February 10, 2019
The Academy Awards are just two weeks away, and now that you've adequately assessed the whole Kevin Hart non-hosting situation, it's time to do the real work: see as many nominated films as possible before the big day.
Some theaters, including the Philadelphia Film Center, will air a special weekend highlighting the Best Picture nominees, but if you'd like to watch some at home, or spread out your viewing over the next two weeks, there are still many options available to you.
From Netflix originals to art-house-only nominees, check out where/when you can stream or rent 13 of the biggest movies nominated this year -- and whether your only choice will be to see it in theaters.
Nominations: Best Picture, Costume Design, Original Score, and four others
It's the first superhero movie to ever earn a Best Picture nomination, and poses the possibility that a box office smash can also be top award fodder. Among its seven nominations is also one for Hannah Beachler's work in Production Design, making her the first African-American person ever nominated in the category.
Streaming: Available on Netflix
Renting: Available from YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple starting at $2.99
Theaters: Available at select local theaters now through the Oscars, including United Artists King of Prussia and Regal Moorestown Mall.
Nominations: Best Picture, Directing, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay, and two others
Spike Lee is finally nominated for Directing in this based-on-real-events story of an undercover cop who infiltrated the KKK in the 1970s, though the themes feel uncomfortably familiar in 2019.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available from YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Apple starting at $5.99
Theaters: Available at select local theaters now through the Oscars, including United Artists King of Prussia and Regal Moorestown Mall.
Nominations: Best Picture, Lead Actor, and three others
The life of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is memorialized by Rami Malek's stellar performance, though the film has garnered negative press recently in light of the allegations against director Bryan Singer.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available for rent starting Tuesday, Feb. 12
Theaters: Available at select local theaters now through the Oscars, including United Artists King of Prussia and Regal Moorestown Mall.
Nominations: Best Picture, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Director, and five others
"The Favourite" is one of the most nominated films this year, including two in the Supporting Actress category, with Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz both nominated. The 18th Century Queen Anne story even has a 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing. It's still playing in theaters, however, so you won't have much luck trying to watch it at home.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: N/A
Theaters: Playing throughout the region, including Landmark's Ritz Five and United Artists King of Prussia
Nominations: Best Picture, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, and two others
An Italian-American club worker gets a new gig driving an African-American concert pianist to his tour dates through the deep south in the 1960s, the story based on co-producer/writer Nick Vallelonga's own father's life. Co-stars Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen are both nominated for their acting.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available starting Feb. 19
Theaters: Playing throughout the region, including the PFS Roxy and United Artists Riverview
Nominations: Best Picture, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Director, and six others
"Roma" leads the pack of top-nominated movies this year thanks to a strong lead performance from Yalitza Aparicio, as well as stunning cinematography that captures family life in the midst of political turmoil in 1970 Mexico City.
Streaming: Netflix
Renting: N/A
Theaters: Playing locally at select theaters including Landmark's Ritz at the Bourse
Nominations: Best Picture, Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Original Song, and four others
People have loved seeing Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper star together so much, they're even shipping the couple, which is kind of weird... nonetheless, you'll see the pair perform "Shallow," which is nominated for Original Song, at the big ceremony.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available starting Feb. 19
Theaters: Playing in select theaters now through the Oscars, including UA King of Prussia and Regal Cinemas Moorestown Mall
Nominations: Best Picture, Lead Actor, Directing, and five others
The terrifying true story of former Vice President Dick Cheney's quiet rise to power is detailed in this offbeat dark comedy, starring a VERY transformed Batman -- Christian Bale. It's hard to imagine "Vice" not scoring a win in the Makeup and Hair category.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: N/A
Theaters: Playing in select theaters now through the Oscars, including PFS Roxy and AMC Cherry Hill
Nominations: Lead Actor
Willem Dafoe got a nod for his portrayal of Vincent van Gogh as the artist spends his final years in France, painting works that would one day be staples of the Western art canon.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available starting Feb. 12
Theaters: N/A
Nominations: Lead Actress
Glenn Close helped get "The Wife" some Oscar attention, and her Golden Globes win makes her this year's favorite in the Lead Actress category. Close plays a woman married to a self-important writer preparing to accept his Nobel Prize in Literature. Tale as old as time.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available from Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, and Apple starting at $3.99
Theaters: Playing in select theaters now through the Oscars, including the Philadelphia Film Center
Nominations: Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, Adapted Screenplay
All the Gillies out there knew Sookie (err, Melissa McCarthy) has been worthy of an Oscar since she first turned up in Stars Hollow, but her first nomination finally makes it official. It's also a fresh change of pace from McCarthy's typical comedic roles.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: Available starting Feb. 19
Theaters: Playing at Landmark's Ritz Five
Nominations: Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score
Another nominee this year that takes place in the '70s, "Beale Street" takes us to Harlem for a love story that, though challenged by a corrupt justice system, stands the test of time, based on the James Baldwin novel of the same name.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: N/A
Theaters: Playing in select local theatres including Landmark's Ritz East
Nominations: Directing, Cinematography, Foreign Language Film
"Cold War" presents an unlikely love story set in 1950s Poland. Like "Roma," "Cold War" is presented to us in black and white, perhaps as a way to amplify more flawless cinematography.
Streaming: N/A
Renting: N/A
Theaters: Playing in select local theaters, including Landmark's Ritz East and the Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Check out the full list of nominees here. The Academy Awards will air -- without a host -- Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.
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