Catch up on best picture contenders
Normally, Academy Award nominations mean a bump in box office. This year, streaming services and digital rental platforms figure to see a bounce. This year, it’s easier to catch up on the best picture nominees at home. But it takes a little more homework to track down the films than just checking the local movie theater marquee.
Here’s where to find them:
■ “The Father”: Florian Zeller’s dementia drama is one of the most recently released Oscar nominees. Sony Pictures Classics began playing it in theaters Feb. 26 and recently expanded it nationwide. On March 26, it will become available to rent on premium on-demand platforms and soon after for digital rental.
■ “Judas and the Black Messiah”: Shaka King’s tale of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) and the FBI informant (Lakeith Stanfield) who helped lead to his assassination was released in February by Warner Bros. in theaters and on HBO Max. The film recently left HBO Max, having streamed for one month. For now, it’s available just in theaters. For nonsubscribers, it may become available for a $19.99 digital rental in coming weeks.
■ “Mank”: David Fincher’s black-and-white drama about “Citizen Kane” co-writer Herman Mankiewicz is streaming on Netflix.
■ “Minari”: Lee Isaac Chung’s tender drama about a Korean American family in Arkansas is playing in theaters and available for a $19.99 rental on digital platforms.
■ “Nomadland”: Since landing virtually and at drive-ins across the major fall film festivals last year, Chloé Zhao’s lyrical Western drama has been perhaps the most acclaimed film of the year and the Academy Awards front-runner. Released by Searchlight Pictures, it’s streaming only on Hulu and playing in theaters.
■ “Promising Young Woman”: Emerald Fennell’s pitch-black #Metoo revenge comedy, from Focus Features, is available for $19.99 rental on digital platforms.
■ “Sound of Metal”: Darius Marder’s drama about a heavy metal drummer (Riz Ahmed) who is losing his hearing is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and available to rent on other digital platforms.
■ “The Trial of the Chicago 7”: Aaron Sorkin’s ’60s counterculture courtroom drama had once been headed for a more traditional release. When the pandemic hit, Paramount Pictures instead sold it to Netflix, where it has been streaming since last fall.