Where To Watch The Top Oscar-Nominated Films In H-Town Theaters
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IN A POST-STREAMING WORLD, where watching movies from home is the new normal, the race to the 2022 Academy Awards includes nominations that have been shown on both big and small screens.
Originally set for mid-January, this year’s awards will air live on Sunday, March 27, on ABC13 at 7 p.m., and will be hosted by comedians Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall and Amy Schumer. Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog (streaming on Netflix) leads this year with 12 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Cinematography. (For a full list of nominations, visit the official Oscars' website.)
While movies like Being the Ricardos, Don’t Look Up and King Richard are available through streaming services, the big-screen experience in a dark theater is a great way to appreciate some great filmmaking. With many theaters offering ticket specials on Oscar-nominated films, it's a good time to check out the movie house closest to you. Here’s a list of Houston-area theaters playing Oscar-nominated films right now and later this month:
AMC Theaters
For the past 15 years, AMC Theaters across the country have hosted the Best Picture Showcase, a $5 screening series of the Best Picture nominees. This year, AMC has turned the showcase into a weeklong event March 18-27. The participating AMC locations in the Houston area are Gulf Pointe 30 (Southeast Houston), Fountains 18 (Stafford), First Colony 24 (Sugar Land), Deerbrook 24 (Humble), Katy Mills 20 (Katy) and Houston 8 (Downtown).
King Richard
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard, starring Will Smith, is the origin story of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams. It's nominated in six categories, including Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
March 8, 9: 1:45 p.m. (Gulf Pointe)
March 12: 12 p.m. (First Colony)
March 18: 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 7 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. (First Colony ), 1:10 p.m. (Deerbrook), 12:15 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 19: 10:15 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 20: 3:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe ), 10:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 12 p.m. (First Colony ), 4 p.m. (Deerbrook), 2:45 p.m. (Willowbrook), 3:35 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 21: 10:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:30 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 22: 9:00 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 5:30 p.m. (First Colony), 4:50 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 23: 10:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:30 p.m. (Deerbrook), 5 p.m. (Willowbrook), 1 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 24: 10:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:45 p.m. (First Colony), 4:50 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 25: 8:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 7 p.m. (Fountains 18), 12:15 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 26: 8:30 p.m. (Fountains 18), 9 p.m. (First Colony), 11 a.m. (Willowbrook)
March 27: 3:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 6 p.m. (First Colony), 11 a.m. (Willowbrook) 3:25 p.m. (Katy Mills)
Drive My Car
Raking in a total of four Oscar nominations, this drama directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi is the first Japanese film to be in the running for Best Picture.
March 18: 3:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 19: 3:15 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 3:15 and 7:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 10 p.m. (First Colony), 1:45 p.m. (Willowbrook), 2:40 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 20: 3:15 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 12 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 21: 7:45 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 3:30 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 5:05 p.m. (First Colony), 3:35 p.m. (Deerbrook), 4 p.m. (Willowbrook), 6:50 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 22: 7:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 23: 7:15 p.m. (Fountains 18), 9 p.m. (First Colony), 3:35 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 24: 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 7:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. (Deerbrook), 4 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 26: 6 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 7:25 p.m. (Fountains 18), 11 a.m. (First Colony), 6 p.m. (Willowbrook), 2:40 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 27: 7:15 p.m. (Fountains 18)
Licorice Pizza
Nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, this is a fan favorite rom-com directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
March 8, 9: 1:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe)
March 18: 1:30 p.m. (Fountains 18), 4:30 p.m. (First Colony)
March 19: 12 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 12:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:50 p.m. (Deerbrook), 9:30 p.m. (Willowbrook), 11:30 a.m. (Katy Mills)
March 20: 12:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 3:20 p.m. (First Colony), 12:15 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 21: 4:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 12:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. (Deerbrook), 3:45 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 22: 12:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 2:15 p.m. (First Colony), 7:50 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 23: 8 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 12:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. (Deerbrook), 8:30 p.m. (Willowbrook)
March 24: 12:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:50 p.m. (Deerbrook), 1 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 25: 12:20 p.m. (Fountains 18), 5:45 p.m. (First Colony)
March 26: 10 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 2 p.m. (Fountains 18), 11 a.m. (Willowbrook), 11:30 a.m. (Katy Mills)
March 27: 7:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 9:15 p.m. (First Colony)
West Side Story
One of the most talked-about movies of the year, Steven Spielberg’s iteration of the classic Broadway musical has been nominated for a total of seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
March 18: 5:15 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 3:30 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 19: 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 3:45 p.m. (First Colony)
March 20: 7 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 11 a.m. (Willowbrook), 6:40 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 21: 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1:30 p.m. (First Colony)
March 22: 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 6:45 p.m. (Willowbrook)
March 23: 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 5:15 p.m. (First Colony), 4:15 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 24: 3:10 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 25: 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 6:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 9 p.m. (First Colony), 3:30 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 27: 12:10 p.m. (Fountains 18), 11 a.m. (First Colony), 8:45 p.m. (Willowbrook), 6:40 p.m. (Katy Mills)
Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro’s latest film is nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Costume Design.
