How To Watch The 2021 West Side Story Adaptation Online

The original West Side Story is one of the most successful films of all time when it comes to winning Academy Awards. The movie, which starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, and Russ Tamblyn, took home 10 statues in 1961, including Best Picture and Best Director, making it the musical with the most Oscar wins ever. Chakiris also won a Best Supporting Actor trophy for the role of Bernardo, and Rita Moreno won Best Supporting Actress for portraying Anita.

Rita Moreno starring as Anita in West Side Story.

Now, the tragic story of star-crossed lovers Maria and Tony has a chance to make Oscar history once again. The 2021 adaptation of West Side Story directed by Stephen Spielberg garnered seven nominations in 2021 including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Directing.

Ariana deBose also garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of Anita. If she wins, she and Rita Moreno will become the first actresses to win an acting award for playing the same character in two different movies. (Two pairs of actors have previously achieved this feat: Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro, who both played Vito Corleone, and Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix who have both played the Joker.) She also recently picked up a SAG award for the role, making her an Oscars front-runner.

Want to catch up on the film ahead of the March 27 ceremony? Here's how to watch.

How to Watch the 2021 West Side Story:

Starting March 2, the film will be available to stream on Disney+. That day, it will also be available to stream on HBO Max. If you don't already subscribe to either of these platforms, Disney+ costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Plans for HBOMax start at $9.99/month. As of publication, West Side Story is also still currently in theaters in many places, if you want to see it on the big screen.

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Looking for the original 1961 film?

West Side Story isn't currently available to stream for free on any online platforms. But you can buy or rent the film on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, or YouTube.

Caroline HallemannDigital Director

Caroline Hallemann is the Digital Director at Town & Country, where she covers culture, society, and entertainment, as well as the British royal family, among a variety of other topics. Caroline is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Kennedys and the Windsors, out in 2026. Prior to leading the digital team at T&C, she served as the brand's Senior News Editor and Digital News Director, and has previously held positions at Travel + Leisure, DailyCandy, and Parenting Magazine. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and their son, Tommy. You can find her on Instagram at the handle @challemann and on TikTok at @carolinehallemann.