Who's on Track for Oscars Glory This Weekend?

The highly anticipated night in film is nearly here, as Hollywood's brightest stars prepare to gather at the Dolby Theatre this Sunday for the 97th Academy Awards.

Conan O'Brien will host the Oscars for the first time, taking over from Jimmy Kimmel, who held the role for the past four years.

Things could take unexpected turns after Mikey Madison's surprising win over Demi Moore at the BAFTAs. This event has left many wondering if Moore, 62, will finally capture her Oscar.

The movie Anora and Adrien Brody's film The Brutalist are both poised to stand out at the upcoming awards, with several nominations across six categories according to odds from BetMGM.

PR expert Lynn Carratt has shared insights suggesting that this year's winners may be somewhat predictable. "Based on the BAFTAs results, we can anticipate who the major winners might be. Last year, with the exception of visual effects, all BAFTA winners went on to win Oscars."

So, who are the favorites for this year's awards? Let's take a closer look at the top contenders for Oscars success.

Best Picture

This year's ceremony features a competitive lineup for Best Picture, including Wicked, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, and The Substance.

Among these, the romantic and dramatic comedy Anora is currently favored to win, with odds of 1/2, while The Brutalist has odds of 6/1 according to BetMGM.

Simon Kew, a spokesperson for Grosvenor Sport, added, "Conclave is also a strong contender at 11/4, while The Brutalist could still surprise us at 6/1. For the underdog fanatics, A Complete Unknown is at 50/1, and both Emilia Perez and Wicked stand at 66/1."

Despite being the favorite, Lynn pointed out that Anora's position may not be as solid as it seems. "The Academy enjoys surprises, especially after Conclave's impressive performance at the BAFTAs. This makes it a serious contender for Best Picture."

Best Actor

Adrien Brody is considered the frontrunner for Best Actor, with odds of 2/5. Lynn stated, "Brody is looking unbeatable." He previously won this award in 2003 for The Pianist, becoming the youngest actor to do so at the age of 29.

Timothée Chalamet presents a strong challenge for his role in A Complete Unknown and has odds of 8/5, following his surprising win at the BAFTAs earlier this month. British actor Ralph Fiennes also stands out, having transformed into Cardinal Lomeli for Conclave. His odds sit at 16/1.

The category also includes Colman Domingo for his role in Sing Sing and Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice.

Best Actress

Demi Moore is favored to win Best Actress at 2/5 for her performance in The Substance, representing a potential defining moment in her career. She has received accolades from both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards this season.

However, Demi missed out at the BAFTAs to Mikey Madison from Anora, who has strong odds of 15/8 if she wins, marking her first nomination.

Lynn noted, "While Moore poses a formidable challenge, if Anora takes home Best Film, it could tilt the scales in favor of Madison."

Best Director

The talented directors behind this year's nominated films will compete for the Best Director award. Sean Baker from Anora is leading the race with odds of 8/15. Meanwhile, Brady Corbet from The Brutalist won at the BAFTAs and is a notable contender following the film's four wins.

Best Supporting Actor and Actress

In the supporting categories, Kieran Culkin is set to claim Best Supporting Actor after his success for A Real Pain, with extraordinarily favorable odds of 1/100. On the women’s side, Zoe Saldana is the strong favorite for her role in Emilia Pérez, boasting odds of 1/25.

With winners expected to be decided soon, the excitement grows as fans await the results of this prestigious ceremony.

Oscars, Academy, Awards