If you want to watch West Side Story, the hardest part is over: that interminable wait! Now for the second hardest part: figuring out where and when you can watch Steven Spielberg's celebrated new musical adaptation right now.
You might look at a filmmaking resume as robust and crowded as Spielberg's and think "This guy's done it all!" And you'd almost be right. From war dramas to spy thrillers to sci-fi, romance, action-adventure, and possibly even one of the great horror movies (depending on which Poltergeist fan you ask), Spielberg has put his signature touch in most of the major genres, animated, live-action, and CGI-heavy alike. But not a musical. At least, not until now.
If you're a big ol' movie nerd like me, the idea of Spielberg's first big musical is probably enough to make you want to get your butt in the nearest available seat ASAP. But whether you're here for Spielberg, the return of the great Rita Moreno, or just a big musical lover, here's your easy, regularly updated guide to where the new West Side Story is playing right now, if it's on streaming, where you can listen (and re-listen) to the soundtrack, and everything else you need to know.
When Is West Side Story in Theaters?
West Side Story came to theaters nationwide on December 10, 2021. You can find showtimes near you and book tickets at most of your favorite vendors and local theater chains, but here are some handy links to a few of the biggest national options.
It's been one exceptional wait for this film, but it's finally over! Spielberg first announced his interest in directing a West Side Story remake all the way back in 2014, but didn't put the wheels into motion on the project until 2018. After that, it was quick going, with the movie shooting in 2019 for a planned December 18, 2020 release date - but of course, like so many films, West Side Story's release date was ultimately delayed until 2021 amid the pandemic.
Is West Side Story (2021) Streaming on Disney+, HBO Max or Netflix?
As of March 2nd, West Side Story is now streaming on Disney+ and HBO Max. West Side Story is available to stream on HBO/HBO Max as a part of an ongoing deal between 20th Century Fox and HBO dating back to 2012 (long before Disney took over Fox). Now, viewers have multiple ways to watch one of the most acclaimed films of 2021 from the comfort of their homes.
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose) and 11 Critics’ Choice Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose, Rita Moreno), “West Side Story” is the winner of three Golden Globe® awards—Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy; Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Rachel Zegler) and Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose) – and a SAG Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Ariana DeBose). The film has also received nominations from the DGA (Steven Spielberg), PGA (Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger) and WGA (Tony Kushner) and has been named one of the year’s Top 10 films by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review, the latter having voted Rachel Zegler Best Actress of the Year.
Is the Original West Side Story (1961) Streaming?
Maybe you're not able to make it to the theaters but you still want some time with the Sharks and the Jets, or maybe Spielberg's version has you craving a revisit of the original. Either way, if you're in the mood to revisit the classic 1961 version of West Side Story, you'll only find it streaming on one service right now: Curia. It's also available to rent or purchase through most major Digital providers.
If you're wondering what the heck is Curia? That's fair, the streaming wars are getting pretty gritty. Here's what the official site has to say:
Founded by Film and Broadway producer Edward Walson, CURIA helps movie lovers stop searching and start watching great movies by providing viewers with new, specially curated collections of feature and short films each month that are organized for making faster, more informed viewing decisions.
Sounds pretty groovy, and what's more, this service offers a free trial for 30 days, which means if you don't mind a bit of signup and you're good at remembering your subscriptions, you can watch the original West Side Story online free right now at this link (note: this offer has now expired).