Academy Awards 2027 Betting Preview: Favorites, Predictions, & Best Bets

Best Actor Odds and Prediction

At +1400, Pedro Pascal represents an exceptional value play for the 2027 Best Actor race. His upcoming project, Behemoth!, carries the narrative that Academy voters consistently reward, making his long-shot odds a lucrative target for Oscar predictions.

First, the project boasts an elite creative pedigree. Written and directed by Tony Gilroy, Behemoth! marks a highly anticipated return to feature filmmaking for the acclaimed director behind Michael Clayton.

Furthermore, the film is backed by Searchlight Pictures, a powerhouse studio famous for executing Oscar-winning campaigns. This backing ensures the film will have the visibility required for a major awards push.

Second, Pascal portrays a cellist and film composer navigating a complex, 15-year emotional and creative crossroad. Described as a dialogue-heavy portrait of narcissism and memory, the script functions essentially as a “one-man show”, the exact type of showcase that secures acting nominations.

Director Tony Gilroy's first film in 14 years, Behemoth!, starring Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde, is getting positive word of mouth after a test screening that took place Monday, May 11.

The film centers on the emotional fallout of a nomadic musician (Pascal) drifting through… pic.twitter.com/NDCzXw0vaU

— Art Hits Hard (@nightwriter22) May 14, 2026

Also, transitioning from massive franchise blockbusters to a high-brow drama gives voters a compelling reason to reward his career momentum. At 14-to-1 odds, betting on Pascal represents huge value for your Oscar betting picks in the early markets.

Cruise will continue to garner the most attention, but expect Pascal to jump up into the picture in 2027 after Behemoth!’s release.

Best Actress Odds and Prediction

At +900, Sandra Hüller in Digger is gaining attraction, but her value is heavily driven by her success in the historical drama Rose.

Hüller won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the Berlin International Film Festival for her role in Rose. In this 17th-century drama, she plays a soldier who disguises herself as a man to claim a farmstead.

The performance earned praise for its focus on gender identity and survival. With Mubi handling distribution across North America and the UK, the prestige of Rose will directly boost her visibility among Academy voters.

This momentum carries into her studio project, Digger. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Digger features a large budget, an October release date, and high visibility next to Cruise.

Hüller has stated that the project is unlike anything she has seen, signaling a prominent role in the ensemble. However, it appears that she will be in the Best Supporting Actress category for Digger.

At +900, you are buying into an actress that is on a roll and likely going to see plenty of attention throughout the year. So, the way I see it, she has plenty of value as one of the best 2027 Oscars betting picks.

Best Director Odds and Prediction

Alejandro G. Iñárritu is the frontrunner to win Best Director for Digger at the 2027 Academy Awards. The pick is backed by high production value and a history of Academy success.

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures with a $125 million budget, Digger is scheduled for a prime October release. The film features Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a reclusive oil tycoon trying to manage a global ecological disaster.

Congratulations to my friend Alejandro G. Iñárritu on this incredible art installation celebrating 25 years of Amores Perros and the art of filmmaking around the world. pic.twitter.com/VKNIifCvas

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) November 24, 2025

The project represents a significant shift for Cruise, who is playing against type as an unrecognizable character with a beer belly and thinning hair. This acting transformation under Iñárritu’s guidance provides a strong narrative for directorial praise.

Additionally, Iñárritu has a proven track record with voters, having won Best Director back-to-back for Birdman and The Revenant. Digger uses 35mm VistaVision film, shot by long-time collaborator and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, ensuring an intriguing technical scale.

With an ensemble cast including Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, and Jesse Plemons, Iñárritu is likely to be rewarded again by the Academy. I suggest backing him before his odds to win Best Director shorten considerably.

Best Picture Odds and Prediction

At +800, Wild Horse Nine is a strong value choice to win Best Picture at the 2027 Academy Awards. The film is written and directed by Martin McDonagh, whose prior features, The Banshees of Inisherin and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, earned a combined 16 Oscar nominations.

Distributed by Searchlight Pictures, the film holds a November release date, positioning it squarely in the awards window. Searchlight has a consistent history of managing successful Best Picture campaigns.

The plot is set in 1973 Chile during the military coup, following two CIA agents sent from Santiago to Easter Island. The ensemble cast includes John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, and Tom Waits.

The film mixes political history with black comedy, a combination that aligns with Academy voting patterns for storytelling. At 8-to-1 odds, Wild Horse Nine offers strong betting value against the frontrunner, Digger.

It pairs an established director with a studio built for wins, making it a primary contender on the board. The Oscar Best Picture odds paint a different picture at +800, but it’s a great opportunity for value bettors in 2027.