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The biggest night in film is just days away, with Hollywood’s finest set to descend upon Dolby Theatre on Sunday night for the 97th edition of the Academy Awards.
Conan O’Brien is set to host the Oscars for the first time as he takes over the reins from Jimmy Kimmel after a four year run.
There could still be some twists and turns after Mikey Madison‘s shock win over Demi Moore at the BAFTAs leaving it uncertain whether the 62-year-old will finally have her Oscar moment.
Anora and Adrien Brody’s movie The Brutalist seem primed to share the spotlight at the 97th Academy Awards with both films favoured in BetMGM’s markets across six categories.
PR expert Lynn Carratt revealed the winners seem fairly predictable as she explained: ‘Following on from the Baftas, we can probably predict who is likely to be the big winners on the night for this year’s Academy Awards – last year, with visual effects being the exception, every Bafta winner went on to then win the Oscar.
‘In the main award categories, I can see the winners panning out in the same way.’
But who looks set to walk away with awards this year and who will be left disappointed? MailOnline takes a look at the runners and riders tipped for Oscars success.
Who’s set for Oscars glory this weekend? As Anora, (pictured) and The Brutalist prepare to battle it out for Best Picture we take look at the movies and stars predicted to bag themselves an accolade
It is already proving a successful awards season for Demi after she received the Best Actress award at both the Golden Globes (pictured) and the SAG Awards – but will she get the Oscar?
Best Picture
The annual ceremony will see Wicked, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Perez, Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys and The Substance battle it out for Best Picture.
However it is romantic and dramatic comedy Anora that is the 1/2 favourite to bring home the award, with The Brutalist sitting back with odds of 6/1 according to BetMGM.
Spokesperson for online betting site Grosvenor Sport Simon Kew added: ‘Conclave remains a strong contender at 11/4, while The Brutalist at 6/1 could still shake things up.
‘However, for those looking for an underdog story, A Complete Unknown at 50/1 or even Emilia Perez and Wicked at 66/1 might hold some surprise value.’
‘Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys and The Substance are our 100/1 longshots.’
Yet Lynn explained Conclave’s win at the BAFTAs could mix things up as she said: ‘Nothing is guaranteed though, Anora’s grip on the Best Film award is also beginning to look slightly shaky.
‘The Academy does love a curveball, and Conclave’s huge success at the BAFTAs has made it a real contender.’
Receiving the BAFTA earlier this month, director Edward Berger said: ‘It is a huge honour, outstanding British film, and I’m not even from here! I feel so welcome in your midst. We live in a time of crisis for democracy. Institutions that used to bring us together are used to pull us apart.
‘Sometimes it is hard to keep the faith in that situation, but that’s why we make movies and that’s why we made this movie.’
Conclave’s win at the BAFTAs could mix things up making it a ‘real contender’ for Best Picture
Best Actor
Adrien Brody is the clear favourite to take home Best Actor, with his odds at 2/5 as PR expert Lynn revealed: ‘Brody is looking unbeatable’.
The star previously won Best Actor in 2003 for The Pianist, becoming the youngest-ever winner in the category at just 29.
However Timothée Chalamet is also a strong challenger at 8/5 for A Complete Unknown following his shock win at the BAFTAs earlier this month.
A Brit receiving a nod in the category is Ralph Fiennes after he transformed into into Cardinal Lomeli for Conclave.
His odds are sitting at 16/1, and as a two-time nominee for Schindler’s List and The English Patient, Ralph appears to be a respected underdog at this year’s ceremony.
Also nominated in the category are Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).
Timothee, 29, received a surprise win at the SAG Awards last week after he garnered the prize for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his Bob Dylan biopic.
Yet it was Adrien who took the gong at the BAFTAs
Acknowledging the ‘British public’, Adrien shared a moving tribute to England in his speech, admitting ‘It’s felt quite a bit like home lately’.
He said: ‘I am so grateful. I want to thank the British public for embracing me and my creative endeavors. It is incredibly meaningful as England has felt quite a bit like home lately. I will cherish this, thank you all’.
Adrien Brody is the clear favourite to take home Best Actor, with his odds at 2/5 as PR expert Lynn revealed: ‘Brody is looking unbeatable’
However Timothée Chalamet is a strong challenger at 8/5 for A Complete Unknown following his shock win at the BAFTAs earlier this month
Best Actress
Demi Moore is the overwhelming favourite for Best Actress at 2/5 for her performance in The Substance, marking a potential career-defining moment.
It is already proving a successful awards season for Demi after she received the Best Actress award at both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards last weekend.
Gushing in her speech, the 62-year-old revealed she felt she had defied the odds after a director previously branded her a ‘popcorn actress’ 30 years ago.
However Demi missed out at the BAFTAs to Anora star Mikey Madison who landed a surprise win at the prestigious ceremony.
Mikey is a strong contender with her odds sitting at 15/8, though she would be a first-time nominee if she secures the award.
Lynn explained: ‘There will be a strong challenge from Moore, but if Anora takes home Best Film, it could well be Madison’s Oscar to lose.’
She added: ‘Many would think Mikey Madison has the most to gain from a win, as a young up and coming actress, but at this stage of her career a nomination is really victory enough.
‘The nominee who would benefit the most from a win is Demi Moore.
‘Although her performance in The Substance has certainly given her career a huge boost, bringing home the Oscar will have her name at the top of every producers’ list again and would be a wonderful acknowledgment of her amazing career.’
Elsewhere, while Cynthia Erivo is hoping to take home the gong for her portrayal of Elphaba her odds are at 50/1.
