Oscars 2027 Forecast: The Odyssey Leads Best Picture Race as Awards Season Begins
After its release in July, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is viewed as the leading candidate for Best Picture at the 2027 Oscars, bolstered by impressive reviews and record earnings. Historically, only William Wyler and David Lean have achieved consecutive Best Picture wins. The Best Director category may lean towards Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi for La Bola Negra, which secured the People's Choice Award at TIFF and was picked up by Netflix. Other notable contenders include Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three. A24 boasts several contenders, while Neon's lineup features projects from Cristian Mungiu and Ryusuke Hamaguchi. In the acting categories, Matt Damon, John Malkovich, and Julianne Moore are frontrunners, with Penélope Cruz possibly receiving double nominations.
Key facts
- The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the assumed Best Picture front-runner for the 2027 Oscars after its July release, strong reviews, and record-breaking grosses.
- Only William Wyler and David Lean have won Best Picture for consecutive features, a historical precedent against Nolan.
- La Bola Negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix.
- A24 has multiple contenders: The Invite, The Debut, Club Kid, and documentary You Can See Everything.
- Neon's awards slate includes Fjord, All of a Sudden, Artificial, and Paper Tiger.
- Best Actor race features Matt Damon, John Malkovich, and Andrew Scott, none of whom have won an acting Oscar.
- Julianne Moore is the sole sure bet in Best Actress for The Debut, with a wide-open field including international contenders.
- The Academy rescinded its rule against double nominations in the same category, benefiting Penélope Cruz and Sandra Hüller.
Entities
Artists
- Christopher Nolan
- William Wyler
- David Lean
- Alejandro González Iñárritu
- Javier Calvo
- Javier Ambrossi
- Martin McDonagh
- Phil Lord
- Christopher Miller
- Denis Villeneuve
- Olivia Wilde
- Jesse Eisenberg
- Jordan Firstman
- Nathan Fielder
- Lance Oppenheim
- Cristian Mungiu
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi
- Luca Guadagnino
- James Gray
- Tony Gilroy
- Pedro Pascal
- Mike Leigh
- Lee Chang-dong
- Simon Stone
- Andrew Scott
- Curry Barker
- Peter Farrelly
- Sian Heder
- Antoine Fuqua
- Matt Damon
- John Malkovich
- Ian Charleson
- Tom Cruise
- Robert Pattinson
- Chris Hansen
- John Turturro
- Ryan Gosling
- Anthony Ippolito
- Sebastian Stan
- Seth Rogen
- Brad Pitt
- Bing Crosby
- Robert Aramayo
- Jaafar Jackson
- Julianne Moore
- Inde Navarrette
- Demi Moore
- Amy Madigan
- Sandra Hüller
- Renate Reinsve
- Virginie Efira
- Léa Seydoux
- Jeon Do-yeon
- Rosalind Eleazar
- Chris Rock
- Sophie Okonedo
- Ruth Madely
- Mathilde Arcel
- Marion Bailey
- Zendaya
- Carrie Coon
- Paul Giamatti
- Sam Rockwell
- John Leguizamo
- Guitarricadelafuente
- Álvaro Lafuente Calvo
- Edward Norton
- Colman Domingo
- Adam Driver
- Steve Buscemi
- Jeremy Strong
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Andrew Garfield
- Sam Altman
- Yura Borisov
- Anne Hathaway
- Samantha Morton
- Penélope Cruz
- Tao Okamoto
- Kieran Culkin
- Kate O'Flynn
- Mariana Di Girolamo
- Olivia Colman
- Scarlett Johansson
- David Ehrlich
- Walt Hickey
Institutions
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Netflix
- A24
- Neon
- Amazon
- Sony Pictures Classics
- Toronto International Film Festival
- Cannes Film Festival
- Venice Film Festival
- Telluride Film Festival
- New York Film Festival
- Miramax
- Gold Derby
- Numlock
- Universal
- Vulture
Locations
- Spain
- Easter Island
- France
- Denmark
- Germany
- Korea
- Nigeria
- London
- New York
- Toronto
- Cannes
- Venice
- Telluride