for *Florence Foster Jenkins* marks a record-setting 20th Oscar nomination for the actress (Streep beat her own record). The film is based on the true story of a New York City socialite and wannabe opera singer who was essentially the William Hung of her generation… but with a lot more money. She gained fame for being a terrible singer, and managed to perform at Carnegie Hall to a packed house of amused admirers. Naturally, Streep gives this quirky tale all the heart it deserves. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Mel Gibson has been persona non grata in Hollywood for the last decade or so, but all that seems to be changing. His *Hacksaw Ridge* managed to score a total of six Oscar nominations—including Best Picture, a Best Actor nod for Andrew Garfield, and a nomination for Gibson himself as Best Director. The film recounts the true story of Desmond Doss, an American soldier who stood on the front lines during some of World War II’s most violent battles, yet refused to carry a weapon. Though he was a conscientious objector, he saved more than 75 of his fellow soldiers during his tour, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Matt Ross, who plays Hooli CEO Galvin Benson in HBO’s *Silicon Valley*, is an actor’s director (for obvious reasons). Though the bulk of his career has been in front of the camera, last year’s *Captain Fantastic* marked his fourth foray as a director, and his most successful effort. Viggo Mortensen, who scored a Best Actor nomination, plays Ben Cash, a survivalist who lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with his wife and six children, who are home-schooled. When his wife dies, Ben is forced to come face-to-face with “the real world” again, which causes his kids to question whether living off-the-grid is really as important as they've been taught. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Joel and Ethan Coen have a rather hit-or-miss relationship with the Academy. In 2008, they (rightfully) cleaned up with *No Country for Old Men*, then scored five nominations between *A Serious Man* and *True Grit*. Yet 2013’s *Inside Llewyn Davis* was woefully overlooked. In the case of *Hail, Caesar!*, a fun ode to the Golden Age of Hollywood moviemaking, only the production design got noticed. Which is saying a lot, as the film is packed with great performances by the likes of George Clooney, Tilda Swinton (times two), and Channing Tatum. But it’s perhaps most memorable for the fact that they all out-shined by relative newcomer (and future Han Solo) Alden Ehrenreich. Would that it were so simple. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, HBO Go, iTunes, YouTube
- The first word that comes to mind when describing Yorgos Lanthimos’ *The Lobster* is, well, “strange.” The dystopian black comedy is set in a world where finding a mate is the ultimate goal of every person, and those who find themselves single are forced to check into a hotel to try and find a life partner within 45 days. If they fail, they’re turned into the animal of their choice. Colin Farrell does a wonderful job of playing the sad sack, who joins up with a group of rogue “loners” who are working to fight against the rules. The film scored a nomination for Best Original Screenplay—emphasis on “Original.” Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- *Selma* director Ava DuVernay went the documentary route with *13th*, an engrossing Netflix doc that illustrates the rampant racial inequality that has long dominated the American prison system. DuVernay did her homework and dug deep to present as comprehensive a look at the topic as possible; in addition to archival footage, she assembled a fascinating lineup of interview subjects, from activists to politicians to former inmates, to discuss the state of our criminal justice system. Where to stream it: Netflix
- Laika, the stop-motion animation studio that brought audiences *Coraline*, scored again in 2016 with *Kubo and the Two Strings*, an action-packed animated film that sees a young man named Kubo (Art Parkinson) head off on a quest to find a magical suit of armor once owned by his father, a fallen samurai, in order to ward off an evil spirit. Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron also lend their voice talents. Where to stream it: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
- Don’t let the near-eight-hour running time of this ESPN-produced documentary—or the fact that you invested 10 hours in *The People v. O.J. Simpson*—turn you off. Just when you thought you had learned everything there was to uncover about The Juice, director Ezra Edelman compiled this comprehensive, cradle-to-jail look at Simpson’s life—both the one the public saw, and the one behind closed doors. The doc goes far beyond the many, many headlines that have been written about Simpson over the years to contextualize his status as a pop culture figure and what his trial represented for race relations in America. Just because you’re old enough to remember the Bronco chase doesn’t mean you know everything. Where to stream it: Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
Comments
Back to topJennifer M. Wood writes about movies, television, and pop culture. She is the editor of The Curious Viewer: A Miscellany of Bingeable Streaming TV Shows from the Past Twenty Years and the author of The Curious Movie Buff: A Miscellany of Fantastic Films from the Past 50 Years. ... Read More
The 45 Best Movies on Hulu This Week
Sovereign, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Love Actually are just a few of the movies you need to watch on Hulu right now.
The WIRED Guide to Austin for Business Travelers
Where to lock in, power down, and actually enjoy your business trip.
The WIRED Guide to Chicago for Business Travelers
Where to lock in, power down, and actually enjoy your business trip.
How KPop Demon Hunters Star EJAE Topped the Charts
Kids everywhere know her voice—if not her name. WIRED talks to the former SM trainee about her rise to global superstardom with her hit song “Golden.”
Our Favorite Qi2 and MagSafe Accessories for Your Phone
The weird, wonderful world of MagSafe accessories (Qi2 included) can make your phone feel modular. These are our favorites.
The 50 Best Shows on HBO Max Right Now
It: Welcome to Derry, The Chair Company, and Task are just a few of the shows you need to be watching on HBO Max this month.
The Best Kindles to Take Your Library Anywhere
Here’s how Amazon’s ebook readers stack up—and which one might be right for you.
The 42 Best Shows on Netflix Right Now
The Witcher, Boots, and House of Guinness are just a few of the shows you need to watch on Netflix this month.
Battle of the Branches: Best Artificial Christmas Trees 2025
WIRED brought 10 of the most popular artificial Christmas trees into a studio, had volunteers assemble them, then got three interior designers to pick the best through blind judging.
19 Adventurous Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, and Outdoorsy People
Let them pick out their own hiking boots. Instead, try gifting a useful blade or a nature journal to delight your outdoorsy friend.
The Best Cordless Vacuums for a Convenient Clean
Clean your house without the restraint of a power cord with these cordless stick vacuums.
The 50 Best Shows on Hulu Right Now
To Cook a Bear, Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and Solar Opposites are just a few of the shows you should be watching on Hulu this month.