2023 was a fantastic year for film. Barbenheimer brought audiences back to the cinema after the SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the critically acclaimed vehicles Poor Things, Maestro, and Killers of the Flower Moon left movie-goers tweeting, debating and posting on Letterboxd.
With so many phenomenal flicks making their mark, the competition was incredibly close at this year's Oscars. Aired on Sunday, March 10, the 96th Academy Awards saw Oppenheimer win Best Picture, while Poor Things scooped three accolades and a Best Actress trophy for Emma Stone. Click here for the full list of winners.
Want to check out the most talked-about movies from the Oscars? Here's how...
Poor Things
Watch on: Apple TV+
Meet Bella Baxter (Emma Stone). A Victorian woman brought back to life by the eccentric surgeon, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), Bella has the body of an adult, but the brain of an infant.
An odyssey like no other, Poor Things follows Bella's hilarious and heartbreaking journey of self-discovery, as she leaves home and navigates the world with her new lover, the precocious Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo).
Charting Bella's evolution as she learns about everything from the power of love and sex, to what it means to be an independent, free-thinking person, not to mention the real pain and suffering of a world beyond her view, Poor Things considers what it means to be inescapably human.
Emma Stone's layered performance is the heart and soul of this movie, and without a doubt her most vulnerable yet, so it's hardly surprising that she was crowned Best Actress at the Oscars. Intrigued? You can watch Poor Things on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime.
Oppenheimer
Watch on: YouTube, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+
A complex and moving retrospective of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's drama reveals how the American theoretical physicist became the 'father of the atomic bomb'.
Boasting a stellar cast that also includes Emily Blunt, Robert Downy Jr., Matt Damon, and Florence Pugh, it's Cillian Murphy who takes on the title role, exploring Oppenheimer's turbulent personal life, role in the Manhattan Project, and eventual fall from grace with the 1954 security hearing.
From Ludwig Göransson's heartwrenching score to Christopher Nolan's masterful direction and Cillian Murphy's painfully restrained performance as the morally conflicted Oppenheimer; it's hardly surprising that it's being hailed as one of the most important movies of the century.
Adding to its enduring success, Oppenheimer has even landed seven trophy's at the 2024 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), and Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.).
Grab your popcorn and prepare for a three-hour watch with YouTube, Amazon Prime or Apple TV+.
American Fiction
Watch on: Amazon Prime
Based on the 2001 novel Erasure, American Fiction follows Dr. Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, a frustrated novelist and professor played by the inimitable Jeffrey Wright. Tired of publishers asking for what they consider to be authentic 'Black' books, Monk pens 'My Pafology' – a satirical novel mocking the stereotypes and literary cliches expected from Black writers.
To his surprise, however, he finds himself with an overnight bestseller, scoring huge sales and critical praise for the book. Propelled into the spotlight, Monk is forced to take on the persona of Stagg R. Leigh, a convict on the run, in a bid to drum up press. But, for how long can he live a double life?
American Fiction is currently available to watch via Amazon Prime.
MORE: Oscars 2024 winners: Cillian Murphy, Emma Stone and Oppenheimer take big wins of the night
READ: Watch Cillian Murphy and wife Yvonne share passionate kiss as he wins Best Actor at 2024 Oscars
Killers of the Flower Moon
Watch on: Apple TV+
Based on the 2017 non-fiction book of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon offers a harrowing portrayal of the real-life Osage Murders that took place between the 1910s and 1930s.
Co-written, produced, and directed by the great Martin Scorsese, this epic crime drama recounts how Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a World War One veteran, became embroiled in a plot to murder members of the Osage Nation – including his wife – after oil was discovered on their land.
Delivering a standout performance that's already bagged her a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for best actress, Lily Gladstone is the beating heart of this film, portraying Ernest's wife, and Osage member, Mollie.
Recounting an important and little known part of history, Killers of the Flower Moon shines a light on the great injustices faced by the Native American tribe.
Maestro
Watch on: Netflix
Bradley Cooper has established himself as one of the most dynamic actors and directors working in Hollywood today, thanks to A Star is Born (2018) and now Maestro.
Lending his vision to the life and times of Leonard Bernstein (played by Cooper), this romantic drama focuses on the relationship between the great American composer – who was known to have affairs with men – and his wife, actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan).
Transporting audiences to another time, the film jumps between black-and-white and color photography, separating the different periods in their relationship. And most of the soundtrack is comprised of Bernstein's best-loved compositions too. But, what really makes this film a winner is the palpable chemistry between its leads. Together, Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan are magnetic – by the end of the film I was utterly convinced that they must be soul mates, and I really hope they get to collaborate again soon.
Full disclaimer, you'll need tissues to watch this one, it'll break your heart. Prepared? Head over to Netflix and press play.
Past Lives
Watch on: Netflix
Do you believe in soul mates? Past Lives ponders that exact question. In 2000, Childhood friends Nora Moon (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) fall hard for one another in Seoul, South Korea, but when Nora and her family emigrates to Toronto, they lose contact.
That is until twelve years later, when Hae Sung reconnects with Nora online. As time continues to roll on and Nora finds love with Arthur Zaturansky, whom she later marries, her life takes a sudden and unexpected turn, when Hae Sung comes to visit her in New York.
As they examine their past and contemplate their future, Nora and Hae Sung wonder what would have happened if she'd never left Seoul. A beautiful film about fate and destiny, Past Lives needs to be on your must-watch list, and it's available on Netflix.