Where to watch Oscar nominated films in Manchester before the awards ceremony next month

The Oscar nominations were announced this week, ahead of the Academy Awards ceremony on 9th February.

Many of the films are either already on general release (in cinemas or on streaming services) or are due to be released before Oscar night.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best places to catch up on this year’s Oscar nominated films in Manchester.

Joker (11 nominations)

What’s it about? An origin story for Batman’s most famous foe, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix as a mentally troubled wannabe stand-up whose mistreatment in society sends him into a deadly downward spiral.

Where to watch it: Joker is still playing at various Vue cinemas in Manchester, including Printworks, Lowry and Altrincham.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Director (Todd Phillips), Screenplay (Adapted), Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing.

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (10 nominations)

What’s it about? Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to old Hollywood follows a washed up TV actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman best friend (Brad Pitt) as they bumble around Los Angeles in 1969.

Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon for £3.49.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Director (Quentin Tarantino), Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing.

The Irishman (10 nominations)

What’s it about? Based on a true story, Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic stars Robert De Niro as an ageing WWII veteran who recounts his time as a hitman for a crime syndicate.

Where to watch it: The Irishman is available to stream on Netflix, but it’s also getting a one-off screening at HOME on Sunday 19th January, if you want to catch it on the big screen. 

Nominated for: Best Picture, Director (Martin Scorsese), Supporting Actor (Al Pacino), Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Film Editing, Visual Effects.

1917 (10 nominations)

What’s it about? Sam Mendes’ “single-take” WWI drama stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as two soldiers who embark on a desperate mission to deliver a message in enemy territory.

Where to watch it: 1917 is currently on general release in Manchester, including screenings at HOME and Everyman.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Director (Sam Mendes), Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects.

Little Women (six nominations)

What’s it about? Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel centres on the four March sisters and their journey into adulthood in 1860s Massachusetts.

Where to see it: Little Women is currently on general release in Manchester, including screenings at HOME, Everyman and the Mini Cini at Cultureplex.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Supporting Actress (Florence Pugh), Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Original Score.

Parasite (six nominations)

What’s it about? Bong Joon-ho’s blackly comic psychological thriller centres on the Kims, a down-and-out South Korean family who contrive to get jobs in the home of the wealthy Parks.

Where to see it: Parasite will have a simultaneous preview screening at HOME, Everyman St Johns and Vue Printworks on 3rd Feb (including a satellite Q&A with Bong Joon-ho) before its general release on 7th Feb. 

Nominated for: Best Picture, Foreign Film (now called International Feature Film), Director (Bong Joon-ho), Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Production Design.

Marriage Story (six nominations)

What’s it about? Noah Baumbach’s semi-autobiographical drama stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a stage director and his actor wife going through a gruelling, coast-to-coast divorce.

Where to see it? Marriage Story is currently streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor (Adam Driver), Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Supporting Actress (Laura Dern), Original Screenplay, Original Score.

Jojo Rabbit (six nominations)

What’s it about? Taika Waititi’s WWII comedy-drama centres on a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis) who has an imaginary Hitler (Waititi) as his best friend.

Where to see it: Jojo Rabbit is currently on general release in Manchester, including screenings at HOME and Everyman.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Film Editing, Production Design.

Le Mans ’66, aka Ford v Ferrari (four nominations)

What’s it about? American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and hotshot British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hour Le Mans race in 1966.

Where to see it: Le Mans ’66 has limited showings at Vue Printworks and Vue Lowry on 16th January.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing.

The Two Popes (three nominations)

What’s it about? Behind Vatican walls, the conservative Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and the liberal future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.

Where to watch it: The Two Popes is currently streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Actor (Jonathan Pryce), Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Adapted Screenplay.

Bombshell (three nominations)

What’s it about? Based on a true story, Bombshell centres on three Fox News employees (Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie) who attempt to expose CEO Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) for sexual harrassment.

Where to see it: Bombshell goes on general release in Manchester on 17th January, including screenings at HOME and Everyman.

Nominated for: Best Actress (Charlize Theron), Supporting Actress (Margot Robbie), Makeup and Hairstyling.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (three nominations)

What’s it about: Rey (Daisy Ridley) and the Resistance battle the First Order in the ninth and final chapter of the Star Wars saga.

Where to watch it: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is on general release in Manchester.

Nominated for: Best Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects.

Pain and Glory (two nominations)

What’s it about? Pedro Almodovar’s semi-autobiographical drama centres on a renowned film director (Antonio Banderas) as he reflects on his past, including his relationships, his childhood with his mother (Penelope Cruz) and his early love of cinema.

Where to watch it: Pain and Glory is available to rent on Amazon for £3.49.

Nominated for: Best International Feature Film, Actor (Antonio Banderas).

Harriet (two nominations)

What’s it about? A biopic of Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo), the heroic abolitionist who escaped from a plantation and led hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Where to see it: Harriet has limited screenings at The Savoy Cinema in Stockport.

Nominated for: Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo), Original Song.

Judy (two nominations)

What’s it about? A biopic of showbiz legend Judy Garland, starring Renee Zellweger.

Where to see it: Judy has limited screenings at the Savoy Cinema in Stockport and the Rex Cinema in Wilmslow.

