Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Before the year’s winners are announced, catch up with this year’s Best Picture nominees.
The Oscars are fast approaching, with the ceremony taking place on March 16 at 7:00 A.M. in Philippine Standard Time. There are plenty of things that people are looking forward to: Will Autumn Durald Arkapaw make history as the first woman of color to win for cinematography? Will Timothée Chalamet finally be recognized as one of the greats for his performance in Marty Supreme? Finally, which of these Oscar-nominated films will be hailed as the Best Picture of the year?
If you’re not caught up yet on this year’s Best Picture contenders, here’s where you can watch them in the Philippines.
Bugonia
Bugonia had its theatrical release in the Philippines last November, but fret not! Yorgos Lanthimos’ sci-fi comedy starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons is available on Apple TV. The sci-fi comedy film follows a conspiracy-obsessed man who kidnaps a CEO he believes is an alien. So far, the film has received 10 wins, including the Irish Film and Television Award for Best International Actress, the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the Green Drop Award at the Venice Film Festival.
How to watch: Buy or rent on Apple TV.
F1
Just like Bugonia, F1 had its Philippine theatrical release last year and is now available on Apple TV. The film is a sports drama starring Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a retired 1990s driver who returns to Formula 1 to mentor a young rookie (Damson Idris) at a struggling underdog team, APXGP. F1 has earned 23 wins, including the BAFTA Film Award for Best Sound, and Critics’ Choice Award for Best Editing and Best Sound.
How to watch: Buy or rent on Apple TV.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein had no theatrical release in the Philippines, but went straight to streaming on Netflix. Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 adaptation of Frankenstein for Netflix is a gothic horror-drama that faithfully reimagines Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel with a focus on tragic romance, philosophical depth, and the intense, often parental, conflict between scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and his creation (Jacob Elordi). The film has received 69 wins, including the Critcs Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Costume Design and Best Make Up & Hair.
How to watch: Stream on Netflix.
Hamnet
Last month, Hamnet began its second theatrical run in the Philippines, screening exclusively at select Ayala Malls Cinemas. In this film, William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, celebrate the birth of their son, Hamnet. However, when tragedy strikes and Hamnet dies at a young age, it inspires Shakespeare to write his masterpiece, Hamlet. The film has earned 86 wins, including the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress, the BAFTA Film Award for Best Leading Actress, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.
How to watch: Screening at select Ayala Malls Cinemas.
Marty Supreme
As of late, Marty Supreme is currently unavailable for screening and streaming in the Philippines. Aside from Timothée Chalamet’s performance, the Josh Safdie-directed drama has people intrigued with its plot. The story follows Marty Mauser, a 1950s NYC ping-pong prodigy and relentless hustler based on Marty Reisman. The film currently has 37 wins, with Chalamet winning a handful of Best Actor awards from the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, and the Critics Choice Awards, to name a few.
One Battle After Another
Last September, One Battle After Another had its theatrical premiere in the Philippines. While it’s no longer available on the big screens, the film is available for streaming on HBO Max. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the thriller follows Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a former 1970s radical living in hiding. After 16 years, he must protect his daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti), from a menacing military official, Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn), who is obsessed with her mother. So far, the film has received 255 awards: the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the Critics Choice Award for Best Director and Best Picture, and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Film.
How to watch: Streaming on HBO Max.
The Secret Agent
As part of the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) “A Curation of World Cinema,” The Secret Agent will be screened in the country from March 11 to 17. The story follows a technology teacher who moves from São Paulo to Recife during Carnival to escape his violent past and start over. The film has bagged 76 wins, most notably winning four awards during the Cannes Film Festival: the AFCAE award, the FIPRESCI Prize, Best Actor, and Best Director.
How to watch: Screening at SM Cinema Mall of Asia and SM Cinema Megamall from March 11 to 17.
Sentimental Value
Sentimental Value previously had its Philippine theatrical run earlier this year, as part of the FDCP’s “A Curation of World Cinema” program. At present, the film is unavailable for screening and streaming. Directed by Joachim Trier, the Norwegian drama follows two sisters, Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), as they navigate grief and complex emotions after their mother’s death. The film has 64 wins, including the Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Non-English Language Film, the BAFTA Film Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, and the Grand Prize of the Festival at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sinners
Sinners had its Philippine theatrical run last year, but is currently available for streaming on HBO Max. The Ryan Coogler-directed supernatural horror film follows twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan in dual roles) as they return home to open a juke joint, only to confront vampiric evil. The film currently has 304 wins, including the Golden Globes for Best Original Score – Motion Picture, the Critics Choice Award for Best Casting/Ensemble, and the BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay (Original).
How to watch: Streaming on HBO Max.
Train Dreams
Train Dreams, while it didn’t have a theatrical run in the Philippines, is available for streaming on Netflix. Based on the novella by Denis Johnson, the story follows 80 years in the life of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a stoic early-20th-century railroad laborer and logger in the American West. Train Dreams has won 29 awards, including the Critics Choice Award for Best Cinematography and the Film Independent Spirit Awards for Best Lead Performance, Best Director, Best Feature, and Best Cinematography
How to watch: Streaming on Netflix.
