Oscars 2021: How to watch the nominated films in the UK

Brian McIver
·Contributor
·4-min read
Promising Young Woman, Nomadland and Judas and the Black Messiah are all up for top prizes at the Oscars (Sky Cinema/Disney/Warner Bros)
Promising Young Woman, Nomadland and Judas and the Black Messiah are all up for top prizes at the Oscars (Sky Cinema/Disney/Warner Bros)

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It’s been a terrible year for fans of the big screen. Just when cinemas should be packed with all the big award contenders of the season, there’s not a venue open in the UK.

But thankfully broadcasters and streamers have come to the rescue – with all but one of this year’s big Oscar contenders available to watch at home in April.

From Netflix to Amazon, Sky Cinema, Disney+ and video-on-demand, there’s never been a stronger line up of films at home helping fans get through lockdown.

Of the eight films nominated for Best Film at this week’s Academy Awards, only Anthony Hopkins’ stunning drama The Father isn’t available – but is released in cinemas this June.

Here’s how to watch the biggest movies of the year at home…

Promising Young Woman

Nominated for 6 BAFTAs and 5 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Emerald Fennell’s incredible debut Promising Young Woman will join the Sky Original film line-up in a partnering with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International to bring the acclaimed film to UK audiences exclusively on Sky Cinema from 16 April. From ground-breaking Academy Award® nominated writer/director/producer Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve), Promising Young Woman is a bold new vision that has ignited a debate starring Academy Award® Nominee Carey Mulligan as ‘Cassie’; a wickedly smart but singularly focused woman, who in order to overcome events from her past lives a double life by night. Following an unexpected encounter, Cassie is given the chance to right the wrongs of the past. Joining Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go) are Bo Burnham (The Big Sick), Alison Brie (Glow), Connie Britton (Nashville), Adam Brody (Shazam!), Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde), Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black), Max Greenfield (New Girl), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), Chris Lowell (The Help), Sam Richardson (Veep), Molly Shannon (Never Been Kissed) and Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption). Producers include Margot Robbie (I, Tonya), Tom Ackerley (I, Tonya), Josey McNamara (Dreamland), Ben Browning (Passengers), Ashley Fox (The Courier), Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve). Written and directed by Emerald Fennell. The highly-anticipated film makes its UK debut following acclaimed wins at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Writers Guild of America for Mulligan’s masterful performance and Fennell’s screenplay, respectfully. With cinemas currently closed in the UK, this exciting partnership will grant access to all in the UK to watch the top box office hit which is among Oscar Best Picture contenders in the US.
Carey Mulligan in Emerald Fennells incredible debut Promising Young Woman (Sky Cinema)

One of the most important and timely films of the year is Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell’s stunning story of a traumatised woman's campaign to get back at men who take advantage of drunk women. The powerhouse movie features an amazing performance from Carey Mulligan.

Watch Promising Young Woman now on Sky Cinema and Now with a Sky Cinema Membership.

Sound of Metal

As with so many festival favourites, this <a href=
Riz Ahmed stars in The Sound of Metal (Credit: Vertigo Releasing)

Riz Ahmed is in stunning form in Sound of Metal as a troubled hard rock drummer who’s life starts to fall apart when he realises his hearing is failing him. A festival favourite, this is hitting cinemas on May 17 but it’s also just been launched on Amazon Prime.

Watch Sound of Metal now on Amazon Prime.

Mank

Gary Oldman as Mank (Netflix)
Gary Oldman as Mank (Netflix)

David Fincher is in top form with Mank, a breathtaking tale of old Hollywood and the writer behind classic film Citizen Kane, Herman J. Mankiewicz. It’s Fincher’s first film directly for the streaming giants, and both he and leading man Gary Oldman are nominated alongside supporting actress Amanda Seyfried.

Watch Mank now on Netflix.

Nomadland

Ahead of her blockbuster debut with Marvel blockbuster <em>Eternals</em>, director Chloe Zhao has delivered a major Oscar contender — arriving in the wake of very impressive reviews from the festival circuit. It’s a movie examining America in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, with Frances McDormand playing a previously successful woman now living as a van-dwelling nomad. (Credit: Searchlight Pictures)
Frances McDormand in Nomadland. (Credit: Searchlight Pictures)

The clear front runner for just about all the awards is Nomadland, a beautiful drama from director Chloe Zhao about a heartbreaking subculture of itinerant workers and travellers in post-economic crash America.

Launching in cinemas 17 May, Frances McDormand plays a traumatised woman travelling the country living in her van, and encountering various degrees of nomads on her travels as she tries to find peace.

Watch Nomadland on Star by Disney+ from 30 April.

Minari

Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Yuh-Jung Youn in Minari (Altitude)
Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Yuh-Jung Youn in Minari (Altitude)

A beautiful and moving story of a Korean-American family’s struggle to establish a farm in deep south USA in the 80s, Minari has been one of the hits of the festival circuits, with Lee Isaac Chung also nominated for direction and script. The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun and recent Bafta winner Youn Yuh-jung are shortlisted for Best Actor and Supporting Actress.

Watch now on video-on-demand, from £9.99 via Amazon, iTunes, Sky Store, BFI Player, Chili, Rakuten, TalkTalk, BT, Curzon, Microsoft, Virtual Cinemas.

The Trial of the Chicago 7

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (L to R) KELVIN HARRISON JR. as Fred Hampton, YAHYA ABDUL-MATEEN II as Bobby Seale, MARK RYLANCE as William Kuntsler in THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7. Cr. NIKO TAVERNISE/NETFLIX © 2020
Kelvin Harrison Jr, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Mark Rylance in courtroom drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Niko Tavernise/Netflix)

Aaron Sorkin’s powerful courtroom and protest drama was released in the build up to the last US election, but has lost none of its impact today. The Netflix original ensemble drama about a riot following protests at the 1968 Democratic party conference features the likes of Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne and Frank Langella.

Watch The Trial of the Chiacgo 7 now on Netflix.

Judas and the Black Messiah

Daniel Kaluuya stars as Fred Hampton Jr in Judas And The Black Messiah (Image by Warner Bros)
Daniel Kaluuya stars as Fred Hampton Jr in Judas And The Black Messiah (Image by Warner Bros)

Director Shaka King’s incendiary story of a rat inside the Black Panther movement in early 1970s America features two blockbuster and Oscar-nominated performances from Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya who are both on incredible form in a tense and moving thriller.

Watch now on video-on-demand, from £9.99 via Amazon, iTunes, Sky Box Office, BFI Player, Chili, Rakuten, TalkTalk, BT, Microsoft.

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