March 19: 7:15 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 6:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 12:15 p.m. (First Colony), 4:30 p.m. (Deerbrook), 6:30 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 20: 6:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 6:50 p.m. (Deerbrook), 6:15 p.m. (Willowbrook)
March 21: 6:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 4:05 p.m. (Deerbrook), 8 p.m. (Willowbrook)
March 22: 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 6:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. (Deerbrook), 2:20 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 23: 6:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1:45 p.m. (First Colony), 4:05 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 24: 6 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 6:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 1 p.m. (Deerbrook) 7:45 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 25: 3:30 p.m. (Fountains 18), 2:15 p.m. (First Colony)
March 26: 2:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 5:05 p.m. (Fountains 18), 6:30 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 27: 12:20 p.m. (Fountains 18), 2:30 p.m. (First Colony), 2:30 p.m. (Willowbrook)
Belfast
Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film is nominated for five Oscars and garnered even more nominations for the Golden Globes.
March 8, 9: 5 p.m. (Gulf Pointe)
March 18: 4:30 p.m. (Deerbrook), 7 p.m. (Katy Mills), 8 p.m. (Fountain 18), 9 p.m. (Gulf Pointe)
March 19: 11 a.m. (Willowbrook), 7:20 p.m. (First Colony), 8 p.m. (Fountain 18)
March 20: 7:15 p.m. (Deerbrook), 8 p.m. (Fountain 18), 10 p.m. (First Colony)
March 21: 1 p.m. (Deerbrook), 1:15 p.m. (Katy Mills), 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 8 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 22: 4 p.m. (Willowbrook), 8 p.m. (Fountains 18 ), 9 p.m. (First Colony)
March 23: 1 p.m. (Deerbrook), 5:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 7:40 p.m. (Katy Mills), 8 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 24: 5:05 p.m. (First Colony), 8 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 25: 5:45 p.m. (Gulf Point), 7 p.m. (Katy Mills), 10:10 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 26: 12:30 p.m. (Fountains 18), 6:30 p.m. (First Colony)
March: 27: 6 p.m. (Willowbrook), 7 p.m. (Fountains 18)
Dune
One of the leading films this year, it snagged 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Costume Design and Best Cinematography.
March 8, 9: 7:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe)
March 18: 4:25 p.m. (Fountains), 7:45 p.m. (First Colony)
March 19: 12:45 p.m. (Fountains), 1 p.m. (Deerbrook), 4:25 p.m. (Fountains 18), 5:45 p.m. (Willowbrook)
March 20: 12 p.m. (Gulf Pointe and Katy Mills), 12:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 3:20 p.m. (Deerbrook), 4:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 6:30 p.m. (First Colony)
March 21: 4:25 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:25 p.m. (Deerbrook), 9:05 p.m. (First Colony)
March 22: 4:25 p.m. (Fountains 18 and Deerbrook), 5:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 6 p.m. (Katy Mills)
March 23: 12:45 p.m. (Fountains 18), 4:25 p.m. (Fountains 18), 7:25 p.m. (Deerbrook)
March 24: 1:30 p.m. (First Colony), 4:25 p.m. (Fountains 18 and Deerbrook), 6 p.m. (Willowbrook), 9:30 p.m. (Gulf Pointe)
March 25: 2:45 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 26: 2:15 p.m. (Willowbrook), 3 p.m. (First Colony), 3:05 p.m. (Fountains 18)
March 27: 12 p.m. (Katy Mills), 2 p.m. (Gulf Pointe), 3:35 p.m. (Fountains).
