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UPDATE: Apr. 12, 2025, 6:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the Prime Video streaming release details, as well as the latest pricing to rent or purchase "Nickel Boys" online.
Gracing the top three on our list of the best films of 2024, Nickel Boys is truly transformative. An adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, it relies heavily on first-person POV shots to tell the story of a violent reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida from the perspective of its protagonists. Mashable's reviewer called it "exquisite and powerful" and we're unsurprised that it nabbed nominations for both Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at this year's Oscars.
Nickel Boys officially made its streaming debut on Feb. 28 on MGM+, but now the film is expanding its streaming horizons, giving you another way to tune in. Here's everything you need to know in order to watch.
What is Nickel Boys about?
Adapted from the 2019 novel by Colson Whitehead — which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction — Nickel Boys follows 16-year-old Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) and his friend Turner (Brandon Wilson). A promising advanced high schooler, Elwood finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, leading to false charges and imprisonment at a juvenile reform home called the Nickel Academy.
"A young adherent of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Elwood's idealism quickly clashes with Nickel's harsh reality of segregation and corporal punishment. However, he also finds guidance and companionship in Turner, a fellow student hailing from Houston whose more upbeat demeanor and slick survival tips exist in close proximity to his own fears of the school's ruthless staff," Mashable's reviewer summarizes.
Get a closer look at the much-lauded film in the official trailer:
Is Nickel Boys worth watching?
"Stunning" doesn't even begin to cover it," writes Mashable reviewer Siddhant Adlakha, "but RaMell Ross' Nickel Boys is one of those rare Hollywood productions that feels aesthetically transformative." From the powerfully adapted story to the uniquely filmed first-person perspective shots, RaMell Ross' film is one of our favorite movies of 2024. And we're not alone in the sentiment — it was also nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars. It's garnered a 91 percent critic rating and 75 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well, making it certified fresh.
"Few narrative feature debuts have felt so poignant and so richly formed that they practically speak their own language, as Nickel Boys does, while also managing to articulate its drama clearly and instinctively. The result is a dynamic work of resilience and self-actualization," Adlkaha concludes.
Read our full review of Nickel Boys.
How to watch Nickel Boys at home
Two months after its theatrical debut, Nickel Boys officially made its video-on-demand debut on sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home (Vudu). You can purchase it for your digital collection or rent the film at any of the retailers below. With rentals, you'll have 30 days to watch and just 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.
If you prefer to stream the film instead, keep reading to learn more.
You can rent or buy Nickel Boys at the following retailers:
Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent for $5.99
Is Nickel Boys streaming?
Nickel Boys appears to be following the same streaming schedule as fellow Amazon MGM Studios films Challengers and Blink Twice. It made its streaming debut on MGM+ on Feb. 28, 2025, and is set to expand its streaming release to Prime Video on April 29, 2025. Since MGM's own streaming service (formerly EPIX) is owned by Amazon, it'll likely remain on both streamers. That gives you two different streaming options to tune in — and two ways you can potentially watch for free.
MGM+ subscriptions start at $6.99 per month, while Prime Video costs $8.99 per month on its own or $14.99 per month as part of Prime. We've rounded up the best ways to save money on either subscription below.
Can I get MGM+ for free?
New to MGM+? You can enjoy a week of streaming for free with a trial through MGM+ directly or as an add-on via Prime Video. The add-on option is great for Prime members looking to condense their streaming services (and payments) into one central location. If you'd rather keep things separate, you're better off signing up through MGM+ directly. Either way, you'll be able to stream Nickel Boys for free during your trial. Just remember to cancel before the week is up.
The best MGM+ streaming deals
Save 30%: MGM+ annual subscription
As a smaller streamer compared to, say, Prime Video or Netflix, MGM+ isn't brimming with great deal options. But that doesn't mean all hope is lost. If you want to save some cash, your best option is to sign up for the annual subscription versus the monthly subscription. You'll save 30% by paying for a year upfront, which is a pretty big savings compared to annual subscriptions from other streamers. At $58.99 per year, you're paying less than $5 per month (as opposed to $6.99 per month).
Save $1.99/month: Sign up for MGM+ via Sling TV
If you'd rather just sign up for a single month and call it quits, subscribing to MGM+ through Sling TV can save you $1.99. No need to pay for the base plan of Sling. Just head over to the MGM landing page on Sling's website and you'll be able to sign up for only $5 per month. If you do want to sign up for a base package through Sling (Orange or Blue), you'll unlock a free month of MGM+.
Can I get Prime Video for free?
If you're not currently a Prime Video or Prime subscriber, then you can sign up for a 30-day free trial to Amazon Prime and stream Nickel Boys for free. That goes for brand new subscribers and those returning to Prime after some time away.
During your trial, you'll have full access to Prime perks, including Prime Video. Once your trial period ends, you'll be charged the full price for a Prime membership, which is currently $14.99 per month. Be sure to cancel before the month is up if you want to avoid those charges.
The best Prime Video streaming deals
Save $6/month: Prime Video only
If you don't want or need all of the extra perks of being a Prime member, it is possible to subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service for just $8.99 per month. That's $6 per month cheaper than getting a full Prime membership.
Of course, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video on its own. When you go to sign up for a subscription, be sure to select the option to "see more plans" or "change plans." Then, navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. You can still cancel whenever you want, just as you would a full Prime membership.
Save 22%: Amazon Prime annual membership
Another way to save a little cash is by paying for an annual Prime membership instead of monthly. You'll enjoy the perks of being a Prime member, including access to Prime Video, for a full year. You'll have to pay $139 upfront, but that ultimately breaks down to just $11.59 per month instead of the usual $14.99. That's about 22% or $40 in savings.
Save 50%: Prime for Young Adults
Hey, young people. You can score a free six-month trial to Prime and a half-priced subscription if you're between the ages of 18 and 24 or you're a college student. Just verify your age or student status and it will unlock the world of Prime, including Prime Video. Following your six-month trial, you'll pay just $7.49 per month instead of the usual $14.99, or you can cancel at any time.
Topics Prime Video Film Streaming How to Watch
