Amazon Prime Adds Acclaimed Best Picture Oscar Nominee Nickel Boys

As the Oscars 2025 approach, Amazon Prime has quietly included one of the standout nominees for this year's Best Picture category. The film, Nickel Boys, premiered in August 2024 and has quickly earned significant recognition.

This poignant movie has received two nominations at the Academy Awards and is favored to win during the ceremony this weekend. Directed by RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys is set in 1960s Florida and centers around two African-American boys, Elwood (played by Ethan Herisse) and Turner (portrayed by Brandon Wilson), who find themselves in a harsh reform school.

Throughout the story, the boys develop a deep friendship as they navigate the cruelty of their environment while trying to expose the injustices they endure. The film is based on the novel written by Colson Whitehead, released in 2019, and features performances by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jimmie Fails, Daveed Diggs, Luke Tennie, and Hamish Linklater.

For fans who have yet to see Nickel Boys or those wishing to experience it again, it has been conveniently added to the Amazon Prime Video library just in time for the awards.

Currently, the film boasts a remarkable 91% critic approval on Rotten Tomatoes, while audience ratings stand at 75%. Reviews highlight the outstanding performances, particularly from the lead actors as well as praise for the cinematography and production design.

Peter Bradshaw from the Guardian remarked on the exceptional performances and visual storytelling, calling it a “survivor’s coming of age” film that is “tough, disillusioned, and brilliant.” On the other hand, Maureen Lee Lennker from Entertainment Weekly noted its fragmented structure, describing it as a film that can be difficult to grasp but eventually captivates its audience, leaving them in profound silence.

Other critics have echoed similar sentiments, commending how Ross's direction artfully brings to life the painful truths conveyed in Whitehead's book. They suggest that the film stands as one of the best cinematic offerings of 2024.

Oscar Nominations for Nickel Boys

At this year's Academy Awards, Nickel Boys competes for two prestigious awards: Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. It faces strong competition in both categories.

The nominees for Best Picture include:

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked

For Best Adapted Screenplay, Nickel Boys is in contention with:

• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• Sing Sing

Catch Nickel Boys available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video now.

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