The first round of votes has been tallied, and the nominees for the 2022 Acadamy Awards are officially in. Leslie Jordan and Tracee Ellis Ross announced the 2022 Academy Award nominees on Feb. 8, giving us all a preview of what to expect when the awards go down on March 27. We’re going to break down how you can watch every Oscar-nominated movie of 2022.
And in case you haven’t heard, the Academy Awards are back in business. Following last year’s dramatically scaled-back, “pandemic” show, the Oscars are staging a comeback to honor all of the best films from the previous year. Heck, they’re even going to have a host, as per ABC Entertainment President Craig Erwich. In January, he confirmed the news to reporters at the virtual Television Critics Association press tour. However, he declined to confirm who would be taking the stage on the big night. But while we may have to wait and see who will preside over the festivities, we do know which films will be honored.
Whether you’re crafting your own Oscars party, you plan on watching the shindig from the couch, or you just want to see what voters actually consider to be the best of the best, here’s how you can watch every Oscar-nominated movie for Best Picture.
1. Belfast
Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed this dramatic, semi-autobiographical take of a young boy’s childhood in Belfast (hence the title), set against the social turmoil there in the 1960s. The performer started his writing journey back in quarantine as a way to explore and return to “that place of certainty.” Then, he recruited a notable cast to help tell that story, including Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan and the charming Jude Hill.
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Heading into this race, Belfast was heavily favored, having premiered at various film festivals and collecting a slew of other award nods (and wins) along the way. On Feb. 8, it didn’t disappoint with a total of seven nominations, including mentions for best director, supporting actors (Ciarán Hinds, Judi Dench) and original screenplay.
2. The Power of the Dog
Director Jane Campion’s Western psychological drama is all kinds of powerful (pun intended). The flick is based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage. It stars a ton of recognizable faces, including nominee Benedict Cumberbatch, power couple (and fellow nominees) Kristen Dunst and Jesse Plemons, and the also-nominated actor Kodi Smit-McPhee. The story revolves around wealthy rancher brothers with different dispositions and has been lauded as a tour de force for Cumberbatch. Heading into the Oscar run, the series had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, where Campion took home an award for Best Director.
Heading into the Oscars, the movie is poised to win big, with 12 total nominations to its name.
3. West Side Story
Steven Spielberg’s updated take on the 1961 film and 1957 musical has provided a snippet of the theatre experience so many people have been missing during the pandemic. So it’s no wonder the movie has resonated with critics and fans alike. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler star in the story of forbidden love and gang rivalry inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, so you know that it’s pretty much got something for everyone (except with a little less prose). The nomination and the best directing nomination are a big deal for Spielberg since it’s the first major musical he’s ever directed. Heading into the big night, the film has seven total nods to its name.
At time of press, West Side Story isn’t available to stream or rent online, however the movie arrives on Disney+ March 2.
In the meantime, why not catch the original 1961 film to compare?
4. Dune
The big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece was one of last year’s most anticipated film releases, which is no wonder considering the book series is one of the best-selling science fiction collections in history. Even though star Timothée Chalamet and director Denis Villeneuve didn’t receive individual nominations, from a cinematic standpoint the movie is a sweeping feast for the eyes. Nominated cinematographer Greig Fraser previously said he wanted to recreate the Jordan desert as a vast ocean. The movie is also nominated in costume design, original score, best sound, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, production design and visual effects, so you know it’s an experience.
Dune originally dropped on HBO Max but has since left the service. While we wait for the Powers That Be to announce its return, you can rent it at home.
5. Licorice Pizza
Paul Thomas Anderson directed this coming-of-age story about first love and pursuing your dreams in 1973 San Fernando Valley. And while the Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman-starring film might not be as splashy as some of the other entries on this list, it was heavily favored for a nod heading into the Feb. 8 announcements. It was named one of last year’s best movies by the American Film Institute. Not only did the movie itself receive a nomination, but Anderson also earned two individual nods for director and best original screenplay.
Are you wondering how to watch this Oscar-nominated movie? Unfortunately, Licorice Pizza is not currently available to stream or rent online (it’s still showing in some theatres). MGM Studios produced the film, so considering MGM was recently sold to Amazon, Licorice Pizza will most likely stream on Amazon Prime Video first. Wherever it starts streaming, we’ll keep you updated.
6. King Richard
Will Smith’s turn as Richard Williams, a.k.a. father to tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, has been critically lauded (and now officially Oscar-nominated). However, fellow nominee Aunjanue Ellis is equally watchable as their mother, Brandy. In this sporty offering, director Reinaldo Marcus Green traces the family dynamics. He examines how Richard’s coaching changed who their daughters are, mainly by subscribing to that good old-fashioned American dream. Still, it clearly works, and the film received six total nominations.
King Richard was on HBO Max but departed in mid-December. If you don’t want to wait for its expected (but unannounced) return, you can also rent it.
7. CODA
Apple TV+’s 2021 entry (not to be confused with the 2019 offering starring Patrick Stewart and Katie Holmes) revolves around a girl named Ruby (Emilia Jones). She’s the child of deaf adults who is the only hearing person in her deaf family, which means she’s torn over whether to pursue her love of music at a prestigious college. The movie received three total nominations, including nods for director Sian Heder and supporting actor Troy Kotsur.
8. Don’t Look Up
At this point, who hasn’t heard about director Adam McKay’s star-studded, apocalyptic take on the world? With actors including Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Jonah Hill, not to mention the overall timeliness of the script (the fictional comet approaching Earth has been compared to global warming), it was a water cooler movie entry last year to be sure. Now it’s nominated for best picture and best original screenplay, original score, and film editing.
9. Nightmare Alley
Director Guillermo Del Toro’s dark, carney-inspired film features a “dream ensemble” including Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Rooney Mara, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman and Mary Steenburgen, among others. The noir, Hitchcockian film is based on the 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham and follows one particular carny whose manipulations land him in the wrong place at the wrong time. And while none of those notable actors received an Oscar nod, the film did receive a total of four nominations.
10. Drive My Car
This Japanese movie is the sleeper entry on this year’s best picture list. Still, it had quite the momentum leading up to the nominations — including winning multiple awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on the short story by Norwegian Wood author Haruki Murakami, Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi weaves the story of a notable stage actor and director who oversees production in Hiroshima two years after his wife’s unexpected death. There, he faces his past, all while connecting with his new chauffeur. The subtitled film also received a nod in the best international picture category, while Hamaguchi is among this year’s best directors and best original screenplay scribes.
Unfortunately, Drive My Car is not currently available to stream or rent online (it’s still showing in some theatres), but it seems like it’s only a matter of time before it becomes available with these nominations.