How to Plan a Perfect Award Season Marathon

Frances McDormand in "Nomadland"

The Awards season is finally upon us, and the majority of movie organizations shared their lists of contenders for this year’s ceremony. If you’re trying to watch as many movies as possible before the Oscars night, use these tips to plan a perfect marathon.

Check Availability

Many of the movies in the running for the major awards, such as Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7, are already available on Netflix or other streaming services. That’s not the case with all of them, and that’s why you should check where you can see them before planning a movie night.

Perfect Balance

Some movies, such as Nomadland and Promising Young Women, are basically a lock for the Oscars because they’ve been nominated for all the other awards along the way. Make sure they’re the first on your watch list, before switching your focus to movies that aren’t clear front-runners. Also try to find a balance between comedies and dramas, because you won’t always be in the mood for both.

See or Skip?

Seeing movies shouldn’t feel like a chore, but a fun activity. There are some award-nominated movies that simply won’t vibe with you, and if you don’t find yourself drawn to the plot, there’s nothing bad about skipping them.