25 Movies To Watch Before Oscar Night – 2025 

We are just in February but the year already feels like a full year. All that to say that I feel like this year’s Oscars snuck up on me and I have less time than I thought to catch up before the ceremony which is on Sunday, March 2nd. As always, here are the 25 movies I recommend seeing before Oscar night. These are based on the nominees and the front runners on the award circuit.

I’ll have my thoughts and where you can watch if it’s on streaming:

1. Emilia Perez – Listen, Zoe is probably going to win the Oscar but I did not get this movie. I did not enjoy it and I am baffled at its buzz and noms (Netflix)
2. A Complete Unknown – have not watched yet
3. Conclave – I loved this so much and the ending wasn’t meant to be funny but it made me laugh out loud (Peacock)
4. Nickel Boys – have not watched yet
5. I’m Still Here – have not watched yet
6. The Substance – intriguing storyline. Very visually jarring. If Demi got a nom I am not sure why Margaret Qualley wasn’t in the conversation as well. She was just as good.
7. Dune: Part Two – have not watched (Netflix or Max)
8. Wicked – I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did and Ariana was a pleasant surprise
9. Anora – This movie was like what I imagine being on speed is. It was fun yes but I don’t get the nom for Mikey Madison. Don’t watch around your parents. Lots of tits and ass on display.
10. The Brutalist – Jury is out on whether this movie needed to be 3 and half hours long but everyone was on their acting A-game.
11. The Apprentice – Terrible movie but great perfomances. Jeremy Strong was a standout.
12. Sing Sing – Okay enough movie that had actual inmates in it but unfortunately Colman has been relegated to being a filler nominee (Netflix)
13. Flow – have not seen yet
14. The Wild Robot – oh gosh this was so cute but sad (Peacock)
15. A Real Pain – It just didn’t do it for me and I am surprised that Kieran is the front runner (Hulu)
16. Sugarcane – have not seen yet (Hulu)
17. No Other Land – have not seen yet (still so surprised that Superman: The Christopher Reeves Story wasn’t nominated)
18. Inside Out 2 – Preferred 1 but this was good as well (Disney +)
19. September 5 – Have not seen yet
20. Maria – This was just okay for me and it was good to have a reminder that Angelina Jolie can still act (Netflix)
21. Gladiator II – have not watched (Paramount +)
22. Porcelain War – Have not seen yet. We don’t have a documentary frontrunner, so might as well watch as many of them
23. Nosferatu – Have not and will not see (Peacock)
24. Kingdom of The Planet Of The Apes – have not seen (Hulu)
25. A Different Man – have not seen (Max)

Watch these and you’ll be ready to make unbiased picks come Oscar night. As you can see, I am waaay behind on my watches. Feels like I see less and less each year but I plan on doing some quick catch ups. Enjoy!