On Sunday (March 10), the biggest stars from Hollywood and beyond will gather in Los Angeles for the 96th Academy Awards. Filmmakers from around the world tune in for the biggest night of the awards season, where movie stars celebrate the best filmmaking achievements of the past year.
The Oscars ceremony starts at 11pm UK time and will be broadcast live worldwide from the Dolby Theatre, with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel hosting for the fourth time. For the first time in almost 20 years, British film fans can watch the big event for free, as ITV has taken over the exclusive rights from Sky.
In the evening, footage of the ceremony will begin rolling on ITVX from 9.30pm with presenter Ross King hosting live from the red carpet as guests begin to arrive. Then, for the main ceremony, Jonathan Ross will host an ultimate Oscar party on ITV1 and ITVX from 10.30pm, where he’ll be joined by a panel of film-loving stars and special guests to review and analyze all the wins, losses and highlights from the night.
The biopic will once again go up against Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, with the two films picking up a total of 21 nominations – eight for Barbie and thirteen for Oppenheimer. Martin Scorsese’s epic neo-western Killers of the Flower Moon is also in the running – if it wins, it will be the veteran director’s first Best Picture and second overall Oscar after his Best Director gong for The Departed.
If you want to decide who will win before the big night, most of the Best Picture nominees are now available to watch on digital and streaming platforms, with some even streaming for free thanks to offers from Apple TV+ and Sky. To this end, you can watch all Best Picture nominees on TV, streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) platforms in the UK.
American fiction
Jeffrey Wright stars as frustrated writer Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in this comedy-drama from debut director Cord Jefferson. Based on Percival Everett’s 2001 novel Erasure, it follows Monk as he writes a satire of stereotypical “black” books that unexpectedly becomes a big hit.
The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Wright. American Fiction is not yet available on any streaming or VOD platform in the UK but is still showing in selected cinemas including Everyman and Odeon.
Anatomy of a case
Anatomy of a Fall is available to watch on Prime Video in SD and HD, where it can be rented for £3.49 and bought for £9.99. It is also available to rent or buy on Apple TV+ for £4.99 and £9.99 respectively.
Barbie
Greta Gerwig’s colorful comedy about life in plastic dominated theaters around the world last year as one half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, grossing nearly $1.5 billion worldwide. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling star as Barbie and Ken as the fish-out-of-water dolls set out to explore our “real” world.
Barbie will make its UK TV premiere on Sky Cinema on March 29, where feature films can be joined for just £9 a month for the first month as part of the Sky Stream, Sky Cinema, Sky TV and Netflix package. This also comes with Paramount+ completely free, plus two free Vue cinema tickets every month.
Barbie is also available to watch on Prime Video in SD, HD and UHD, where it can be rented from £1.99 and bought for £7.99.
The Holdovers
Billions star Paul Giamatti is up for Best Actor for his performance as a cranky preschool teacher forced to stay on campus over Christmas with a grieving chef and troubled student. Co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph is one to watch in the Best Supporting Actress category after taking home the BAFTA and Golden Globe for her performance.
The Holdovers is available to watch on Prime Video in SD and HD, where it can be rented for £15.99 and bought for £19.99. It is also available to rent or buy on Apple TV+ for £15.99 and £19.99 respectively.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese’s sprawling neo-western proved another hit for the veteran filmmaker after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, garnering widespread acclaim from critics who hailed it as a “masterpiece”. The epic starring DiCaprio and De Niro depicts the serial murder of members of Oklahoma’s Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight after oil was discovered beneath their land.
Killers of the Flower Moon is available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+ and can be enjoyed for free thanks to Apple’s seven-day free trial. This also includes access to blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ World War II epic Masters of the Air.
Maestro
Director, co-writer and star Bradley Cooper was transformed in this biopic of Leonard Bernstein that chronicles the lifelong relationship between the American composer-conductor and actress Felicia Montealegre Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). The film marks Cooper’s second stint in the director’s chair following his 2018 Oscar winner A Star is Born.
Maestro is available to stream exclusively on Netflix, which is currently included for free thanks to Sky’s one-month free trial of the Sky TV, Sky Stream, Netflix and Discovery+ package. TV lovers can also get discounts on Sky Glass and Netflix for £14 a month for the first three months, while movie buffs can add Sky Cinema and get Paramount+ absolutely free, plus two free Vue cinema tickets every month.
Oppenheimer
The dark half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon took more than $950 million worldwide and earned seven BAFTAs earlier this year. Many have tipped the explosive biography of the titular “father of the atomic bomb” as the film that will earn both Nolan and star Cillian Murphy their first Oscars.
Oppenheimer is available to watch on Prime Video in SD, HD and UHD, where it can be rented from £3.49 and bought for £13.99. It is also available to rent or buy on Apple TV+ for £4.99 and £13.99 respectively.
Previous life
From writer-director Celine Song in her directorial debut, this heartbreaking romantic drama follows Nora and Hae Sung (Greta Lee and Teo Yoo), two deeply connected childhood friends who are torn apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. 20 years later, they reunite in New York during a fateful week as they confront notions of fate, love and the choices that make a life.
Past Life is available to stream exclusively on Netflix which is currently included for free thanks to Sky’s one month free trial of the Sky TV, Sky Stream, Netflix and Discovery+ package. TV lovers can also get discounts on Sky Glass and Netflix for £14 a month for the first three months, while movie buffs can add Sky Cinema and get Paramount+ absolutely free, plus two free Vue cinema tickets every month.
Poor things
Emma Stone is in the hunt for her second Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ quirky comedy-drama as the late Bella Baxter. The American actress also received a nomination in the Best Picture category for her role as one of the film’s producers.
Poor Things is available to stream exclusively on Disney+, which new and returning customers can join for just £1.99 a month for three months if they sign up by March 14.
The zone of interest
English filmmaker Jonathan Glazer’s historical drama revolves around Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his family as they strive to build a dream life in a house next to the concentration camp during World War II. The film juxtaposes the harrowing events that take place in the camp with the Hössars’ idyllic lives with a skillful yet disturbing use of sound that has earned the film a nomination in the Best Sound category.
The Zone of Interest is available to watch on Prime Video in SD and HD, where it can be rented from £15.99 and bought for £19.98. It is also available to rent or buy on Apple TV+ for £15.99 and £19.99 respectively.
