Whew! The 96th Academy Awards (aka Oscars) gave us the most entertaining and memorable ceremony for a long time, and we’re still recovering from it. And we don’t just mean from Ryan Gosling and the Kens, with their extravagant rendition of Oscar-nominated song “I’m Just Ken” (or John Cena’s eye-opening appearance). Many superb films were represented at the awards – and you can buy or rent them on Virgin Media Store.

Oppenheimer and Poor Things were the big winners, claiming seven and four statuettes respectively, but others were rewarded too including Anatomy Of A Fall and The Holdovers. As always, plenty of hopefuls came away empty-handed but with this high-calibre round-up of nominees and winners, we can guarantee you one thing: absolute entertainment.

With Virgin Media Store, you can buy and keep or rent these shortlisted films. Here’s how you do that. We made our predictions when this article was published ahead of the big night – and we’ve revisited those with our Post-Oscars postscript to see just how that went…

Poor Things

Available to buy now. Cert 18

Tipping its hat to Frankenstein, Poor Things – up for 11 Academy Awards – tells the incredible tale of Bella (Emma Stone), assembled and brought to life by a maverick scientist. A coming-of-age tale like you’ve never seen before, this surreal adventure is funny, farcical and occasionally frightful.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup And Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design

Pre-Oscars prediction: With a clutch of Golden Globes and BAFTAs, plus the Gold Lion from last year’s Venice Film Festival, Poor Things seems guaranteed gongs. Our Best Actress favourite is Stone for her extraordinary performance.

Post-Oscars postscript: Stone did indeed win, and Poor Things also claimed Oscars for costume design, makeup and hairstyling, and production design.

Oppenheimer

Available to buy or rent now. Cert 15

Telling the story of scientist J Robert Oppenheimer and his development of the atomic bomb, this box office hit from director Christopher Nolan (Interstellar) mixes biopic and courtroom drama. Combining spectacular visuals with a star-studded cast, it leads the way with 13 Oscar nominations.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup And Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound

Pre-Oscars prediction: With the most nominations garnered by a single film since 2018’s The Shape Of Water, a win for Oppenheimer seems a dead cert. It’s already nabbed seven BAFTAs, as well as Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr are red-hot favourites in their categories.

Post-Oscars postscript: Oppenheimer won seven Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor, as well as Cinematography, Editing and Original Score.

Anatomy Of A Fall

Available to buy or rent now. Cert 15

When Samuel is found dead on the snow outside the chalet he shares with his wife Sandra and son Daniel, accusations start to fly. Part courtroom drama, part murder mystery, part analysis of a failing relationship, this intriguing French thriller keeps you guessing right to the end.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing

Pre-Oscars prediction: Some critics are tipping this unusual thriller, winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, for Best Picture, although Best Original Screenplay (for which it won a BAFTA) is a safer prediction. Sandra Hüller, who also put in an award-worthy turn in The Zone Of Interest, is a good outside bet.

Post-Oscars postscript: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari won for their screenplay – and Messi the dog was a big hit in Tinseltown.

The Holdovers

Available to buy or rent now. Cert 15

Sideways director Alexander Payne reunites with Paul Giamatti for a masterpiece of storytelling in this feel-good, deeply touching film about a cranky history teacher . forced to look after a troubled teen. Could this enforced babysitting duty prove the making of him? 

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Supporting Actress (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing

Pre-Oscars prediction: Given Da’Vine Joy Randolph has won every award going for her startling performance, she seems a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actress. After winning at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, Giamatti’s a strong contender too – but Cillian Murphy is in his way. 

Post-Oscars postscript: The Holdovers’ sole Oscar went to, yep, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who brought Paul Giamatti (among others) to tears with her emotional acceptance speech.

Killers Of The Flower Moon

Available to buy now. Cert 15

Scorsese. DiCaprio. De Niro. With these credentials, is it any surprise that the film is up for 10 Academy Awards? Set in 1920s Oklahoma, it’s an epic western crime drama about the so-called Osage Indian murders – mysterious killings that took place when oil was found on a Native American reservation. A compelling, gut-wrenching watch.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Actress (Lily Gladstone), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Original Score, Best Original Song (“Wahzhazhe”), Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography,

Pre-Oscars prediction: Scorsese is now the most nominated living director in Academy Awards history with 10 – and, at 81, he’s also the oldest. Golden Globe winner Lily Gladstone is also breaking records: she’s the first Native American actor ever to be up for the Best Actress award, and we think she’s Emma Stone’s main competition.

Post-Oscars postscript: Like so many Scorsese films, Killers Of The Flower Moon scored zero wins from multiple nominations, although it’s still superb – and the Osage Nation’s performance of “Wahzhazhe” was a highlight.

The Zone Of Interest

Available to buy or rent now. Cert 12

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) strive to build a perfect life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. Directed by Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast), it’s a hypnotic and radically experimental look at domestic lives lived against a backdrop of horrific barbarism. Harrowing yet compelling stuff.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Glazer), Best International Feature Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound

Pre-Oscars prediction: We’re confident this British film will add an Oscar to its BAFTA for Best Sound, with its chilling backdrop of groans, screams and gunshots that ramps up the horror almost imperceptibly.

Post-Oscars postscript: As well as taking Best Sound, The Zone Of Interest became the first British movie to win the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Barbie

Available to buy or rent now. Cert 12

Few films have captured the world’s attention so completely. Margot Robbie’s brilliantly stereotypical Barbie goes on a journey of self-discovery when her perfect life hits an existential crisis. Throw in a peerless turn from Ryan Gosling as Ken and a speech for the ages by America Ferrara, and you have a movie that’s surprising, funny and utterly brilliant.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Song (“I’m Just Ken” and “What Was I Made For?”), Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrara), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design

Pre-Oscars prediction: With two tracks in the running, our money’s on an Oscar for Best Original Song, especially as Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” has already nabbed a Golden Globe.

Post-Oscars postscript: “What Was I Made For?” took the Original Song award, although Ryan Gosling’s showstopping performance of “I’m Just Ken” was the one that got everyone off their seats.

The Color Purple

Available to buy or rent now. Cert 12

With a story that’s an inspiring celebration of sisterhood, musical numbers from the hit stage show and an incredible cast, this movie is a sheer delight that you’ll love to watch over and over at home. Fantasia Barrino (the stage star in her movie debut) and Taraji P Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) lead the cast, but it’s Danielle Brooks (Orange Is The New Black) who’s taken the most plaudits as Sofia.

Nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks)

Pre-Oscars prediction: Brooks was nominated for a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Screen Actors Guild award, a People’s Choice award and a Critics’ Choice award in this role – AND for a Tony when she played it on Broadway – and missed out every time. Could this be her moment? You never know…

Post-Oscars postscript: Sadly Danielle Brooks went home empty-handed, although she’s a phenomenal talent who has every chance of scooping an Oscar in future.