Those looking to watch Nightmare Alley online are in luck. Unlike other Oscar-nominated movies, Guillermo Del Toro's latest film is streaming online.
And, unlike many other movies, Nightmare Alley is streaming on two of the best streaming services, so you may not need to pay for yet another new streaming service. We're so lucky, in this case, because Disney and WarnerMedia are sharing Fox film streaming rights all year long, which is how it's on both HBO Max and Hulu.
Nightmare Alley focuses on a carny — one of the original scammers, back before Tinder Swindlers were a thing — named Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) with a dark secret that he thought he'd buried for good.
Things get complicated, though, after Carlisle encounters Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), who seemingly knows the tricks that Carlisle is pulling to convince people that he's a psychic. A noir mystery unfolds as we learn that Ritter's been hired to test Stan, and the two develop an affair.
Here's everything you need to watch Nightmare Alley.
How to watch Nightmare Alley online in the U.S.
In the U.S., Nightmare Alley is streaming on not one but two streaming services. It's quite an irregularity, but one we'll happily take. That means anyone with HBO Max or Hulu can watch Del Toro's film right now.
If it's a matter of watching Nightmare Alley without any commercial breaks, know that Hulu's $12.99 per month ad-free tier is cheaper than HBO Max's $15 per month ad-free plan.
Can you watch Nightmare Alley in Canada?
We don't have good news for our neighbors to the north. Nightmare Alley dropped in Canadian theaters on December 17, 2021, but it doesn't have a streaming service yet. That's possibly because Nightmare Alley's streaming services (Hulu and HBO Max) aren't in Canada yet. Maybe the Star Channel will get it?
We can't figure out of Crave will get Nightmare Alley, as it often gets HBO movies. If you're an American traveling abroad, you'll need to look into the best VPN services, such as Express VPN, to access all your paid services.
Can you watch Nightmare Alley in the U.K.?
Nightmare Alley dropped in UK cinemas on January 21, 2022 (and its black-and-white version came out on February 4), but it's still yet to find a streaming home (as Hulu and HBO Max are U.S.-only).
If you're an American traveling abroad, you'll need to look into the best VPN services, such as Express VPN, to access all your paid services.
Nightmare Alley reviews
Currently holding a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score (and the Certified Fresh sticker), Nightmare Alley earned some critical praise, but not an overwhelming consensus.
Peter Bradshaw at the Guardian called Nightmare Alley a "spectacular noir melodrama" with "enjoyable performances and freaky twists."
Ben Travis at Empire writes that Nightmare Alley "isn't quite [Del Toro's] best, but it's not far off," which is a pretty good compliment considering the competition. He also notes the film features "an enveloping atmosphere, compelling characters, and gorgeous filmmaking."
Not all critics loved the film, though, as Adam Nayman at The Ringer wrote "Guillermo del Toro has a knack for combining spectacle with compelling themes, but his latest often fails on both counts."
Nightmare Alley Oscar nominations
While Bradley Cooper isn't nominated for his acting, he does share a nomination as a producer for Nightmare Alley. Here are the Academy Awards Nightmare Alley is up for:
- Best Picture for Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, and Bradley Cooper
- Best Cinematography for Dan Laustsen
- Best Costume Design for Luis Sequeira
- Best Production Design for Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Where to watch other Oscar nominees
We've got info on how to watch Dune online, including its HBO Max return date. Also, get ready for Will Smith's big nomination and watch King Richard online. We've also got details on how to watch CODA online, to see Apple TV Plus' Oscar-nominated drama.
We've also got details on how to watch Drive My Car online, to see the Oscar-nominated Japanese drama.
