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Oscar-Nominated Movies You Can Stream for Free This Month

Oscar-Nominated Movies You Can Stream for Free This Month

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Nominations have been announced for the 96th iteration of Hollywood’s biggest annual ceremony, the Academy Awards, to be held on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in L.A.

As has been widely reported, the nominations have generated not a little controversy – primarily around perceived snubs to “Barbie” star Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig, and to the three stars (Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton) of Todd Haynes’s acclaimed “May December.” If, as the old cliché goes, it’s an honor just to be nominated, these present-day movie luminaries might rightly feel dishonored.

Throughout Oscar history, though, a great number of superlative performers have been nominated for their lead or supporting roles – some of them still famous today, some all but forgotten by modern audiences. While scoring an acting nomination (or award) for one or more of its featured players doesn’t necessarily mean that a film is essential viewing, it’s certainly fun, and often rewarding, to watch the work of the men and women who are singled out – and it’s possible to see a lot of this work for free.

To determine the movies featuring the best Oscar-nominated performances that are available to stream for free this February, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of early February 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least one acting nomination, whether or not it led to a win, limiting our choices to films with a minimum of 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes and that are streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Amazon Freevee, Vudu, or Crackle. Information on nominations and awards comes from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar database. Data on streaming availability, also current as of early February, comes from the streaming guide Reelgood.

Few contemporary viewers are likely to remember performers on this list like Albert Basserman (on the shortlist as Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1940’s “Foreign Correspondent”) or Teresa Wright (a Best Actress nominee for 1942’s “The Pride of the Yankees”), but few will be surprised to be reminded that Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump” (1994) and Nicholas Cage in “Leaving Las Vegas” (1995) were not only nominated but won for Best Actor in a Leading Role. (Though both were veteran performers at the time, here’s a list of actors who won an Oscar in their debut role.)

On the other hand, such luminaries as Ava Gardner, Laurence Olivier, and Marlon Brando were all nominated for films on this list but didn’t win the big prize. Whether or not they felt honored anyway is not known.

Here is a list of Oscar-nominated performances to stream this month:

28. Our Town (1940)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (2,532 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 46% (1,297 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (7 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Pluto TV, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress (nominated), Martha Scott as Emily Webb

27. Mogambo (1953)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (7,974 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (2,882 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (13 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress (nominated), Ava Gardner as Eloise ‘Honey Bear’ Kelly

26. Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
  • IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (15,913 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (50,199 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (144 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Freevee, Vudu
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), Judi Dench as Mrs. Laura Henderson

25. The Reader (2008)

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (236,206 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (206,952 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 63% (204 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz

24. A Dry White Season (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (5,441 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (2,569 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (36 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), Marlon Brando as McKenzie

23. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) | Patricia Clarkson, Rebecca Hall, and Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (248,537 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (104,086 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (212 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena

22. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (23,922 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (8,796 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (30 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), Jeff Bridges as Lightfoot

21. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Source: Courtesy of Annapurna Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Annapurna Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (45,888 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (2,617 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (362 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), Regina King as Sharon Rivers

20. Penny Serenade (1941)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (6,735 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (5,220 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (17 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Crackle
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor (nominated), Cary Grant as Roger Adams

19. Sophie’s Choice (1982)

Source: Courtesy of Associated Film Distribution

Source: Courtesy of Associated Film Distribution
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (45,838 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (21,561 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (41 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Freevee, Plex, Crackle
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), Meryl Streep as Sophie

18. The Impossible (2012)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (226,654 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (49,422 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (202 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), Naomi Watts as Maria

17. The Westerner (1940)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (5,548 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (744 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (6 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Amazon Freevee, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), Walter Brennan as Judge Roy Bean

16. The Fortune Cookie (1966)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (13,691 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (4,687 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (26 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), Walter Matthau as Willie Gingrich

15. Foreign Correspondent (1940)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (19,743 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (6,923 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (42 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), Albert Basserman as Van Meer

14. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Distribution Company

Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Distribution Company
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (119,047 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (56,598 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (53 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Amazon Freevee
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson

13. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment

Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (795,904 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (328,609 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (138 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), Ellen Burstyn as Sara Goldfarb

12. Wuthering Heights (1939)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (16,674 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (8,793 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (23 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor (nominated), Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff

11. Forrest Gump (1994)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,905,676 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (1,244,237 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (104 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Pluto TV
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump

10. Warrior (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films

Source: Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (450,064 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (59,533 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (192 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), Nick Nolte as Paddy Conlon

9. Boyhood (2014)

Source: Courtesy of IFC Films

Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (344,547 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (89,860 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (327 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), Ethan Hawke as Dad

8. The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (10,492 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (6,847 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (32 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Freevee, Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress (nominated), Teresa Wright as Eleanor Gehrig

7. Platoon (1986)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (395,356 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (240,012 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (69 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), Tom Berenger as Sgt. Barnes

6. The Dresser (1983)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (5,530 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (1,813 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (15 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), Tom Courtenay as Norman

5. Stagecoach (1939)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (46,215 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (14,658 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (45 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Crackle
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), Thomas Mitchell as Dr. Josiah Boone

4. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (78,648 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (8,681 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (23 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor (won), Maximilian Schell as Hans Rolfe

3. Raging Bull (1980)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

Source: Courtesy of United Artists
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (356,943 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (131,523 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (76 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Tubi, Pluto TV
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta

2. L.A. Confidential (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
  • IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (551,824 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (150,890 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (115 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), Kim Basinger as Lynn Bracken

1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
  • IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (422,428 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (219,179 reviews)
  • Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (87 reviews)
  • Streaming on: Plex
  • Oscar nomination/win: Best Actor (nominated), James Stewart as George Bailey
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