5 Oscar-Winning Films You Need to Watch

After a weekend jam-packed with stars and awesome wins for some of our favorite movies this past year, the 93rd Academy Awards is officially over. Since you know which movies were “Oscar-worthy”, now is your chance to choose your next big watch and be a part of the conversations surrounding these great films. If you haven’t seen any of the Oscar-winning and nominated movies yet, we’ve put together a guide to the must-watch Oscar films you can’t afford to miss on the big screen. 

Top 5 Oscar-Winning and Nominated Films to Watch

1. Nomadland

Nomadland is an American drama film directed and produced by Chloé Zhao. Nomadland meets its main character, Fern, right after the Great Recession. She is a woman in her sixties who now must start over after losing everything. She packs up her van and becomes a van-dwelling nomad traveling around the Western United States. 

Nomadland took home a whopping three awards last weekend, winning the night’s biggest award: the Academy Award for Best Picture. And, for the first time in the history of the Academy Awards, Chloé Zhao became the first-ever woman of color to win the Academy Award for Best Director. Not only that, but Frances McDormand took home the Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role. 

Nomadland was nominated for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Frances McDormand for Best Actress, Chloé Zhao for Best Director.

Although it’s on Hulu, you can also watch Nomadland with the full movie experience at the theaters. Get your discounted tickets from ACEBSA while Nomadland is still playing in cinemas near you!

2. The Father

Directed by Florian Zeller, The Father follows a man as he ages and refuses help from his daughter throughout his health struggles, even as he begins to doubt the validity of his own thoughts. He becomes paranoid, frustrated, and unsure of what’s real as he manages his own life and his relationships. The movie stars Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, who are both gaining a lot of attention for their performances. 

The Father won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, with Anthony Hopkins taking home the Academy Award for Best Actor In a Leading Role. This movie was nominated in the categories of Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. Anthony Hopkins was nominated for Best Actor, and Olivia Colman for Best Actress.

You can now watch The Father in select theaters with discounted tickets from ACEBSA. Book your tickets today while The Father is still showing! 

3. Promising Young Woman

Promising Young Woman is a Thriller/Comedy directed by Emerald Fennell. It's rare for a movie in this genre to be so well-noticed by the Academy Awards, making this movie one many have their eye on this year. It centers on Cassie, a smart and cunning woman who's deciding to take action on a traumatizing event from her past. This action leads her to a secret double life as she pursues vengeance. 

Promising Young Woman won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. This movie was nominated for Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture, with Carey Mulligan nominated for Best Actress, and Emerald Fennell for Best Director.

You can now watch Promising Young Woman at select theaters with discounted tickets from ACEBSA. Book your tickets today while Promising Young Woman is still in theaters! 

4. Judas And The Black Messiah

Directed by Shaka King, Judas And The Black Messiah is a historical film that follows the protagonist William O’Neal, who is pushed to infiltrate the Black Panther Party by the FBI and report back with valuable intelligence on the group, specifically Chairman Fred Hampton. As Judas And The Black Messiah progresses, William O’Neal is faced with a dilemma: is an informant for the FBI against these people really who he wants to be? 

Judas And The Black Messiah took home two Academy Awards: one for Best Original Song, Fight For You, and one for Best Actor In A Supporting Role won by Daniel Kaluuya. This movie was nominated for Best Original Song, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture. Both Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield were nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

If you want to watch Judas And The Black Messiah at select theaters, get your discounted tickets from ACEBSA!

5. Minari

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, Minari is a heartwarming American drama film that follows the story of an immigrant Korean-American family in pursuit of the American Dream. Set in the 1980s on a farm in rural Arkansas, the film shows how the family faces and overcomes many challenges that teach them what makes a place a home and how they work together as a family. 

Last weekend, Youn Yuh-Jung won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Despite only taking home one award, Minari was nominated in multiple categories: Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Picture. Steven Yeun was nominated for Best Actor, Youn Yuh-Jung for Best Supporting Actress, and Lee Isaac Chung for Best Director.

Minari is playing at select theaters now. Purchase your discounted tickets from ACEBSA to watch it this weekend!

Watch the Best Movies of 2020 in Theaters

As COVID-restrictions lift and vaccinations continue to roll out, it’s time to finally let yourself enjoy the movie theater experience again. Gather a small group of your vaccinated friends and make sure to catch these 5 Academy Award-Winning movies in theaters! And don’t forget that you can get discounted movie tickets with ACEBSA.