The 2025 movie awards season has kicked off, leaving many viewers wondering about where to find the top contenders for this year’s accolades. Whether it’s streaming options, theater releases, or exclusivity in specific cities like Los Angeles and New York, the choices can be quite daunting.
One standout film from the Golden Globes is “The Brutalist,” which has been creating a buzz since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last September. With an impressive runtime of 215 minutes, Brady Corbet’s postwar narrative has earned an impressive ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. This weekend marks its wide release across North America, making it much more accessible for eager fans. In contrast, “Emilia Pérez,” another leading nominee with ten Oscar nods, is conveniently available for streaming on Netflix.
Here’s a breakdown of the major award contenders and where you can catch them:
**“Emilia Pérez” (13 Oscar nominations)**: Now streaming on Netflix.
This bold musical crime thriller from Jacques Audiard features a Mexican drug lord who decides to undergo gender-affirming surgery. It has swept through awards season with a total of 13 Oscar nominations, also securing SAG nominations for Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña. The film won accolades including Best Musical/Comedy at the Golden Globes and Best Original Song for “El Mal.”
**“The Brutalist” (10 Oscar nominations)**: Currently in theaters.
Despite not securing a SAG ensemble nomination, this film has gained significant recognition. Starring Adrien Brody as a renowned architect and Holocaust survivor, it tells the story of his attempts to begin anew in America, with a life-defining commission from a wealthy industrialist, played by Guy Pearce. The film earned Golden Globes for Best Director, Best Drama, and Best Actor, with Felicity Jones also receiving an Oscar nod.
**“Wicked” (10 Oscar nominations)**: Available for rent or purchase on video-on-demand.
Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the beloved musical has enjoyed substantial acclaim this awards season, garnering nominations for Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Best Picture, along with a SAG Best Ensemble nomination.
**“A Complete Unknown” (8 Oscar nominations)**: In theaters.
James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic has performed well, with nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet. Supporting nods also went to Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger.
**“Conclave” (8 Oscar nominations)**: Streaming on Peacock.
This engaging thriller about the election of a new pope has received acclaim, including a DGA nod for director Edward Berger and a SAG nomination for Ralph Fiennes. While Berger missed out on an Oscar nom, Isabella Rossellini gained recognition for Best Supporting Actress.
**“Anora” (6 Oscar nominations)**: Available on VOD.
Sean Baker’s film, which won the Palme d’Or, explores the emotional journey of a New York stripper entangled with a Russian oligarch’s son. Although it didn’t rake in awards at the Golden Globes, it still managed to secure nominations at the DGA and SAG awards.
**“Dune: Part Two” (5 Oscar nominations)**: Streaming on Max.
While its predecessor received a Best Picture nod, both Denis Villeneuve and “Part Two” were overlooked for directing accolades this year.
**“The Substance” (5 Oscar nominations)**: Available on Mubi.
Demi Moore’s compelling performance as an aging actress determined to retain her youth earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. The film itself went on to score nominations for Best Picture and Best Director.
**“Nosferatu” (4 Oscar nominations)**: Available on VOD.
Robert Eggers’ remake of the 1922 classic vampire tale featuring Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp gained recognition for its technical achievements and cinematography.
**“I’m Still Here” (3 Oscar nominations)**: Limited theatrical release.
This Brazilian film chronicles the story of Eunice Paiva, portrayed by Fernanda Torres, who won a Golden Globe for her role, shedding light on a time of political oppression in Brazil.
**“Sing Sing” (3 Oscar nominations)**: Available on VOD.
Colman Domingo has received accolades for his portrayal of a prison inmate creating a theater program for fellow inmates, earning recognition from the SAG and the academy.
**“The Wild Robot” (3 Oscar nominations)**: Streaming on Peacock.
An adaptation of Peter Brown’s book, this animated feature revolves around a clever robot that takes on a nurturing role for a gosling.
**“The Apprentice” (2 Oscar nominations)**: Available on VOD.
Crossing political lines, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong portray Donald Trump and his attorney Roy Cohn in a film examining their dynamics.
**“Flow” (2 Oscar nominations)**: Available on VOD, streaming on Max on Feb. 14.
This Latvian animated film, which tells a wordless story about a cat fleeing a flood, has garnered attention within the animation category.
**“Nickel Boys” (2 Oscar nominations)**: Limited theater showing, streaming Feb. 28 on MGM+.
This adaptation by RaMell Ross uses a first-person perspective to tackle serious themes derived from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, earning a first-feature nomination from the DGA.
**“A Real Pain” (2 Oscar nominations)**: Streaming on Hulu.
After his success at the Golden Globes, Kieran Culkin is emerging as a leading contender for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Jesse Eisenberg’s film about two cousins.
**“Black Box Diaries” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Paramount+.
A personal documentary by Shiori It? exploring her own experience with sexual assault in Japan.
**“A Different Man” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Max.
Starring Sebastian Stan, the film follows an aspiring actor who undergoes drastic changes to his appearance and garnered recognition for makeup and hairstyling only.
**“The Girl with the Needle” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Mubi.
This psychological horror film set in post-WWI Copenhagen reflects the struggle of a factory worker aiming to survive during turbulent times.
**“Gladiator II” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Paramount+.
While Denzel Washington missed the cut for acting nominations, the film secured one for its costume design team.
**“Inside Out 2” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Disney+.
This sequel about a young girl’s emotions became a major box-office hit.
**“Memoir of a Snail” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on AMC+.
An R-rated stop-motion film that follows Grace, a misfit character searching for her path after a separation from her twin.
**“No Other Land” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Limited theatrical showing.
A documentary on the ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, produced by a Palestinian-Israeli collective.
**“Porcelain War” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Limited theatrical showing.
Focusing on the life of a Ukrainian ceramicist amidst the conflict, this documentary sheds light on the struggles faced during wartime.
**“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Limited theaters, on VOD on Feb. 18.
A political thriller regarded as one of the year’s best, this film serves as Germany’s submission for the Oscars.
**“September 5” (1 Oscar nomination)**: In theaters.
This film captures the live coverage of the Munich Olympics hostage crisis by ABC reporters, earning an original screenplay nomination.
**“Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Kanopy.
This documentary provides a closer look at the political situation surrounding the assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba in 1961.
**“Sugarcane” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
A probing documentary investigating historical abuses at an Indian residential school, addressing a community confronting its past trauma.
**“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (1 Oscar nomination)**: Streaming on Netflix.
In this animated sequel, fond characters return for another adventure, rekindling the love for Feathers McGraw.
**“The Last Showgirl” (0 Oscar nominations)**: Currently in theaters.
Although Pamela Anderson has received a SAG nomination for her role in this film, it has not gained any accolades for the Oscars.
**“The Piano Lesson” (0 Oscar nominations)**: Streaming on Netflix.
Despite receiving a SAG nod for Danielle Deadwyler’s performance, the adaptation of August Wilson’s play did not secure any Oscar nominations.
**“Queer” (0 Oscar nominations)**: Available on VOD.
Daniel Craig garnered a SAG nomination for his role in this adaptation of a William S. Burroughs work, though the film was left empty-handed at the Oscars.
