Need something to watch this weekend at home? There are so many options. And consider this...
The Academy is voting right now (through December 15th) on the nine categories that have "finalist" lists before the actual nomination round. That's all three SHORTS categories, plus MAKEUP, VISUAL EFFECTS, SCORE, SONG, DOCUMENTARY, and INTERNATIONAL FEATURE. So dozens to hundreds of films will be eliminated on December 21st when those finalists lists are announced. But here are some key films that could theoretically make the finals in one or more of those categories that are free to stream right now -- free if you have that subscription of course. So these are some options if you're looking to catch up with buzzy or not-buzzy-but-of-interest possibilities...
Possible in one or more of the 'bake-off' categories
MAKEUP/HAIR, VISUAL EFFECTS, SCORE, SONG
Annette - Amazon Prime
Black Widow - Disney+
Cruella - Disney+
Electrical Life of Louis Wain - Amazon Prime
Godzilla vs Kong - HBOMax
The Harder They Fall - Netflix
King Richard - HBOMax until December 18th
Passing - Netflix
The Power of the Dog - Netflix
Shang Chi - Disney+
The Tomorrow War - Amazon Prime
Many more titles, mostly the ones that came out earlier in the year like Zola, The Green Knight, Titane, Free Guy, Stillwater, Respect, are available for online rental for $6 bucks or $20 purchase if they're newer like The Last Duel or Spencer. But that's getting into the weeds and if you're willing to plunk down money you can find plenty with a simple search.
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
A little more information here as these can be more difficult to trace. The bulk of the 93 submissions are not available currently but here is information on where to find 18 of them.
Streaming
The Hand of God (Italy) - Netflix starting December 15th
Holy Beasts (Dominican Republic) - Film Movement
The Medium (Thailand) - Shudder
Prayers for the Stolen (Mexico) - Netflix
Yellow Cat (Kazakhstan) -Mubi
Zero to Hero (China) - Netflix
Rentable $
Escape from Mogadishu (South Korea)
I'm Your Man (Germany)
Submersible (Ecuador)
Titane (France)
Only Available to Buy $$$
Lamb (Iceland)
Currently in Theatrical Release
Bad Luck Banging... (Romania)
Drive My Car (Japan)
Flee (Denmark)
In Theaters 2022
A Hero (Iran) - in theaters January 7th
Compartment No 6 (Finland) in theaters Jan 26th
Worst Person in the World (Norway) - in theaters February 4th
Great Freedom (Austria) - in theaters March 4th
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Here's Glenn's overview of the 138 eligible contenders. Most of them are actually available for a rental price. But here are the ones currently streaming.
Streaming
All Light Everywhere - Hulu
The Alpinist - Netflix
Attica - Showtime
Becoming Cousteau - Disney+
Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry - Apple TV
A Cop Movie - Netflix
A Crime on the Bayou - Starz
Cusp - Showtime
Enemies of the State Hulu
Fathom - AppleTV
Faya Dayi - Criterion Channel
The First Wave - Hulu
Found - Netflix
Homeroom - Hulu
In the Same Breath - HBOMax
Introducing Selma Blair - Discovery+
Jacinta - Hulu
LGF - HBOMax
The Loneliest Whale - Hulu
Mayor Pete - Amazon Prime
Misha and the Wolves - Netflix
My Name is Pauli Murray - Amazon Prime
Operation Varsity Blues - Netflix
Playing with Sharks - Disney+
Pray Away - Netflix
Procession - Netflix
Real Charlie Chaplin - Showtime
The Rescue - Disney+
Rita Moreno Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It - Netflix
Sabaya - Paramount+
Simple as Water - HBOMax
Sisters on Track - Netflix
The Sparks Brothers - Netflix
Summer of Soul - Hulu
Tina - HBOMax
Truman and Tennessee - Criterional Channel
Two Gods - Mubi
Val - Amazon Prime
The Velvet Underground - AppleTV
Currently in Theatrical Release
Flee
Julia
OSCAR PREDICTION CHARTS - All Charts will be revamped between Monday December 13th and Wednesday December 15th (Critics Choice, Globe, and Spirit nominations arrive on Monday and Tuesday)