Nominated for: Best Actress (Renee Zellweger), Makeup and Hairstyling.

Honeyland (two nominations)

What’s it about? Macedonian docu-drama about an elderly, mountain-dwelling beekeeper whose livelihood is threatened when an unruly family move in next door.

Where to watch it: Honeyland is available to rent on Amazon.

Nominated for: Best International Feature, Documentary.

Toy Story 4 (two nominations)

What’s it about? The fourth Toy Story movie sees Woody (Tom Hanks) and the gang going on the road to help new toy Forky (Tony Hale) understand his place in the world.

Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon for £3.49.

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature, Original Song.

Films with one nomination

A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood 

What’s it about? Marielle Heller directs this drama about the real-life friendship that developed between beloved children’s TV entertainer Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) and a cynical journalist (Matthew Rhys).

Where to watch it: A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood goes on general release in Manchester on 31st January.

Nominated for: Best Supporting Actor (Tom Hanks).

Richard Jewell

What’s it about? Clint Eastwood directs this drama based on the true story of Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser), a security guard who saved hundreds of people from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics, but was subsequently vilified in the press when it emerged he was the FBI’s main suspect.

Where to watch it: Richard Jewell goes on general release in Manchester on 31st January.

Nominated for: Best Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates).

Knives Out

What’s it about? Rian Johnson’s Christie-esque murder mystery stars Daniel Craig as a detective investigating the suspicious death of a renowned mystery author.

Where to watch it: Knives Out is currently on general release in Manchester.

Nominated for: Best Original Screenplay.

The Lighthouse

What’s it about? Two troubled lighthouse keepers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) confront epic storms and personal demons in a remote New England lighthouse in 1890.

Where to watch it: The Lighthouse will be released in Manchester on 31st January, including screenings at HOME.

Nominated for: Best Cinematography.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

What’s it about? Based on the books by Cressida Cowell, the third film in the series follows Hiccup and Toothless as they search for a hidden dragon utopia.

Where to watch it: Available to buy on Amazon for £8.99.

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature.

I Lost My Body

What’s it about? French animation about a disembodied hand searching Paris for its former owner.

Where to watch it: I Lost My Body is currently streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature.

Klaus

What’s it about? When a selfish young postman is assigned to a remote Scandinavian town, his unlikely friendship with a reclusive toymaker leads to the creation of Santa Claus.

Where to watch it: Klaus is currently streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature.

Missing Link

What’s it about? Refined Bigfoot Mr Link (Zach Galifianakis) recruits explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) to help him find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shang-ri-la.

Where to watch it: Missing Link is currently streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Animated Feature.

American Factory

What’s it about? Produced by the Obamas, this documentary details the culture clash as a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory on the site of the former General Motors plant in Ohio, hiring both a Chinese and American workforce.

Where to watch it: American Factory is currently streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Documentary.

The Edge of Democracy

What’s it about? Political documentary about the unravelling of two Brazilian presidencies.

Where to watch it: The Edge of Democracy is streaming on Netflix.

Nominated for: Best Documentary.

For Sama

What’s it about: Co-director Waad al-Kateab films her life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to her daughter, Sama.

Where to watch it: For Sama is currently available to stream on All 4.

Nominated for: Best Documentary.

Les Miserables

What’s it about? Inspired by the riots of 2005 in the Paris suburbs, France’s Best Foreign Film entry revolves around three members of an anti-crime brigade and the tensions between neighbourhood residents and the police.

Where to watch it: Les Miserables will be released in Manchester on 24th April before streaming on Amazon Prime.

Nominated for: Best International Feature.

Ad Astra

What’s it about: Brad Pitt stars as an astronaut who travels across the solar system to discover the truth about his father.

Where to watch it: Ad Astra is available to buy on Amazon.

Nominated for: Best Sound Mixing.

Rocketman

What’s it about? Dexter Fletcher directs this musical biopic of Sir Elton John (Taron Egerton).

Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon.

Nominated for: Best Original Song.

Breakthrough

What’s it about? Drama based on the true story of a boy who miraculously came back to life after being underwater in an icy lake for 15 minutes.

Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon.

Nominated for: Best Original Song.

Frozen II

What’s it about? Elsa and Anna travel to an enchanted forest to save their kingdom in this sequel to Disney’s animated hit.

Where to watch it: Frozen II is currently on general release in Manchester.

Nominated for: Best Original Song.

Avengers: Endgame

What’s it about? After the devastating events of Infinity War, Marvel’s Avengers reassemble to battle Thanos (Josh Brolin) and embark on a desperate plan to reverse his actions.

Where to watch it: Avengers: Endgame is available to stream on Sky Cinema and NOW TV.

Nominated for: Best Visual Effects.

The Lion King

What’s it about? Disney’s photo-realistic animated version of the 1994 classic, about Simba, a lion cub who flees his kingdom after the murder of his father.

Where to watch it: Available to rent on Amazon.

Nominated for: Best Visual Effects.

Regrettably, the following Oscar-nominated films are not currently available to watch in Manchester, but keep an eye out on streaming services and cinema listings: The Cave (Best Documentary), Corpus Christi (Best International Feature) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Best Makeup and Hairstyling).