How to watch West Side Story online and stream Oscar-nominated movie where you are now

Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in West Side Story

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

For the second time the 1957 stage musical, West Side Story, is given a heavy dose of that movie magic, this time blending together the directorial pizazz of Steven Spielberg with Bernstein and Sondheim's original music and lyrics. Starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as Tony and Maria, here's how to watch West Side Story online as it finds its home on streaming services across the globe from today.

Disney Plus deals: sign up to watch on Disney+ around the world

How to watch West Side Story

Streaming release date: Wednesday, March 2

Cast: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Rita Moreno

Director: Steven Spielberg

Run time: 2hr 36min

Rating: PG-13

Stream: Disney Plus (globally incl. US) | HBO Max (US)

In the US? Get Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus for $13.99 a month with Disney Plus bundle

A reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, swapping out the Montagues and Capulets for the Jets and the Sharks (a gang of white youths versus the Puerto Rican community residing in the West Side of Manhattan), Elgort and Zegler are our star-crossed lovers, divided by race and class.

Featuring big musical numbers including "Tonight" and "I Feel Pretty", Zegler steps out in the romantic musical drama as her first role in a film, delivering an award-winning performance that has seen her secure Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy at the 2022 Golden Globes.

Receiving a nomination for Best Picture among others at the Oscars, too, this is one to add to your watch list ahead of the 94th Academy Awards. Keep reading to find out how to watch West Side Story online wherever you are right now.

Read more: how to watch this year's Oscar nominated films

How to watch West Side Story online around the world

Steven Spielberg's adaptation of West Side Story landed on Disney Plus around the world on Wednesday, March 2.

Now rolled out in North America, Europe and parts of Asia and Latin America, this is the place to watch West Side Story. Simply head to the Disney Plus website and sign up for the service to watch.

In addition to being the place to stream West Side Story, you'll also find Disney's complete back catalog of Walt Disney and Pixar classics, the MCU and Star Wars canon, all of The Simpsons, and National Geographic documentaries.

A Disney Plus subscription also gives you access to a ton of Fox titles - all for just $7.99/£7.99/CA$11.99/AU$11.99 a month, or save 15% on the Disney Plus price with its annual plan.

In the US? You can subscribe to the Disney Plus bundle and pay just $13.99 a month to stream Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus.

What else should I know about Disney+?

West Side Story is just the latest in a string of recent blockbuster releases exclusive to the platform, including Encanto, Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings, Black Widow, Luca, and much more. Plus, there's plenty more on the way, such as Ms. Marvel, Obi-Wan Kenobi, She-Hulk and The Mandalorian season 3, all set to arrive in the coming weeks and months.

The streaming service has apps for iOS and Android (of course), and is available to watch online via the likes of Amazon Fire TV Stick, PS4, Xbox One and Roku streaming devices.

And finally, there's the new Star on Disney Plus that most global markets get to enjoy and sees the amount of content available through Disney Plus more than double, with a particular eye to shows grown-ups are going to enjoy (but available in the US).

Some of the cast walking towards the camera in West Side Story 2021 — (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Is there anywhere else I can watch West Side Story online?

For those based in the US, you'll also find the 2021 iteration of West Side Story available to stream on HBO Max on from Wednesday, March 2.

If you're not already a HBO Max subscriber and you're curious about the service, the first thing to know is there are two HBO Max price points - $9.99 a month with commercials, or the 4K HDR, commercial-free subscription at $14.99 that also brings 4K streams and Dolby Atmos sound.

Alternatively, you can save and pay for a year upfront for $99.99/$149.99 a year and save 15%.

What else can you watch on HBO Max?

HBO Max brings access to a huge library of top-drawer entertainment, including Euphoria, And Just Like That, the entirety of Sex and the City, Succession, Girls, Mare of Easttown, The Matrix Resurrections and much more.

The 7-day HBO Max free trial has long since been discontinued. But, if you're a current HBO Now subscriber or pay for HBO through your cable provider, you might actually be entitled to HBO Max at no extra cost.

Devices compatible with HBO Max include iPhone and Android devices, Apple and Samsung TVs, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, Chromecast and Chromebooks, and laptops and PCS. HBO Max on Roku and Amazon Fire Stick is also available.

Can you still get a Disney Plus free trial where you are?
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Alice is eCommerce Editor at Future with a focus on streaming services, such as Disney Plus and HBO Max, and VPN. She predominantly writes buying and streaming service guides, as well as how to watch articles. Previously a Commercial Content Writer at Trusted Reviews, Alice has five years experience giving online buying advice, and over two years writing about consumer tech.