Oscars 2020: Where to watch the nominated films in London cinemas

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Harry Fletcher15 January 2020

Oscars buzz is everywhere following the nominations earlier this week, with film fans seemingly impressed and outraged in equal measure.

Joker leads the way with 11 nominations, while 1917 and Once Upon a Time In Hollywood are also in the mix with 10 nods.

While some of the films up for awards this year have yet to be released in the UK – including Best Picture contender Parasite, out on February 7 – there are plenty of chances to see nominated films in London cinemas. Others, like Marriage Story and The Irishman, are available to watch on Netflix.

From major current releases to older and esoteric movies that left mainstream theatres months ago, these are the places to watch Oscar-nominated films in London.

1917

1917 - Trailer 2

Take your pick – just about everywhere in the capital is showing 1917, the biggest releases of the year so far.

Major chains Vue, Odeon and Cineworld are awash with screenings, as well as independents and smaller cinemas like Rich Mix, Regent Street Cinema and Electric Cinema. For a slightly alternative experience, The Cinema at Selfridges and Everyman Screen on the Green are showing it too. But we'll be honest – the bigger the screen, the better for this one. Our pick would be something like Vue's flagship in Leicester Square.

Little Women

Little Women - Trailer

Despite Greta Gerwig’s snub in the Best Director category, Little Women is up for the Best Picture prize and there are still plenty of places to see the film in London. Screening aren’t quite as widespread as 1917, but the film was only released on Boxing Day and as a result the likes of Cineworld, Vue, Odeon, Rich Mix, Regent Street Cinema, Picturehouse – Crouch End and Curzon Bloomsbury are showing the film. See it while you can.

Harriet

Harriet trailer

Cynthia Erivo has been recognised with a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The drama is also up for Best Original Song, and the only place we can find to see it in London is the Electric Cinema – White City on January 26.

Knives Out

Knives Out - Trailer

It was one of the most crowd-pleasing movies of last year, but time is running out to see Rian Johnson’s whodunnit after it came out in November. Covent Garden, Haymarket and Wimbledon are the last three branches of Odeon to be showing the film this month. The Picturehouse branches Hackney, Greenwich, Crouch End, Ritzy and West Norwood are hosting sporadic screenings too. Olympic Cinema in Barnes is also hosting screenings on January 18 and 21. Vue, on the other hand, are showing it at all their branches across London, apart from the Piccadilly and Wood Green sites.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Trailer

Many critics branded The Rise of Skywalker a slightly underwhelming conclusion to the Star Wars franchise, but that hasn’t stopped the film picking up nods for Original Score, Achievement in Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. It’s still doing the business at the box office too, showing at all the usual suspects like Odeon, Vue, Cineworld, Picturehouse – Crouch End, Genesis, Peckhamplex and Everyman Cinema – Baker Street.​

Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit - Trailer

It’s one of the most divisive films at this year’s Oscars, having split critics and audiences alike, but Taika Waititi’s WWII comedy drama Jojo Rabbit has six nominations – including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and a Best Supporting Actress nod for Scarlett Johansson. It’s another recent release, having come out on January 3, and the likes of Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, Rich Mix and Picturehouse – Crouch End are all showing it.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD trailer

It’s got 10 Oscar nominations to its name this year – and we fancy it to sneak the Best Picture prize – but we’ve only been able to find two screenings of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood in London before the ceremony. The movie is being shown at the Prince Charles Cinema on February 4 and again as part of a Quentin Tarantino all-nighter on February 29. Whirled Cinema in Loughborough Junction is also showing the film from February 3-5, although these are for members only.

Bombshell

Bombshell - Trailer

Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie are up for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively for their performances in the Fox News sexual harassment scandal drama Bombshell. The film will be easy to find in London cinemas when it opens on July 17, being shown at various chains of Odeon and Cineworld, as well as the likes of Curzon cinemas, Rio Cinema and Genesis.

Le Mans '66

Le Mans '66 - Trailer

Best Picture contender Le Mans 66 – renamed Ford vs Ferrari in the US – follows American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles as they team up to take on the heavyweights of motor racing. It’s something of a surprise nomination at this year’s awards, and we’ve only been able to find one London screening – at Electric Cinema's Portobello branch on January 16. Best be quick.

The Lion King

Whether they loved or hated The Lion King, few would argue that its nomination in the Visual Effects category wasn’t deserved. This Disney remake came out in cinemas way back in the summer and has all but disappeared in that time. There is, however, a screening taking place at the Barbican Cinema on January 18 at 11am.

The Irishman

The Irishman trailer

The movie may be available to watch on Netflix, but a mob film as vast in scale as Best Picture-nominated The Irishman deserves to be seen on the big screen – head down to the Prince Charles Cinema to see the movie on February 5.

Toy Story 4

The Barbican Cinema, again, is the only place we can find showing the fourth instalment of the Toy Story franchise. The venue is showing the film as part of its Family Film Club on February 8 – the day before the ceremony takes place.

Joker

Joker - Trailer

Head to the Prince Charles Cinema to see a screening of Best Picture nominee Joker as part of its Oscars retrospective. The venue is showing the film on January 25 and 28, February 1, 6, 26 and March 3. It’s a chance to see one of the most critically acclaimed performances of the year, with Jaoquin Phoenix up for the Best Actor award for his central performance.​

How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - Trailer

The excellent How To Train Your Dragon trilogy came to a close in 2019 with Hidden World. The film has picked up a Best Animated Feature nomination at this year’s Oscars. We can’t see anywhere showing the film before the ceremony, although there was one event that caught our eye – the Prince Charles Cinema is hosting a screening of all three movies on March 1, which promises to be a must-attend for fans.