11 movies you need to watch before the 2021 Oscars

Watch now: Amazon Prime

Leslie Odom Jr.'s powerful performance as Sam Cooke is topped off by his performance of "Speak Now" during the end credits.

The versatility of Odom Jr. shines through as he's been rewarded with a supporting actor nomination along with best song.

Watch now: Apple TV Plus

Tom Hanks delivers a performance you would expect from America's Dad, as he plays a World War II US Navy captain on his first war-time assignment trying to ward off German U-Boats from a convoy of battleships he's escorting. But the real star is its sound design.

From the haunting communication by the U-Boat submarine to the crunching sounds of the ship moving through frigid conditions, it all elevates the story.

Watch now: On-Demand

Sure, you should probably put on the subtitles to really understand what's going on in the spy caper "Tenet," but it is, at the very least, another Christopher Nolan movie with impeccable production design.

Every set and location is next-level.

Watch now: Netflix

Once more Terence Blanchard's score has elevated a Spike Lee movie.

The harrowing journey of four veterans going back to Vietnam to find gold is taken to some deep and soulful places thanks to the powerful score that Blanchard has created. It makes us feel more of the pain that Paul (Delroy Lindo) is suffering, while also taking us to the heights Otis (Clarke Peters) is feeling by the end of the movie when he's with the daughter he never knew he had.

Watch now: Netflix

The talents of an actor are sometimes not enough. It's the way they look added to the performance that makes the character they play unforgettable. It's the nominated hairstyling and makeup that Viola David, Chadwick Boseman, and the rest of the cast receive that makes us believe that we are watching 1930s-era musicians.

It's especially evident in the makeup and styling of Davis as iconic singer Ma Rainey that's most extraordinary.

Watch now: Netflix

In David Fincher's look at the screenwriter behind the creation of classic "Citizen Kane," the director brings us back to 1940s Hollywood. Thanks to the fantastic nominated costume design by Trish Summerville, the looks of the movie biz hierarchy are in full view: from the struggling scribe to the wealthiest people in the world.

Watch now: Netflix

In showcasing the life of chairman Fred Hampton, famed cinematographer Sean Bobbitt uses his glorious toolbox to deliver stunning visuals. From its gorgeous opening sequence where Bill tries to steal a car to the powerful close-ups during Fred's speech at the church, it's just one amazing shot after another.

Watch now: On-Demand

The screenplay by director Emerald Fennell (who also received a best director nod) is one of the main reasons the movie is nominated for best picture and its lead Carey Mulligan is nominated for best actress.

This unique revenge tale is filled with edge-of-your-seat thrills (and often terror) because of the biting dialogue that taps into such a raw and personal place.

Watch now: Amazon Prime

There's so much to love about this movie, but one of the main things is the tour-de-force performance by Ahmed as a drummer who is losing his hearing.

It's really hard to think of anyone other than Ahmed playing this role that's filled with conflict, anger, but also love.

Watch now: On-Demand

Lee Isaac Chung's movie is one of the feel-good stories of the year.

A semi-autobiographical tale that follows a South Korean family living in Arkansas in the 1980s, it has scored six nominations, including best picture, director, and actor Steven Yeun.

Watch now: Hulu

Chloé Zhao's writing-directing effort that looks at a woman who decides to live out of her van on the open road after the death of her husband is a powerful exploration of individuality and a look at the final frontier: living off-grid.

Featuring an amazing performance by Frances McDormand, the movie mixes real-life nomads within its story to examine a little-known subculture in the country.