The Oscars Are Coming: 5 Must-See Movies You Need to Catch Up on Right Now
These are movies that you can't afford to miss.
On the night of March 15, the names of the new Oscar winners will be revealed. Who will receive the coveted statuette for Best Director and who will walk away with the award for Best Actress?
To go beyond guessing and debating with knowledge, though, you need to see the top contenders. We've chosen five movies that are sure to steal the spotlight at the 98th ceremony.
1. 'Train Dreams', 2025
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Robert was born in the late 19th century. When he was six or seven years old, he was sent alone on a train to Idaho. Several years later, he met Gladys. The two quickly began dating and later married.
They built a cabin on the riverbank, Gladys became pregnant and gave birth to a girl. While Gladys raised their daughter and tended to the household, Robert chopped wood. When he went back to work, disaster struck.
Train Dreams is striking in its juxtaposition of small, private lives and sweeping changes in the country. It is pure poetry – a transcendentally beautiful film devoid of pathos yet permeated with melancholy and suffering.
2. 'Hamnet', 2025
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Taking some artistic liberties, Hamnet tells the story of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes. At a certain point in their marriage, they lose their only son, Hamnet.
Struggling to cope with this tragedy, Shakespeare begins work on his magnum opus, the play Hamlet.
In addition to grief and the need to continue living despite terrible trials, Hamnet's central theme is the relationship between art and death. It explores the healing power of art and the ability to express pain through it when finding the right words in person is impossible.
3. 'Sentimental Value', 2025
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Nora, a Norwegian actress, plays leading roles in productions at the National Theatre in Oslo and recently starred in a successful TV series. Nora doesn't have many friends and feels closest to her married sister, Agnes.
Unexpectedly, their father, Gustav, a famous director who disappeared from their lives long ago, shows up at their mother's wake. Gustav believes his next movie will be a masterpiece.
He wrote the lead role specifically for Nora, but she declines the offer, offended, and refuses to open the script. However, the young Hollywood star Rachel agrees to star in Borg's film and comes to Oslo for the shoot.
4. 'Sinners', 2025
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
It's 1932. Twin brothers Smoke and Stack have returned to their hometown to open a juke joint. Sammie, a talented musician and the son of a local priest, is scheduled to perform at the opening.
However, the young man is met with hell when an army of vampires surrounds the joint at dusk, waiting for permission to enter.
In 2025, Ryan Coogler's Sinners reminded us that auteur movies can be box-office hits and simultaneously compete for major awards. Ultimately, the vampire musical drama earned a record 16 nominations.
5. 'Marty Supreme', 2025
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
New York City, 1950s. 23-year-old Marty dreams of escaping poverty and becoming a ping-pong champion. At his first championship, he is one step away from the title, but he loses the deciding match to a Japanese player.
The next tournament is in Tokyo, and he needs to raise money quickly to get there and finally beat his opponent. But that's when his luck turns.
Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme has received nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Although the fast-paced dramedy isn't expected to win, Timothée Chalamet has a good chance of winning Best Actor.
