You can currently watch one of Netflix's Oscar-nominated movies for free!
By Mads Lennon
With streaming services so expensive these days, it's hard to keep up with all of them, especially if you're only trying to watch a movie or two. It doesn't seem worth it to shell out $15+ dollars just for that (unless you're okay with ads, in which case you do have cheaper options available).
If you've been trying to catch up with some of the Academy Award nominees this year ahead of the upcoming 96th Oscars ceremony debuting on March 10, 2024, then you probably already have a Netflix subscription since several of the streamer's movies were nominated. But for those who don't, or missed the animated feature Nimona, you can now check out the film for free on YouTube!
This 2023 sci-fi adventure movie from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane is based on the 2015 graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Nimona endured a challenging journey making it from book to screen as the original company making the movie, Blue Sky Studios, was shutdown after Disney acquired its parent company 21st Century Fox.
Nimona was one of the casualties of Blue Sky's closure and it wasn't until Annapurna Pictures revived the project alongsie DNEG Animation that Netflix then stepped in and acquired worldwide distribution for the movie. And we're so thankful they did!
Released on June 30, 2023, Nimona has received near-universal acclaim for its inclusive storytelling and beautiful animation. The film is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the upcoming Academy Awards, facing off against Elemental, The Boy and the Heron, Robot Dreams, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Featuring the vocal talents of actors like Riz Ahmed, Chloë Grace Moretz, Frances Conroy, Indya Moore, Lorraine Toussaint, RuPaul Charles, and more, Nimona follows a knight named Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed) who stands accused for a crime he did not commit. The only person who can help to prove his innocence is a mischievous, shapeshifting teen named Nimona (Moretz). But Nimona also happens to be the very creature that Ballister has been trained to destroy.
Nimona is streaming on Netflix, but if you don't have a Netflix subscription you can watch it for free on YouTube, likely for a limited time to get on it quickly!