It’s not a coincidence that a handful of Oscar-nominated films are among the best drama movies you can stream in April.
Most of the awards hopefuls had brief theatrical runs late last year, which allowed them to qualify for the Academy Awards.
Two of Watch With Us‘ picks for the five best drama movies to watch this month are not only Oscar-nominated, they also won two of the major awards.
But when ranked by Rotten Tomatoes, a surprising drama rose to the top of our roundup and hit No. 1.
5. ‘Nuremberg’ (2025)
Nuremberg begins almost immediately after World War II, as the United States and Allied countries grapple with what to do with their high-ranking Nazi prisoners. Summary execution is advocated by some, but Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon) pushes for the Nazis to face trial on charges of crimes against humanity.
Psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) is brought in to oversee the mental health of Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) and the other Nazi prisoners ahead of their trials. Kelley sees it as an opportunity to enrich himself by writing a book about the experience. But he didn’t count on the effect that spending time with these men would have on him. In his own way, Kelley wants justice too, but the war criminals may have found a way to avoid accountability.
Nuremberg is streaming on Netflix.
4. ‘Shame’ (2011)
Shame is one of the rare mainstream NC-17 movies, and it earns that rating with a very frank and often explicit portrait of Brandon Sullivan (Michael Fassbender), a man who is hopelessly addicted to sex and pornography. His addiction has taken over his personal and professional lives, and Brandon’s not particularly picky about who he gets his gratification from.
Brandon doesn’t do a very good job of hiding his addiction, especially when his sister, Sissy Sullivan (Carey Mulligan), invites herself to stay with him. Sissy has her own issues, but she’s one of the few people who can call out Brandon for his own failings. There’s no saving Brandon from himself, but he might be able to salvage his relationship with Sissy.
Shame is streaming on HBO Max.
3. ‘Hamnet’ (2025)
Heading into the Oscars, Jessie Buckley was the favorite to win Best Actress for her turn in Hamnet, and she won. She gave the kind of performance that should open a lot of doors for her in the industry. For this period drama, Buckley plays Agnes Hathaway, the future wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and the mother of their three children.
While Shakespeare creates the plays that will make him a legend, Agnes focuses on their family, including their only son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe). When the family is struck by tragedy, Agnes spirals into depression and despair, while Shakespeare throws himself into his work and creates a story that has outlived him for centuries.
Hamnet is streaming on Peacock.
2. ‘Sentimental Value’ (2025)
The Norwegian drama Sentimental Value helped Stellan Skarsgård win his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Gustav Borg, an acclaimed director in the twilight of his career. This movie will ironically stream on Hulu even though Netflix plays a prominent role in the story of Gustav’s new film.
Gustav has a very strained relationship with his two grown daughters, Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas). They resent him for putting his career and himself over their needs, and not even his desire to make a movie about his mother brings them closer to him. But Gustav does bond with Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), the American actress he casts as his mother when Nora refuses to play the part.
Sentimental Value is now streaming on Hulu.
1. ‘Living’ (2022)
In a storied career that goes back to 1969, Bill Nighy has only been nominated once for Best Actor, and it was for his leading role as Williams in Living. Williams is a career bureaucrat in post-World War II London who didn’t make many friends in his life, and he has a poor relationship with his son, Michael (Barney Fishwick).
It isn’t until Williams is diagnosed with terminal cancer that he faces the legacy that he’s leaving behind and opts to do something good in the remaining time he has left. Williams also befriends his former colleague, Margaret Harris (Aimee Lou Wood), and his current colleague, Peter Wakeling (Alex Sharp), both of whom help Williams get closer to being the man he wants to be.
Living is streaming on Prime Video.
