Oscars 2021: How to stream the biggest films from this year’s Academy Awards ceremony
This year’s Oscar ceremony saw some historic winners.
The 2021 Oscars – or 93rd Acadmey Awards – took place last night (25 March) which saw some historic winners pick up a coveted gong.
David Fincher’s Mank received the most nominations with 10 in total but it was Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland that came out on top with three wins on the night, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Zhao became the first Asian woman and second woman ever – after Kathryn Bigelow – to win Best Director, while Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson became the first Black women in Oscar history to win the award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Overall there were a number of acclaimed films bagging five or more nominations at this year’s Oscars including Promising Young Woman, Judas and the Black Messiah and Minari.
If you watched the Oscars or you’re catching up with the winners and nominees and are wondering where you can stream the films for yourself then we’ve got you covered.
Below you can find out all you need to know about some of the biggest Oscar films of 2021.
Nomadland
Frances McDormand and David Strathairn in Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)
Nomadland won big at this year’s Oscars picking up awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress for lead Frances McDormand, her third win overall.
Director Chloé Zhao made history at the ceremony by becoming the first Asian woman and second woman to win the coveted gong for directing.
The story of Nomadland follows Fern (McDormand) who leaves rural Nevada following the economic collapse of a company town. She packs up her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad.
It stars real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West and is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Jessica Bruder.
The film is available to stream on Hulu in the US now and on Disney+ in the UK from 30 April.
Promising Young Woman
Carey Mulligan stars in Promising Young Woman. (YouTube/Focus Features)
Promising Young Woman picked up a number of big nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress, ultimately losing those awards to Nomadland, but the film has still generated a lot of online buzz.
Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, who won Best Original Screenplay and starring Carey Mulligan, this rape-revenge comedy-thriller follows Cassie (Mulligan) who is trying to right the wrongs of the past by seeking to avenge her best friend who was a victim of rape.
Despite a number of release date changes it was finally made available on Sky Cinema and NOW in the UK as part of a subscription. While US viewers can rent the movie via Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and FandangoNow.
Judas and the Black Messiah
Daniel Kaluuya won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Judas and the Black Messiah. (YouTube)
Judas and the Black Messiah was nominated for six awards at this year’s Oscars, eventually winning two for Daniel Kaluuya as Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song for H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas.
The biopic follows Fred Hampton (Kaluuya), the head of the Black Panther Party, and FBI infiltrator William O’Neal, played by Lakeith Stanfield, who also received an Oscar nomination for his role. Petty criminal O’Neal is asked by the FBI to keep tabs on the leader of the party so that they can destroy the revolution from the inside in a story of fight for freedom, determination and an ultimate betrayal.
It was originally expected to be released in cinemas in February 2021 but according to Digital Spy it was confirmed by Warner Bros. that the film would get a digital release. It’s still not available to rent from the likes of Amazon Prime Video but following its Oscar success the film should be available soon.
Minari
Steven Yeun received acclaim for his role in Minari. (YouTube)
Minari also received six nominations at this year’s Oscars, with a number of critics expecting the film to swoop in and win Best Picture against the ‘favourite’ Nomadland. It eventually went on to pick up one award for Youn Yuh-jung as Best Supporting Actress who also found success at this year’s BAFTAs, which saw her deliver a brilliant acceptance speech where she called British people “snobbish”.
The film’s plot follows a Korean-American family who move to an Arkansas farm in search of an American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
Minari received a digital release due to cinema closures and is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video for £9.99.
The Father
Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins star in The Father. (YouTube)
Another big nominee at this year’s Oscars is The Father, with six in total, eventually winning Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film follows Anthony, a mischievous and highly independent man who, as he ages, refuses all assistance from his daughter Anne played by Olivia Colman, who received a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Despite his resistance, help has become essential following Anne’s decision to move to Paris with her partner. As Anne’s father tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.
The film will be getting a cinema release as confirmed by Lionsgate. Viewers can watch the film from 11 June when cinemas re-open in England as part of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Sound of Metal
Riz Ahmed has received a number of nominations for his role in Sound of Metal. (YouTube)
Sound of Metal received six nominations at the Oscars and ultimately picked up two awards in the technical categories. The film’s stars, Riz Ahmed and Paul Raci, have picked up numerous nominations for their roles as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor across the awards season for their acclaimed roles.
The film follows Ruben (Ahmed), a punk-metal drummer who begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career, and in turn, his life is over.
It was finally made available digitally as part of Amazon Prime Video. Viewers don’t need to pay any extra rental costs as it’s included as part of a Prime Video subscription, so if you’re signed up you can stream Sound of Metal, if not you can sign up with a 30-day free trial.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Viola Davis as Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. (David Lee/Netflix)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom received five Oscar nominations and made history with its wins. The film won for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, the latter of which was won by Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson alongside Sergio Lopez-Rivera, marking the first time in Oscar history that Black women have won that award.
The film stars Viola Davis as the hugely influential, bisexual blues singer Ma Rainey alongside Chadwick Boseman, in his final film role.
It’s set in 1927 Chicago as tensions and temperatures rise at a music study where the fiery and fearless Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session. She battles with her manager, Irvin, and the producer, Sturdivant but the legendary artist knows the power of her voice and makes sure that she calls the shots.
The film is exclusively available to stream on Netflix.
One Night in Miami…
One Night in Miami… received three nominations at this year’s Oscars. (YouTube)
One Night in Miami… received three nominations at this year’s Oscars including Best Supporting Actor for Leslie Odom Jr and Best Adapted Screenplay. It missed out on the three awards but the film’s director Regina King did make history earlier this year at the Golden Globes.
King alongside Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell all received a Best Director nomination at the awards, marking the first time three women had been nominated for that category in the same year.
The film is a fictional account of one incredible night where Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown gather to discuss their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.
It’s available to stream now as part of an Amazon Prime Video subscription which comes with a free 30-day trial.
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