You undoubtedly want to watch a couple of the movies critics are gushing about after the announcements for this year’s Oscars and BAFTAs. From Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees Of Inisherin to Top Gun: Maverick and Elvis, here is our guide on where to watch them.
There are several of this year’s Oscars-nominated films that you might not have seen yet or even heard of before all the awards season hoopla, despite the fact that the Top Gun, Avatar, and Black Panther sequels attracted millions of viewers to theaters.
Want to know how All Quiet On The Western Front, the BAFTAs’ front-runner with 14 nominations, compares to Everything Everywhere All At Once, the Oscars front-runner with 11 nominations? Furthermore, how should I view them?
Here is our guide to the 2018 Oscars and BAFTA candidates, along with information on where you can view them before the awards presentations. Note that depending on your subscription, certain movies may be included with streaming plans while others may cost extra to rent.
EVERYTHING AT ONCE, EVERYWHERE
Everything Everywhere All At Once is the front-runner in the Oscar race and is the betting favorite to win best picture. Its actresses Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu are all nominated for acting awards.
The film is described as “a humorous and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about a weary Chinese-American lady (Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes,” and is directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, also known as Daniels. Oh, and she also stumbles onto parallel worlds and needs to stop a formidable force from wiping out the multiverse.
Everything Everywhere All At Once is currently streaming on Paramount+, Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video following its theatrical debut.
ON THE WESTERN FRONT, ALL QUIET
All Quiet On The Western Front, a German-language movie that is based on the renowned Erich Maria Remarque novel from 1929, has received the most BAFTA nominations ever, matching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s record for the most foreign film nominations ever. It also received nine Oscar nominations.
It’s difficult to watch as it tells the tale of a young German soldier who served on the Western Front of the First World War. As he and his colleagues battle for their lives in the trenches and with one another, the first joy of war gives way to despair and terror.
All Quiet On The Western Front is available to stream on Netflix.
The Inisherin Banshees
The Banshees Of Inisherin brings back the group and is set in the 1920s on a distant imagined island off the Irish coast. The darkly humorous tale of a friendship gone wrong is told in the movie In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Gleeson’s character decides he is sick to death of his needy friend and doesn’t want to waste any more time talking to him. To up the ante, he threatens to cut off a finger whenever his dull friend tries to strike up a conversation.
Irish actors Martin McDonagh, who also directed In Bruges, and actors Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keoghan have all received nominations for Oscars this award season because of the movie.
The Banshees of Inisherin is currently accessible to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu following its theater premiere in October 2022.
MAVERICK IS TOP SHOT
The Top Gun sequel, a box office success that fans had been anticipating for more than 35 years, was one of several blockbusters (see more below) that saw the major names return to the Academy Awards. Even if it is unlikely to win the best picture award, it is wonderful to see some extra fun added to the awards season.
Naturally, Tom Cruise returns in the sequel as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, returning to teach newcomers how to fly as well as he does. There are many throwbacks to satisfy fans of the original while maintaining a fine balance between old and modern.
Big Top Gun aficionados undoubtedly saw it in theaters previously, but for those who haven’t, it will be available on Sky, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video starting on February 5.
It was just a matter of time before we saw another Elvis biopic after Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. Austin Butler plays the title character in the 2022 movie, which chronicles the life of the musical hero from his early years as a child star through his complicated connection with Colonel Tom Parker as a music and movie star in the 1950s (played by Tom Hanks).
In the running for eight Oscars, including best actor and best picture, is the film written and directed by Baz Luhrmann. Mandy Walker is the only woman nominated for cinematography.
Sky, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Hulu all offer Elvis.
TAR
The fictitious conductor Lydia Tar, played by Cate Blanchett, is days away from recording the symphony that would advance her career.
She is the favorite to win best actress, and if Oscars are awarded based on hard work, then she probably deserves it after learning to play the piano on-screen, speak fluent German, and conduct a real orchestra. She already has two Oscars, for Blue Jasmine and The Aviator, so if she triumphs, she can add this one to her collection.
Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video both offer TAR for rent.
THE FABELMANS
Steven Spielberg has had an unparalleled cultural effect as possibly the most well-known director in history. From Jaws and ET to the war epics Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, his movies have left an indelible mark on generation after generation for decades.
The Fabelmans, his most recent movie, is a little different; it’s a semi-autobiographical tale that’s largely based on his youth. It illustrates the anti-Semitic persecution the young Spielberg endured in addition to being a family drama.
On Prime Video and Apple TV, you may buy or rent The Fabelmans.
