Last Update: January 27, 2020
The 2020 Oscar nominations have been announced, so here’s how cinephiles can watch the nine films up for Best Picture. Another awards season is coming to a close, with the 92nd Academy Awards taking place on February 9. This year, the ceremony is happening earlier than it typically does (the 2019 Oscars took place on February 24, for example), meaning viewers have less time to catch up on any nominees they might have missed along the way. Audiences may not have the time to watch all of the nominated films, but there’s definitely interest in seeing the ones vying for the major awards, including Best Picture.
This year, a number of the Best Picture contenders were among the most-anticipated films of 2019, so there’s a chance general audiences are already quite familiar with this year’s crop. Still, even the most devoted moviegoer could have had a few slip through the cracks (especially considering how jam-packed the release calendar is at the end of the year), so we’re using this space to run down all the Best Picture nominees and let people know how they can watch them.
We will update this list weekly until the Oscars with new theater counts and Blu-ray release dates.
Ford v Ferrari
Other Nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
James Mangold’s racing drama, based on the true story of Ford’s attempt to defeat the mighty Ferrari at Les Mans, earned plenty of positive reviews after touring the fall festivals. Despite the widespread praise (particularly for the performances and Mangold’s staging of the racing sequences), Ford v Ferrari didn’t look to be much of a Best Picture player as it racked up more snubs than nominations on the circuit. But Oscar voters had a soft spot for this sports movie (which some interpreted as a thinly-veiled metaphor for the filmmaking process) and it ultimately made the field.
Ford v Ferrari played in 804 theaters this past weekend. It is now available on Digital and will hit Blu-ray on February 11.
The Irishman
Other Nominations: Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Supporting Actor (Al Pacino), Best Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects
The latest crime epic from legendary director Martin Scorsese, The Irishman was proclaimed one of the 2020 Oscar heavyweights when Netflix aired a TV spot for it during last year’s broadcast. Running 3.5 hours and making extensive use of digital de-aging technology, The Irishman could have been the moment Scorsese was too ambitious, but instead he delivered another masterpiece that’s considered one of the year’s best. With exceptional craftsmanship and bravura performances, there’s plenty to admire in The Irishman, and it’s deserving of its numerous nominations.
The Irishman is now streaming on Netflix.
Jojo Rabbit
Other Nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing
Taika Waititi’s anti-hate satire had a curious road to its Best Picture nomination. After screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, reactions were quite mixed. Some felt the film wasn’t as daring as it could have been given its subject matter, and Jojo Rabbit seemed destined to be a well-intentioned misfire that came up short. But then, it won TIFF’s coveted People’s Choice Award, which is the closest thing a film can get to a guaranteed Best Picture nod. Since then, Jojo Rabbit keeps popping up at various awards shows and found itself in the running for the Oscars’ top prize.
Jojo Rabbit is currently playing in 1,160 theaters. It is up for pre-order on Digital (available for rent on February 18) and will hit Blu-ray on February 18.
Joker
Other Nominations: Best Director (Todd Phillips), Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
The leader of the pack with 11 nominations, Joker is by far the year’s most polarizing awards contender. The divisive discourse launched after the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival (where it won the Golden Lion) and raged on as Joker opened for general audiences and grossed $1 billion worldwide. Despite the controversy the film generated (warranted or not), awards voters loved it. After securing a pair of Golden Globe nods, Joker set an Oscar nomination record for comic book films, making WB’s initial hesitancy to green light it all the more amusing in hindsight.
Joker is now available on Digital and Blu-ray.
Little Women
Other Nominations: Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Best Supporting Actress (Florence Pugh), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score
Little Women is a story that’s been adapted a plethora of times for the screen, but Greta Gerwig is able to breathe new life into it by making use of an excellent cast and putting a refreshing spin on the material that stays true to the source. Despite its period setting, Little Women’s themes and ideas remain relevant to modern audiences, which is why the film resonated with so many. Even so, it looked like Little Women might have been in danger of missing this nomination (after it was snubbed by various bodies - including the Golden Globes), but it secured enough support.
Little Women is now playing nationwide in 2,528 theaters. It’s available for pre-order on Digital, but there’s currently no release date listed for that or the Blu-ray.
Marriage Story
Other Nominations: Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Best Actor (Adam Driver), Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score
Netflix’s top priority this year (especially given its hefty production budget) was The Irishman. But the streaming giant made sure Noah Baumbach’s affecting portrait of divorce didn’t go unnoticed. Marriage Story received near unanimous praise out of every festival it played, cementing itself as one of the ones to watch this awards season. Buoyed by Baumbach’s sensitive touch and career-best work from Driver and Johansson (the argument scene is an all-timer), Marriage Story is a heartbreaking and relatable tale of love lost that awards voters couldn’t resist. Its odds of winning are low, but that doesn’t diminish this film’s exceptional quality.
Marriage Story is now streaming on Netflix.
1917
Other Nominations: Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
The Golden Globe winner for Best Picture - Drama is also one of the frontrunners in the Oscar Best Picture race. This is one of the technical achievements of the year, as Best Director favorite Sam Mendes designed the World War I drama to appear as if it was shot in one continuous take, putting viewers in the thick of the trenches. Given the scope and scale of the production, there’s no denying 1917 is a staggering accomplishment that demands to be seen on the biggest of screens. The film is one of the ones to beat this year, emerging ahead of the pack with a late push.
1917 is now playing nationwide in 3,937 theaters. It is available for pre-order on Digital, but there’s no home media release date listed yet.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Other Nominations: Best Director (Quentin Tarantino), Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
Quentin Tarantino’s ode to 1960s Hollywood was one of this season’s earliest releases (premiering at Cannes in May and theatrically in July), but it was able to withhold the fall festival blitz and maintain its strong footing in the race. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is currently the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing, bolstered by the excellent performances at its core (Margot Robbie also shined as Sharon Tate) and Tarantino showing a refreshing maturation in his technique. There are few things the Academy loves more than a movie about movies, so Once Upon a Time in Hollywood checks off a lot of boxes. At long last, Tarantino may finally have a Best Picture winner under his belt.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is now available on Digital and Blu-ray.
Parasite
Other Nominations: Best Director (Bong Joon-Ho), Best Original Screenplay, Best International Film, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing
Only the twelfth international film in history to earn a Best Picture nomination, Parasite is one of the year’s most unique offerings and is loved by just about everyone who’s seen it. To illustrate its impact, Parasite was one of the runner-ups for the TIFF People’s Choice Award, so it isn’t surprising it connected with Oscar voters. Joon-Ho is one of the industry’s most respected voices (his résumé also includes Snowpiercer and Okja), so it’s nice to see the darkly comic and socially relevant Parasite crack the field. Since it’s going to win Best International Film, it probably won’t take home this prize too, but the fact it’s in the lineup indicates the Academy’s new membership is broadening its horizons.
Parasite is currently playing in 345 theaters. It is now available on Digital and will hit Blu-ray on January 28.
More: Oscar Voting Explained: How The Academy Picks Best Picture