Regal Theaters
To celebrate the 2022 Academy Awards, Regal is presenting the Must-See Nominees at its Regal Edwards Greenway Grand Palace (Upper Kirby), Regal Lone Star (Tomball) and Regal Benders Landing (Spring) locations for $5 a ticket. All dates and showtimes are the same for all the theaters mentioned.
West Side Story
Ariana DuBose is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita. DuBose also became the first Latina actress to win a Screen Actors Guild Award.
March 18: 12 p.m.
March 20: 7:30 p.m.
March 23, 25: 4 p.m.
Licorice Pizza
Starring Alana Haim (member of the band Haim) in her first acting role, this film has already been named Best Film of the Year by the National Board of Review.
March 18: 4 p.m.
March 21, 25: 7:30 p.m.
March 23, 27: 12 p.m.
Belfast
Set in Northern Ireland, this film received six nominations at the British Academy Film Awards.
March 18, 22: 7:30 p.m.
March 20, 27: 4 p.m.
Drive My Car
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.
March 19, 21, 25: 12 p.m.
March 23, 27: 7:30 p.m.
Nightmare Alley
An adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham’s novel of the same name, this film stars Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchette and Toni Colette.
March 19: 4 p.m.
March 22 and 26: 12 p.m.
March 24: 7:30 p.m.
Dune
Out of its 10 nominations, eight are in technical categories, speaking to the realistic and engaging visuals of the movie.
March 19: 7:30 p.m.
March 21 and 26: 4:30 p.m.
March 24: 12 p.m.
King Richard
Starring Will Smith, this biopic about famed tennis coach and father Richard Williams marks Smith’s third and fourth Oscar nominations.
March 20: 12 p.m.
March 22 and 24: 4 p.m.
March 26: 7:30 p.m.
CODA
Named after the acronym CODA (child of deaf adults), the Sian Heder=directed coming-of-age film received three nominations, including Best Picture.
March 19: 12:30 p.m.
March 21: 4:30 p.m.
March 23 and 26: 8 p.m.
Cinemark Theaters
For another traditional movie-viewing experience, visit participating Cinemark Theaters March 21-27 for Oscar Movie Week 2022. There are only a handful of Cinemark Theaters in the Houston area that are part of this promotion, with the theater at Memorial Mall the closest to the city. Other theaters reach into Katy (Cinemark 19), Webster (Cinemark 18) and The Woodlands (Cinemark 17). All the theaters will be showing select nominees at the same time.
The best way to attend Oscar Movie Week is through purchasing a festival pass for $35, which includes tickets to the movies and 50% off any size popcorn. If you just want to catch a single showing during the week, individual movie tickets are available.
The Power of the Dog
Jame Campion’s film has dominated this year's nominations. Based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, The Power of the Dog is also available to stream via Netflix
Mar 21: 1:30 p.m.
Mar 25: 6:45 p.m.
Mar 27: 3:30 p.m.
Licorice Pizza
The first Best Picture nomination for MGM in 10 years, this film is already making history.
Mar 21: 4:25 p.m.
Mar 26: 6:30 p.m.
CODA
This is the first movie with a predominantly non-hearing cast to be nominated for Best Picture.
Mar 21: 7:30 p.m.
Mar 25: 4:10 p.m.
Belfast
Acclaimed English actress Judi Dench is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Granny.
Mar 22: 1:25 p.m.
Mar 24: 5:00 p.m.
Mar 26: 12:30 p.m.
Drive My Car
Along with its Best Picture nomination, this film is up for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best International Feature Film.
Mar 22: 3:45 p.m
Mar 24: 1:15 p.m.
West Side Story
If this film wins the Oscar for Best Picture, it will go down in history as one of 11 musicals to win the coveted award.
Mar 22: 7:30 p.m.