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
Thirteen years after the first Avatar movie had us all grabbing for our 3D glasses, James Cameron’s massively expensive Avatar sequel debuted in theaters in December.
The movie stars Sam Worthington as the Na’vi leader Jake Sully and centers on the family he has built with the warrior Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana, and the struggles they have to through to keep one another safe. The film also stars Kate Winslet and Sigourney Weaver.
Avatar: The Way of Water will be accessible for streaming on Disney+ once it opens in theaters, though no exact date has been announced.
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
Triangle Of Sadness, a satire by Swedish director Ruben Ostlund that won the Cannes Palme d’Or, received three significant Oscar nominations: best picture, best director, and best original screenplay.
It follows a group of travelers on a luxury cruise who are all very unlikeable and is directed against the super-wealthy. They quickly discover, though, that unforeseen developments have compromised their position.
Triangle Of Sadness is available on Google Play and Amazon Prime Video.
WOMEN TALKING
Women Talking, which is based on the Miriam Toews novel, follows a group of women living in a remote religious community as they struggle to reconcile their daily lives with their beliefs.
With a solid ensemble that includes Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, and Judith Ivey, as well as Ben Whishaw and Frances McDormand, it was an outsider for the Oscars this year despite having a good cast.
Even Sarah Polley, the only female director in the best picture nominees, was surprised to hear the title of her film shouted out. As soon as she learned the wonderful news, she tweeted from an unlikely location: “There were not high hopes for today. I’m now at a regular doctor’s appointment. This day definitely wasn’t planned well by me.”
Women Talking has previews starting on February 10 and opens in theaters on February 17.
AFTERSUN
A coming-of-age drama, Aftersun is set in the 1990s and follows a father-daughter pair as they spend a summer vacation away at an all-inclusive resort in Turkey. Paul Mescal and debutant Frankie Corio play the characters. Calum, played by Mescal, is often shown laughing with his daughter when singing karaoke or swimming in the ocean, but we often see him struggling with his mental health when he is alone.
Charlotte Wells makes her directing debut with this movie, which is based on her own early life. Mescal’s highly appreciated performance has garnered him a nomination for best actor, even though the film isn’t eligible for best picture. This is impressive considering that his breakout role in Normal People occurred less than three years ago.
You can now view Aftersun on the streaming services MUBI, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV after it was released in theaters in November.
THE WHALE
Brendan Fraser, known for starring in action movies like The Mummy trilogy, is experiencing a so-called “Brenaissance,” bringing him back into the public eye after a hiatus in his career. His performance in the movie The Whale won him standing ovations at film festivals.
Fraser is now the favorite to win best actor at the Oscars in March. He portrays an incredibly obese dad who is attempting to bond with his daughter while also dealing with mental health issues.
The Whale will start playing in theaters on February 3.
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
While Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever did not receive an Oscar nomination for best picture, it did receive a mention for Angela Bassett for best supporting actress, joining fellow sequels Avatar and Top Gun.
The movie is a heartfelt ode to the late Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed T’Challa, the Black Panther, in the first movie; it is a tale of loss, grieving, and coping with mourning, while still including plenty of action and some unexpected twists.
In addition to becoming the first acting nominee in the cinematic universe, Bassett is also the favorite to win.
Beginning on February 1, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be available on Disney+.
LIVING
Living, written by Kazuo Ishiguro and starring British veteran Bill Nighy and Sex Education actress Aimee Lou Wood, is an adaptation of the 1952 Japanese classic Ikiru. It depicts the tale of Mr. Williams, a senior bureaucrat who resolves to start living life to the fullest after learning he has an incurable disease.
Nighy has received accolades for his quiet performance, which wins him his first Oscar nomination. He may be forever remembered for his wonderful act as a washed-up rocker seeking a comeback in Love Actually.
Sky, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play all provide Living.
CAUSEWAY
Jennifer Lawrence plays a soldier who, after sustaining a severe injury while fighting in Afghanistan, is having a difficult time adjusting to life in New Orleans. The movie follows her character Lynsey as she reacclimates to everyday life and forms an unlikely friendship with James, the neighborhood mechanic, who is portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry.
It’s a story that may have gone unnoticed, but Henry’s nomination for the best-supporting actor at the Oscars has brought it to light.
Apple TV+ offers Causeway for viewing.
BLONDE
For her depiction of Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, Ana de Armas has been nominated for several awards, including best actress at the Oscars and BAFTAs.
