I have seen first-hand the frustration and annoyance that comes with getting excited to watch the Oscars only to discover you don't know any of the actors nominated nor have you heard of any of the movies. This experience has happened to my precious mother, year after year, and because I am sure she's not alone, I'd like to try and make this year's top contenders more accessible and help guide as many of you to these movies as possible!
The official Oscar nominations will be revealed on March 15, 2021, however, the Golden Globes, SAG, and Critic's Choice Awards have released their nominations which gives us a good idea of which films will also be nominated for the Oscars.
The list below is categorized in to Drama and Comedies/Musicals - as the awards are - and listed with the awards it's already been nominated for. Typically, we can make educated guesses that if a movie or an actor is nominated for these awards already, they will most likely receive an Oscar nomination in those same categories. It's not an exact science and there are always surprises, however, the movies I've listed for you are the best of the best this year and you will see them somewhere throughout award season.
The movies in bold, I believe, are the most watchable and I have found them to be the most probable of gaining nominations and wins. However, every movie I chose to list below is still a great movie and worth visiting!
As always, please let me know if you have questions about my recommendations or if you'd like me to recommend something personal to you! Just send me a message at the bottom of the page!
Drama:
Promising Young Woman - Prime Video -
Best Actress, Best Director, Best Motion Picture, Drama, Best Screenplay
Nomadland - Available Friday 2/19 on HULU -
Best Actress, Best Director, Best Motion Picture, Best Screenplay
One Night in Miami - Prime Video -
Best Supporting Actor (Odom Jr.), Best Director, Best Original Song
The Little Things - HBOMax -
Best Supporting Actor
Da 5 Bloods - Netflix -
Hand fulls of SAG nominations and Critic Choice nominations including Best Actor, Best
Director, and Best Motion Picture
The Trial of the Chicago 7 - Netflix -
Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Motion Picture, Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Original Song
Sound of Metal - Prime Video -
Best Actor, Drama, Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture
News of the World - Prime Video -
Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Score
The Father - Available to stream early March -
Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Motion Picture, Drama
Pieces of a Woman - Netflix -
Best Actress
Judas and the Black Messiah - HBOMax -
Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Song
Minari - only in theaters until Feb 26 -
Best Foreign Language Film
Hillbilly Elegy - Netflix -
Best Supporting Actress
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - Netflix -
Best Actor, Best Actress
Comedy/Musical/Animated:
The Prom -Netflix -
Best Actor, Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Hamilton - Disney+ -
Best Actor, Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Mank - Netflix -
Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Motion Picture, Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score
Onward - Disney+ -
Best Animated Feature Film
Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm - Prime Video -
Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Soul - Disney+ -
Best Original Score, Best Animated Feature Film
Palm Springs - HULU -
Best Actor, Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Music - Prime Video -
Best Actress
ENJOY!
