The year’s best movies: How to watch this year’s award winners and nominees

It’s the biggest night of the year in Hollywood – and it’s almost here! For nearly a century, the Academy Awards (or the Oscars, as they’re usually known) have recognised the finest achievements in cinema, from directors, actors and writers to costumes and effects. And you can watch the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday 15 March on ITV1 HD (CH 103).

We’ve already enjoyed the BAFTA Film Awards, which took place on 22 February, with wins for some of the biggest movies and stars from Britain and beyond. And many of the same films will be in contention at LA’s Dolby Theatre on 15 March. We might not be able to get you onto the red carpet in Tinseltown, but you can watch the films vying for those famous golden statuettes including Sinners, One Battle After Another, Hamnet and loads more right now, either on streaming services on Virgin TV or with Virgin Media Store.

With Virgin Media Store, you can always buy or rent each month’s hottest releases, including the movies that took the BAFTA glory and will figure prominently at the 98th Academy Awards. Don’t forget with Premium Release titles, you can now buy or rent selected films at the same time they’re in cinemas – here’s more about that.

Find out more about some of this award season’s biggest films below and how you can watch them right now.

Premium release. Buy or rent on Virgin Media Store now. Cert 12

What’s Hamnet about? It traces the relationship between William and Agnes Shakespeare, as they face a tragedy that almost tears them apart but ultimately inspires one of history’s greatest theatrical works.

Who’s in Hamnet? Jessie Buckley has been widely acclaimed for her role as Agnes, with Paul Mescal as William and Jacobi Jupe as young Hamnet.

How did Hamnet do at the BAFTA film awards? From 11 nominations, it won two awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role for Buckley and Outstanding British Film.

What Academy Awards has Hamnet been nominated for? Best Picture, Best Director (Chloé Zhao), Best Actress (Jessie Buckley), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Casting, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design

Buy or rent on Virgin Media Store now. Cert 15

What’s One Battle After Another about? A former revolutionary is living off-grid with his daughter but when she goes missing, the ghosts of his past return to haunt him and he must take up arms once again.

Who’s in One Battle After Another? Leonardo DiCaprio leads a cast that includes Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti and previous Oscar winners Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro.

How did One Battle After Another do at the BAFTA film awards? It was the big winner on the night, taking home Best Film, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Supporting Actor for Penn, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

What Academy Awards has One Battle After Another been nominated for? Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn), Best Supporting Actress (Teyana Taylor), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music (Original Score), Best Casting, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15

What’s Sinners about? In the 1930s, twin brothers who have made good in the north return to their Mississippi home town to open a dance club. But some bloodthirsty neighbours have other ideas in this hugely original drama/horror/musical hit.

Who’s in Sinners? Michael B Jordan plays both brothers with support from Hailee Steinfeld, Delroy Lindo, newcomer Miles Caton and British stars Wunmi Mosaku and Jack O’Connell.

How did Sinners do at the BAFTA film awards? Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress, and the movie also took the Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score prizes.

What Academy Awards has Sinners been nominated for? An all-time record 16: Best Picture, Best Director (Ryan Coogler), Best Actor (Michael B Jordan), Best Supporting Actor (Delroy Lindo), Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku), Best Original Screenplay, Best Music (Original Score), Best Music (Original Song), Best Casting, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Make-up And Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects

Buy or rent on Virgin Media Store now. Cert 15

What’s Bugonia about? A pair of conspiracy theorists are convinced that a pharmaceutical CEO is actually an alien. But when they kidnap her, intent on exposing the truth, events soon spiral out of their control.

Who’s in Bugonia? Double Oscar winner Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis.

How did Bugonia do at the BAFTA film awards? It was nominated for five awards, including Best Actress and Best Actor, but didn’t win any.

What Academy Awards has Bugonia been nominated for? Best Picture, Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music (Original Score)

Buy or rent on Virgin Media Store now or stream in Apps > MUBI. Cert 15

What’s Sentimental Value about? An ageing film-maker attempts to reconnect with the daughter he abandoned as a child by offering her a role – but it changes their relationship in ways neither had expected.

Who’s in Sentimental Value? This Norwegian movie stars Swedish stalwart Stellan Skarsgård as well as Norwegian actors Renate Reinsve (who scored nominations previously for The Worst Person In The World) and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, plus US star Elle Fanning.

How did Sentimental Value do at the BAFTA film awards? It was nominated for eight awards and won Best Film Not In The English Language (although some of it is in the English language).

What Academy Awards has Sentimental Value been nominated for? Best Picture, Best Director (Joachim Trier), Best Actress (Renate Reinsve), Best Supporting Actor (Stellan Skarsgård), Best Supporting Actress (Elle Fanning), Best Supporting Actress (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Film Editing

Buy or rent on Virgin Media Store now or stream in Apps > Netflix. Cert 15

What’s I Swear about? A young man with Tourette syndrome struggles to be accepted by society, until a mental health nurse and a community centre worker give him the chance to flourish and live a more fulfilling life.

Who’s in I Swear? Up-and-coming actor Robert Aramayo plays the lead role, with Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan and Shirley Henderson.

How did I Swear do at the BAFTA film awards? Aramayo beat far more celebrated Hollywood names to win the Best Actor award, on the same night he scooped BAFTA’s Rising Star prize, and the film also won Best Casting.

Available in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15

What’s Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy about? The loveable but unlucky-in-love Bridget returns for a fourth instalment in this hit series. Older, slightly wiser and bereaved, she finds herself torn between the affections of two men – one of them still in his 20s.

Who’s in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy? Two-time Oscar winner Renée Zellweger stars with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall.

How did Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy do at the BAFTA film awards? It scored a nomination for Outstanding British Film.

Buy or rent on Virgin Media Store now or stream in Apps > Disney+ or just say “Disney+”. Cert PG

What’s Zootropolis 2 about? Intrepid rabbit police officer Judy Hopps – now partnered with foxy former thief Nick Wilde – uncovers evidence of a snake-based conspiracy in this fun, action-packed animated sequel, which took more than $1.8 billion at the global box office.

Who’s in Zootropolis 2? Ginnifer Goodwin (Walk The Line) and Jason Bateman (Carry-On) return as the leads, with Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake leading an all-star supporting voice cast.

How did Zootropolis 2 do at the BAFTA film awards? It won Best Animated Film and was also nominated for Best Children’s And Family Film.

What Academy Awards has Zootropolis 2 been nominated for? Best Animated Feature

• Blue Moon

• Bugonia

• Elio

• Hamnet

• F1: The Movie

• Jurassic World: Rebirth

• One Battle After Another

• Sentimental Value

• Sinners

• Song Sung Blue

• The Ugly Stepsister

• Weapons

• Zootropolis 2

Apps > BBC iPlayer

• Mr Nobody Against Putin

Apps > Disney+

• Elio

• Zootropolis 2

Apps > MUBI

• It Was Just An Accident

• Sentimental Value

Apps > Netflix

• Frankenstein

• KPop Demon Hunters

• The Perfect Neighbor

• Train Dreams

Sky Cinema on demand

• Jurassic World: Rebirth

• Sinners

Sky Documentaries on demand

• The Alabama Solution

Don’t have Sky Cinema? You can find out about our Sky Cinema package and upgrade here.