The movie itself, however, hasn’t gotten good reviews; it’s nominated for the most Razzies this year, or Golden Raspberry Awards, which honor cinematic failures and are dubbed the “ugly cousin” of the Academy Awards. Additionally, the movie has divided reviews despite acclaim for her performance.
Netflix and Amazon Prime Video both have Blonde available.
TO LESLIE
With her first nomination for an Academy Award, British actress Andrea Riseborough made a bit of a splash. She is up for best actress for her work in the indie film To Leslie, which is based on real-life events. The Made in Dagenham actress plays a single mother in the movie who becomes alcoholic after winning the jackpot before getting a job from a hotel owner and changing her life.
The movie didn’t garner any nominations at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, or BAFTAs in the run-up to the Oscar nominations, but broke through with the Academy in no little part due to a campaign by some of the biggest personalities in Hollywood.
Indeed, Riseborough’s performance was singled out by fellow nominee Cate Blanchett in the first minute of her Critics’ Choice speech, who also praised it. Other Hollywood luminaries like (deep breath) Kate Winslet, Amy Adams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Zooey Deschanel, and Helen Hunt have also praised Riseborough’s performance.
Google Play and Amazon Prime Video both provide To Leslie.
EMPIRE OF LIGHT
Empire Of Light, directed by Sam Mendes and centered on a movie theater in the 1980s, is one of the director’s most intimate works of art as well as a celebration of the big screen. The movie stars former Oscar winner Olivia Colman as a woman dealing with mental health problems; the actress is modeled on the renowned director’s mother in real life.
Following the COVID epidemic, the drama serves as both a timely reminder of the grandeur of the big-screen experience and a love letter to cinema itself.
The movie is competing for outstanding British film, best-supporting actor for Michael Ward, and best cinematography at the BAFTAs in addition to the Oscar for best cinematography.
Empire Of Light is anticipated to debut on Disney+ sometime in February after its theatrical release.
BABYLON
Damien Chazelle, the Oscar-winning director of La La Land, drew inspiration for Babylon from both memory and rumor, as well as the extravagant extravagance and rife immorality that were purported to have occurred behind the scenes in Hollywood in the 1920s.
The three-hour movie on filmmaking stars Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, and up-and-comer Diego Calva. Though it hasn’t performed well at the box office either, expectations may have been a little higher considering that it had three Oscar nominations: for costume, original soundtrack, and production design.
Babylon is currently playing in theaters if you want to watch it on a large screen.
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Knives Out, a whodunnit smash from 2019, was such a success that Netflix decided to take up the series, allegedly paying £375 million for Glass Onion and one more sequel. The ensemble cast is even more impressive this time around, with Daniel Craig returning as Detective Benoit Blanc alongside Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, and Janelle Monae.
This time, influencers and celebrities are the targets of suspicion as the movie satirizes the excesses of the very modern affluent and famous.
You can see Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which is up for best-adapted screenplay at the Oscars, as well as the original movie, on Netflix.
THE BATMAN
After being delayed twice due to COVID production issues, The Batman ultimately opened in theaters in 2022, with Robert Pattinson following in the footsteps of actors like Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and George Clooney in taking on the role of the Caped Crusader.
Another box office success that keeps audiences returning to the movies, it has been nominated for three Oscars: best sound, best make-up and hairstyle, and best visual effects.
Sky, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video all provide The Batman.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, which is not an Oscar candidate but was warmly received by the BAFTA jury, is competing for acting honors for Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack as well as BAFTA awards for best British film and excellent debut by a British writer, director, or producer.
McCormack is also vying for the emerging star award; he portrays a male sex worker recruited by Thompson’s retiring teacher.
All The Best To You, In the UK, Leo Grande is accessible on Sky and Amazon Prime Video.
THE WOMAN KING
The Woman King, which was passed over by the Oscars, at least received recognition at the BAFTAs, where star Viola Davis received a nomination for best actress and Gina Prince-Bythewood was nominated for best director.
Davis plays one of the tough female warriors who defended a West African Kingdom in the 1800s in the movie, which is based on a true incident. In an effort to show the business that movies featuring black women can draw audiences, she has referred to The Woman King as her greatest opus.
The Woman King is now available for pre-order on Sky, and starting January 30, you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
TILL
The historical movie Till, whose lead Danielle Deadwyler has received international acclaim for her portrayal, is based on the actual tale of Mamie Till-Bradley, who sought justice after her 14-year-old son Emmett Till was murdered in 1955.
Despite this, it did not garner any Oscar nominations, but Deadwyler did receive recognition at the BAFTAs for leading actress.
Currently, Till is showing in theaters.
