How to Watch the Oscar Best Picture Nominees

We are a few days removed from the 2025 Oscars, and if you haven’t seen the films from the highly-contested race for Best Picture, don’t worry, you’re in good company. I only just finished watching them last night, myself. There were ten nominees in this year’s race, including a winning mix of both upcoming and veteran actor performances in a wide variety of films. There is two musicals, a third one, if you count A Complete Unknown, and storylines ranging from singing witches in the fantastical Land of Oz to choosing the next pope to glamorous body horror.

As a self-proclaimed movie addict, I know that even if you’re an avid movie watcher, it can be difficult to keep up with all the Best Picture nominees as they come out. Luckily in the age of streaming, we can all catch up on these films together. Provided you have a subscription to streaming services, or interest in renting these films, you’ll be able to watch most of these movies, including Best Picture winner, Anora.

Below I have a list of the eight films I strongly recommend from this year’s Best Picture nominees with links to how you can watch them now.

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1. Nickel Boys

Nickel Boys is a historical drama film based on Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel of the same name. Directed by RaMell Ross, it is shot from a first-person point of view. James Fray directed the cinematography for Nickel Boys which saw a limited theatrical release back in December.

Nickel Boys received nominations for two awards at the 2025 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.4/10

The Substance showcases a career defining performance from Demi Moore as a fading actress who injects herself with a mysterious serum that promises a younger, better version of herself, but as one might expect, things go horribly wrong.

The Substance received nominations for: Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actress, Best Writing, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. And took home the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.6/10

3. Conclave

Conclave just may be one of the more timely entries among the nominees, as the current real-life pope is now going through a medical crisis. Ralph Fiennes, who was nominated for a Best Actor for his performance as Cardinal Lawrence, serves as one of the close confidantes of the late Pope, and is the facilitator of the conclave, which gathers the world’s cardinals to choose the next figurehead of Catholicism. But the vote for the next pope is a highly contested one, and even the godliest of men find themselves embroiled in intrigue and sabotage in this especially gripping political thriller.

Conclave was nominated for eight awards, and took home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.7/10

4. A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown, the music drama produced by Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman, tells the biographical story of the young Bob Dylan as he navigates his 1960’s breakout in the American music industry. The fantastically talented Timothee Chalamet plays the singer who became one of the most iconic musical artists of his time.

Though A Complete Unknown took home no hardware on Sunday night, it was rightfully nominated for eight awards.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.8/10

Dylan Goes Electric!: is THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, nominated for 8 Oscars, including Best Picture Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Timothee Chalamet.

5. The Brutalist

The Brutalist is a period drama that really brings the talents of Adrien Brody to life. He portrays Laszlo Toth, a visionary architect who has escaped postwar Europe. There is a sense of realism to this film, but I must point out that the movie is not based on a real life person. The film explores the pull of money, talent, and ambition while following Laszlo to a new unfamiliar land, Pennsylvania.

The Brutalist was nominated for ten awards, and took home the Oscar in three categories: Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score), and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Adrien Brody.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.9/10

Wicked was nominated for ten awards, and took home two Oscars for: Best Achievement in Costume Design and Best Achievement in Production Design.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 7.9/10

7. Anora

Allow me to go ahead and put the disclaimer out there now. So everyone will know what to expect, Anora, though a wonderful film, is not for everybody. It is Rated R for strong sexual content throughout, graphic nudity, pervasive language, and drug use. If those things are not your cup of tea, it is okay.

Moving forward for those still with me, Anora, directed by Sean Baker, narrates the story of a young stripper named Anora Mikheeva, who gets married to the son of a wealthy Russian businessman. All is well in this Pretty Woman-Cinderella story until the news reaches Russia, and her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.

Anora went on to win five major awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 8.0/10

8. Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two was nominated for five awards, and took home two Oscars for: Best Sound and Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

A Cute Film Addictive Rating: 8.8/10

The Final Word: “I don’t have Instagram. I’m an adult, man.”

What was your favorite Best Picture nominee? Leave your comments below, and get more A Cute Film Addict delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing below.

Author

  • Lee

    Lee Pittman is the Managing Editor of acutefilmaddict.com. He started the web blog to share his love for movies and the characters that make watching both fun and interesting.

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2 responses to “How to Watch the Oscar Best Picture Nominees”

  1. Ingeborg Morton Avatar
    Ingeborg Morton

    I thought the movie “I Am Still Here” was also nominated for best film and in won an Oscar for Best Foreign movie, yet it is not mentioned in your list.

    1. Lee Pittman Avatar

      That is a good point, and correct. So, I didn’t include “I am Still Here” in this list, as the one thing I have stated, I will not give a negative opinion on my site. I heard about how all the negative reviews for the movie Eternals a couple years back put Kumal Nanjiani in to a depressive state that apparently almost destroyed him.

      That being said, I can’t recommend the film, personally. That is not to say you will not enjoy it, I just didn’t. My list includes the eight films that I found enjoyable to watch, thus can recommend for others.

      In regard to I’m Still Here. This one is tough for me. I actually watched it twice, because it became the late front-runner to win overall Best Picture (though, it ultimately didn’t). I think in regard to story and balance of emotions, it delivered. And it definitely shined a light on a piece of Brazil history I was unaware of, and yet somehow it failed to interest me.

      I don’t know why, I really wanted to like it, but ultimately I didn’t.

      All that to be said, it may absolutely capture your attention. Quite honestly, I’m currently in the minority on it.

      Sorry for the long explanation. Wanted to be detailed, but not give anything away in case you do decide to watch.

      And if you do, I would love to hear your thoughts.

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