Counting down to the Academy Awards? Don't watch the show without this Free Printable 2021 Oscar Ballot!
Looking for this year’s ballot? Find the 2025 Oscar Ballot Template here.
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I always get a little excited at this time of year. Basically, I've been counting down the days until the nominations finally came out ... especially since the show is airing a couple months later this year!
My husband actually works in the entertainment industry, so of course, we are massive movie fans. It's definitely our favorite date night activity, and we always try to see as many of the Oscar nominated movies as possible.
Have you watched any of this year's best picture nominees? So far, I've seen three ... with Sound of Metal being my current fave. But of course, there are all the movies in the all other categories too, so I'm feeling slightly behind schedule. It's hard enough to keep up in a normal year, but I'm hoping to steam as many movies as possible before the show airs.
If you're a huge movie fan too, then this free printable 2021 Oscar ballot was created with you in mind!
This printable ballot is the best way to track your Oscar picks as you watch the show on Sunday, April 25. It will make watching the awards even more fun, and best of all, it's totally FREE!
About the 2021 Oscar Ballot
I created this printable Oscar ballot so that you'd have all the Academy Award nominations in one place. Use it now to track the movies you need to see, and later, during the actual awards show.
The printable includes every Oscar nominated movie, actor, and category. I've also added an extra page, where you can keep tabs on your red carpet faves, like best/worst dressed, funniest speech, craziest moment, and more. And since this year's show will be partially virtual, I've added a few extras to this page just for this unique year!
Below, you'll also learn how to turn the ballot into a scorecard and where to stream the nominated movies. And make sure to check out my easy food and drink ideas to make your evening at home even more special.
To download the free printable ballot, scroll to the end of the post for the PDF file. Simply print it on 8.5 x 11-inch paper, then tie it together with ribbon like I did (directions follow), or use it as-is.
How to Use the Ballot as a Scorecard
It's always fun to predict who you think will win each category ... then see if your guesses actually pan out! The ballots have room to mark your winner predictions ahead of time.
Once the Academy Awards start, you can use the ballot as a scorecard. Keep track of the winners as the show progresses, and assign points for each of the Oscar categories you guess correctly. I'd suggest to following points spread:
- Best Picture = 10 points
- Best Actor / Actress = 5 points
- Everything Else = 2 points
If you're watching the show with someone else (in person or via Zoom), then whoever winds up with the most points on their scorecard at the end of the night wins! You could even give the winner a small award, like a bottle of wine, movie trivia game or book, or my favorite idea: one of these gold award trophies!
Where to Stream the Nominated Movies
The 93rd Oscars will air on Sunday, April 25, 2021 (8:00 PM Eastern / 5:00 PM Pacific) on ABC.
Because of the unique circumstances surrounding this year's show, you can stream many of the 2021 nominated movies, or you can watch them via Video on Demand (VOD). Here's where to steam movies nominated for Best Picture:
- The Father - Available in theaters, and VOD starting March 26.
- Judas and the Black Messiah - Watch in theaters. Previously steaming on HBO Max (may become available again).
- Mank - View on Netflix.
- Minari - In theaters and available via VOD.
- Nomadland - Watch in theaters and on Hulu.
- Promising Young Woman - See in theaters and via VOD.
- Sound of Metal - Watch with Amazon Prime Video.
- The Trial of the Chicago 7 - Stream on Netflix.
Tip: Many of the movies in other categories, such as Best Actress and Best Animated Feature Film, are also available for streaming or via VOD. Check out this article from the Los Angelos Times to learn more.
How to Assemble the Printable Oscar Ballot
You can simply print out these Academy Awards ballots, and use them as is. I like to packages the pages together though, and it's actually really simple to do.
I've used many methods for putting these ballots together over the years (check out my ideas from 2015 through 2020 here). This layered look from 2017 is my fave!
To keep things simple this year, I tied the ballots together with ribbon. It's easy to do, yet creates a professional look ... and I'm showing you exactly how to replicate this look below!
Here's What You'll Need
- Oscar Ballot Printable (find it at the end of this post)
- cardstock
- self-healing mat
- ruler
- utility knife
- hole punch
- ½ to ⅝-inch wide ribbon (I used ⅝-inch ribbon that I found at Michaels.)
- scissors
Start by downloading the ballot PDF (at the end of this post) and printing it on cardstock. Make sure to print the ballot at FULL SIZE.
My printer drives me nuts, so I usually bring projects like this to FedEx (Kinkos). And I love that I can order from FedEx online, then simply pick it up in store when I'm ready (or have it shipped). It's so easy, and the print quality is awesome ... much better than my dodgy printer.
Next, stack the pages together (I usually do two to three pages at a time) on a self-healing cutting mat. Then use a utility knife and ruler to cut the pages in half. A utility knife works better than a scissors, because it keeps the edges straight.
Grab your hole punch, and make a hole in the top center of each page, about ¼-inch from the edge.
You can measure the ballots to find the exact center or just eye-ball it. Personally, I'm more of an eye-baller!
Next, you'll cut an eight-inch piece of ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half, then pull the raw ends of the ribbon through the hole, from the back of the ballots toward the front.
You may need to roll up the ribbons ends to fit them through the hole. When you're done, you will have a loop of ribbon on the back side of the ballot.
Pass the raw ends of the ribbon through the loop and pull tight, securing the ribbon in place. At this point, you can futz around with the ribbon a bit to get it to lay right.
Finally, trim the ribbon ends using your scissors. I cut the ends on an angle pointing toward the center.
And that's really all there is to it. Pretty easy, right?
I prefer to use fray resistant ribbon, such as grosgrain. However, you can use pretty much any kind of ribbon for this project, as long as it fits through the hole punch.
Check out the previous year's ballots for more inspiration.
The best thing about attaching the cards like this is that everything stays in order, and you don't have to worry about losing any of the pages.
Before the show starts, don't forget to gather a pen or two. Then, settle in for a fun evening!
Award-Worthy Appetizer + Drink Ideas
Looking for some Oscar-worthy food and drink ideas to enjoy as you watch the show? Try one of these scrumptious recipes!
- Parmesan Pepper Popcorn
- Cheese Board for Two
- Caramelized Onion Dip
- Baked Ricotta Dip
- Creamy Lemon Artichoke Spread
- Feta, Pepper, and Olive Bites
- Caprese Skewers
- Baked Feta with Tomatoes and Olives
- Roasted Tomato Bruschetta with Ricotta
- Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
And don't forget a festive cocktail!
- Chambord and Champagne (Kir Imperial)
- Blueberry Mojito
- French Martini
- Raspberry French 75
- Rum Old Fashioned
- Spicy Paloma
Download the Printable Ballot
Click anywhere on the mini ballot below to download your free printable 2021 Oscar ballot PDF. For best results, print the file on cardstock (at full size).
If you have temperamental printer like I do, save yourself some grief and bring the files to your local FedEx Office (Kinkos), and ask them to print it on white card stock. The print quality is sooo much better than a home printer! You can even order online, then pick up in store (perfect these days!) ... save 10% with code FDX010 if you do.
And don't forget to grab these Oscar Bingo Cards, too ... they're sure to make your evening even more fun!