Mar 26: 3:00 p.m.
Don’t Look Up
Featuring a star-studded cast with names like Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio, this disaster film is directed by Adam McKay and available to stream on Netflix.
Mar 23: 1:15 p.m.
Mar 27: 12:30 p.m.
Nightmare Alley
Set in 1939, this psychological thriller has been nominated for Best Costume Design.
Mar 23: 4:25 p.m.
Mar 25: 9:45 p.m.
King Richard
Last month, Will Smith snagged his first Golden Globe in the Best Actor category for his role as famous father Richard Williams.
Mar 23: 7:40 p.m.
Mar 25: 12:50 p.m.
Dune
Earning $399 globally, this film is a sci-fi epic film adapted from Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name. A sequel is coming late 2023.
Mar 24: 7:30 p.m.
Mar 26: 9:30 p.m.
Live Action Shorts
This year, there are five short films nominated for Best Short Film in the Live Action category. One follows a British South Asian family in a dystopian near future and another features a 19-year-old who is kidnapped and forced to marry.
Mar 25, 26: 4 p.m., 7 p.m.
Mar 27: 2 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Katy)
Although Houston’s Alamo Drafthouse location is only screening one Oscar-nominated film at the moment, the multiplex/restaurant offers a less-traditional theater experience with a full menu and local beers.
Cyrano
The musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play of the same name, this film is nominated for Best Costume Design.
March 8, 9: 2:45 p.m., 6 p.m.
Rooftop Cinema Club (Uptown)
Another unique location to watch movies in Houston is in the outdoors. Rooftop Cinema Club offers a fun time with headphones and a viewing experience like no other. You can make it a Sunday Funday with the family at the animated Oscar-nominated movie screenings later in the month.
Encanto
Nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score, this Disney movie is also in the running for Best Original Song for “Dos Oruguitas.”
March 13: 11 a.m.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Another contender for Best Animated Feature, this film is directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada.
March 20: 10:45 a.m.
IPIC Theater (River Oaks)
This is considered the posh spot for a viewing experience. Reserve a seat or two and have dinner while you watch this musical romance. Head to the IPIC with an empty stomach because there's a lot of options to consider from the menu and bar. They only have one Oscar-nominated movie still playing, but it's a good one.
Cyrano
Jacqueline Durran and Massimo Cantini Parrini are the costume designers who earned Cyrano its Oscar nomination. Durran previously won Oscars for her work on Anna Karenina and Little Women.
March 8, 9: 4:15 pm, 7 p.m., 10:15 p.m.
Rice Cinema (Museum District/University Place)
The movie theater, based on the Rice campus, is a good place to check out an art film, especially if you’re an aspiring film buff. They are only showing one Oscar-nominated picture this month, but it's one that's hard to catch on a local screen. Keep in mind, the screening is free with an RSVP, but parking on Rice’s campus will cost $5.
Flee
This gripping film is nominated in three Oscar categories and tells the story of a family of refugees who fled Afghanistan in the 1990s. It’s one of the rare films that will try to pull off a hat-trick of best documentary, best animated film, and best international film.
March 25: 7 p.m.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Museum District)
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is screening the nominees for Best Short Film at the Brown Auditorium Theater. There are three categories for Best Short Film: Documentary, Animation, and Live Action.
Documentary Shorts
Nominations include Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean’s Audible, Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk’s Lead Me Home, Ben Proudfoot’s The Queen of Basketball, Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei’s Three Songs for Benazir, and Joy Rosenblatt’s When We Were Bullies.
March 13, 20: 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
March 17: 6 p.m. and 9 p.m
Animation Shorts
This year’s nominations include Joanna Quinn and Les Mills’ Affairs of the Art, Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz’s Bestia, Anton Dyakov’s Boxballet, Dan Ojari and Mikey Please’s Robin Robin, and Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez’s The Windshield Wiper.
March 11: 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
March 17: 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
March 27: 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Live Action Shorts
Nominations include Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger’s Ala Kachuu - Take and Run, Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki’s The Dress, Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed’s The Long Goodbye, Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson’s On My Mind, and K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse’s Please Hold.
March 12: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
March 17: 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
March 27: 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
March 31: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
