Oscar 2025 Predictions: Top Contenders in the Major Categories Based on Bookmakers' Odds
Going for Gold: Predictions for the 97th Academy Awards
Bundle up, movie enthusiasts! The 97th Academy Awards are just around the corner, happening on the chilly night of March 2nd to 3rd, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in the heart of Los Angeles. Unlike last year's clear-cut favorite, this year's ceremony promises a thrilling and unpredictable night of Hollywood's biggest stars and awards. Let's take a closer look at the betting favorites for the Big Five categories, and who might be taking home the golden statuette.
Best Picture
Brace yourselves for an onslaught of drama and emotion as the Best Picture category heats up. After Oppenheimer's domination last year, this category appears to have a favorite: Anora.
Here's how the bookies see it:
- Anora: 1.50
- Konklave: 3.25
- The Brutalist: 7.50
- Like A Complete Unknown: 50.00
- Emilia Pérez: 66.00
- Wicked: 66.00
- The Substance: 100.00
- Dune: Part Two: 100.00
- I'm Still Here: 100.00
- Nickel Boys: 100.00
More than just a favorite, Anora is nominated for a whopping six Oscars this year. The romantic dramedy stars Mikey Madison, 25, as a Manhattan strip club employee who marries a wealthy Russian oligarch's son to obtain a green card, only for the families to try and annul the marriage.
Anora has been a source of controversy and mixed reviews from critics, but it took home the Big Prize at the Critics' Choice Awards, a precursor to the Oscars in early February.
Best Actor
Get ready to shout "Oscar!" (or maybe "Avatar"?) for the Best Actor category. International bookmakers see the race as being between two powerhouse actors: Adrien Brody, 51, and Timothée Chalamet, 29.
- Adrien Brody - The Brutalist: 1.44
- Timothée Chalamet - Like A Complete Unknown: 2.63
- Ralph Fiennes - Konklave: 14.00
- Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice: 33.00
- Colman Domingo - Sing Sing: 33.00
Brody earns his multitude of nods for his powerful performance in The Brutalist, as László Tóth, an immigrant seeking the American dream after World War II. On the other hand, Timothée Chalamet garnered praise for his convincing portrayal of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in Like A Complete Unknown.
Best Actress
The Best Actress category is set to be a tightly contested race between Demi Moore, 62, and Mikey Madison, 25.
- Demi Moore - The Substance: 1.40
- Mikey Madison - Anora: 2.88
- Fernanda Torres - I'm Still Here: 11.00
- Cynthia Erivo - Wicked: 33.00
- Karla Sofía Gascon - Emilia Pérez: 33.00
Moore took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her work in The Substance, just a few weeks before the Oscars. However, bookmakers also have good odds for Madison, suggesting a close call in this category.
Best Director
The race for the Best Director category is between the directors of two potential Oscar-winning films: Anora and The Brutalist.
- Sean Baker - Anora: 1.53
- Brady Corbet - The Brutalist: 2.38
- Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez: 20.00
- Coralie Fargeat - The Substance: 25.00
- James Mangold - Like A Complete Unknown: 25.00
Anora scored six total Oscar nominations, while The Brutalist received an impressive ten nods. Only Emilia Pérez has been nominated more frequently, with 13 categories in the running. The betting favorites point to this category being one of the closest races of the night.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Best Adapted Screenplay category is another category featuring films with multiple nominations. The current favorite of bookmakers is Conclave:
- Conclave: 1.11
- Emilia Pérez: 9.00
- Nickel Boys: 16.00
- Like A Complete Unknown: 12.00
- Sing Sing: 20.00
Conclave is a political thriller based on the novel of the same name by Robert Harris, 67. The story follows cardinals from various countries coming together to elect a new pope, while tackling themes like sexism, racism, and homophobia in the church.
International bookmakers predict that the 97th Academy Awards will bring surprises, with no clear favorite in many categories, unlike last year's Oppenheimer smash. Fans can tune in on March 3 at 1 a.m. CET to see who takes home the coveted golden statuettes. The ceremony will be broadcast on German free TV by ProSieben and can also be streamed with a subscription to Joyn or Disney.
What are the predicted favorites for the Best Actor category at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025? The race appears to be between Adrien Brody for his role in 'The Brutalist' and Timothée Chalamet for his portrayal in 'Like A Complete Unknown', according to international bookmakers.
Who has been nominated for the most Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025? The movie 'Emilia Pérez' has been nominated in 13 categories, making it the most frequently nominated film.
Which movie starring Mikey Madison is likely to win the Best Picture category at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025? The betting favorites point to 'Anora', which has received six nominations.
What is the story of 'Conclave', the favorite for the Best Adapted Screenplay category at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025? The political thriller is based on a novel by Robert Harris and follows cardinals from around the world as they elect a new poke, exploring themes like sexism, racism, and homophobia in the church.
