Watch these 6 must-see movies to prep for the 2018 Oscars race

Brian Truitt | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Steven Spielberg tackles the Pentagon Papers with 'The Post' Meryl Streep stars as 'Washington Post' publisher Kay Graham and Tom Hanks is editor Ben Bradlee in 'The Post,' director Steven Spielberg's drama about the Pentagon Papers.

The Golden Globes arrive Sunday (NBC, 8 ET/5 PT) as a reminder that most moviegoers, unless they spent their entire holiday break at the local cineplex, have a lot of catching up to do before the Academy Awards on March 4.

More: Who will win Golden Globes — and who should?

Also: Seth Meyers on hosting the Golden Globes, fatherhood and Trump fatigue

Related: 5 things to watch for at Sunday's Golden Globes show

Don’t worry, we’re here to help. You have a couple of months to cover all your bases, but here are six must-see films to get started:

The Post

Why it could go all the way: Steven Spielberg’s 1970s-set Pentagon Papers drama (now showing in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, goes nationwide Jan. 12) is a film built for best-picture glory, with Hollywood legends (Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep), history and a sense of timeliness in terms of the uneasy relationship between the White House and the media, then and now.

Look for: Streep leading an all-star cast as Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, Spielberg getting back into the best-director competition (his last nomination in the category was for 2012’s Lincoln), and an exhilarating original score from the iconic John Williams.

The Shape of Water

Why folks are swimming to it: Set against a backdrop of Cold War-era paranoia, Guillermo del Toro’s supernatural romance (in theaters nationwide) — up for seven Globes — is a lush and emotional fairy tale centered on a custodian (Sally Hawkins) who can’t talk and a fish-man (Doug Jones) from South America.

Look for: Hawkins bringing charm and heart to what's essentially a silent-movie role, a splendid supporting turn from fellow Globe nominee Richard Jenkins as her closeted gay neighbor, plus wonderful production design and cool underwater scenes that will undoubtedly get some love in Oscars’ technical categories.

Lady Bird

Why it's flying high with critics: Writer/director Greta Gerwig’s endearing dramedy (in theaters nationwide) finds universal quirkiness amid a year in the life of free-spirited Sacramento teen Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) who can’t wait to escape her Catholic school, her hometown and her overbearing mom (Laurie Metcalf).

Look for: The Globe-nominated pair of Ronan and Metcalf, who are going to be regulars at every awards show since they make a dynamite mother/daughter duo. But don’t sleep on Tracy Letts, who’s also quietly marvelous as Lady Bird’s dad, or Gerwig’s clever screenplay, which deserves an Oscar nod.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Why it’s got some fire: Writer/director Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy (in theaters nationwide) deftly melds black humor with tragedy in the tale of one bad mother (Frances McDormand) who holds local authorities accountable when she feels nothing is being done to solve her daughter’s murder.

Look for: McDormand’s masterful performance, which is strong enough to sweep the awards season, but also a couple of fantastic — and very different — supporting roles from Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell as embattled cops.

Get Out

Why the “Sunken Place” is connecting: Jordan Peele’s genre-mashup masterpiece (streaming on iTunes and other digital platforms) about a black photographer (Daniel Kaluuya) and a twisted visit with his white girlfriend’s family tackles racism in America through smart satire and horror tropes. More than just being an “of the moment” film, however, it’s also entertaining and satisfying for a broad audience.

Look for: A breakout turn from Kaluuya (an outside contender for best actor), plus a crackling script from Peele (a potential directing contender) that’s bound to snag an original screenplay nomination.

Call Me By Your Name

Why we’re loving this coming of age: A picturesque Italian countryside is the setting for the sexual awakening of a teenage boy (Timothée Chalamet) when he fosters a secret romantic tryst with his father’s graduate assistant (Armie Hammer) during the summer of 1983. (Now showing in select cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Austin, Seattle and Minneapolis, goes nationwide Jan. 19.)

Look for: Acting chops galore, including an impressive breakthrough from best-actor hopeful Chalamet and a rich performance by Hammer (both Globe nominees), as well as a memorable monologue courtesy of Michael Stuhlbarg as the coolest dad ever.