Simon added: ‘Fernanda Torres, sitting at 10/1 for I’m Still Here, is best known for her work in Brazilian cinema. If nominated, this would be her first Academy Award recognition.’
‘Further down the list, Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Perez) is priced at 33/1 – she would be making history as the first openly transgender actress nominated in this category.’
Demi Moore is the overwhelming favourite for Best Actress at 2/5 for her performance in The Substance, marking a potential career-defining moment
Elsewhere, while Cynthia Erivo is hoping to take home the gong for her portrayal of Elphaba her odds are at 50/1
Best Director
The masterminds behind the incredible films at this year’s ceremony will also battle it out for the most prestigious award in film at the weekend.
Anora’s Sean Baker is leading the way to win Best Director at 8/15 with BetMGM.
The Brutalist’s Brady Corbet took the honour at the BAFTAs after a very successful night for the film after four wins.
The film dominated winning Best Actor, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.
Brady said during his speech: ‘I am humbled and very grateful, there is no such thing as best director, it’s like a joke.’
Also nominated is James Mangold for A Complete Unknown, Sean Baker for Anora, Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez and Coralie Fargeat for The Substance.
Anora’s Sean Baker is leading the way to win Best Director at 8/15 with BetMGM
Best Supporting Actor
Meanwhile in the supporting categories the two respective gong seem dead set to go to Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldana.
Kieran continued his awards-season momentum at the SAGs as he notched another win for his performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s drama A Real Pain and his odds for Sunday stand at 1/100.
Playing Benji and David, the pair play two vastly different cousins who embark on a strange trip to Poland to honour their grandmother.
During his speech last Sunday Kieran made some loving jabs at his costar and director Jesse for casting him despite not having auditioned him or having watched his work, ‘which I can’t even get into how annoyingly wrong he is.’
Kieran will go head to head with Guy Pearce in The Brutalist, Edward Norton in A Complete Unknown and Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice as well as lesser known Anora star Yura Borisov.
Kieran Culkin continued his awards-season momentum at the SAGs as he notched another win for his performance in A Real Pain and his odds for Sunday stand at 1/100
Best Supporting Actress
Zoe has also dominated the supporting actress category for her role as Rita Mora Castro in Netflix’s thriller musical Emilia Pérez with odds of 1/25.
There has been a torrent of negative publicity surrounding the film after racist and Islamophobic tweets from her costar Karla Sofía Gascón — some quite recent — were discovered.
Netflix went so far as to stop covering Gascón’s travel for awards shows, seemingly putting her out the race for best actress, but the film may still have a chance in other categories and Zoe seems set to bag the Oscar on Sunday.
Zoe is also up against Felicity Jones who has been nominated for her starring role as Erzsébet Tóth in The Brutalist.
Elsewhere Cynthia’s Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, A Complete Unknown’s Monica Barbaro and Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini are also nominated in the category.
Lynn explained: ‘Having won the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and Baftas already, it is tough to imagine the Academy will go in a different direction.’
Zoe has also dominated the supporting actress category for her role as Rita Mora Castro in Netflix’s thriller musical Emilia Pérez with odds of 1/25
Elsewhere Cynthia’s Wicked co-star Ariana Grande (pictured), A Complete Unknown’s Monica Barbaro and Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini are also nominated in the category
Oscar nominees 2025 full list – see who received nods for this year’s Academy Awards
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Emilia Pérez leads this year’s Oscar nominees with 13, including for best picture, actress, supporting actress and director
Best Director
Jacques Audiard — Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker — Anora
Brady Corbet — The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat — The Substance
James Mangold — A Complete Unknown
Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo — Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón — Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison — Anora
Demi Moore — The Substance
Fernanda Torres — I’m Still Here
The Substance has been nominated for numerous Oscars, including Best Actress for Demi Moore
Actor in a Leading Role
Adrien Brody — The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet — A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo — Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes — Conclave
Sebastian Stan — The Apprentice
The Brutalist came in second place with 10 nods, including for best picture, actor (Adrien Brody), supporting actor (Guy Peare) and supporting actress (Felicity Jones)
Actress in a Supporting Role
Monica Barbaro — A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande — Wicked
Felicity Jones — The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini — Conclave
Zoe Saldaña — Emilia Pérez
Actor in a Supporting Role
Yura Borisov — Anora
Kieran Culkin — A Real Pain
Edward Norton — A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce — The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong — The Apprentice
Animated Feature Film
Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Cinematography
The Brutalist — Lol Crawley
Dune: Part Two — Greig Fraser
Emilia Pérez — Paul Guilhaume
Maria — Ed Lachman
Nosferatu — Jarin Blaschke
Original Screenplay
Anora — Sean Baker
The Brutalist — Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain — Jesse Eisenberg
September 5 — Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; co-Written by Alex David
The Substance — Coralie Fargeat
Adapted Screenplay
A Complete Unknown — James Mangold and Jay Cocks
Conclave — Peter Straughan
Emilia Pérez — Jacques Audiard with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi
Nickel Boys — RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing — Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield
Achievement in Production Design
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Wicked
Achievement in Sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Original Song
El Mal – Emilia Pérez
The Journey – The Six Triple Eight
Like A Bird – Sing Sing
Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez
Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late
Original Score
The Brutalist — Daniel Blumberg
Conclave — Volker Bertelmann
Emilia Pérez — Clément Ducol and Camille
Wicked — John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
The Wild Robot — Kris Bowers
Live-Action Short Film
A Lien
Anuja
I’m Not a Robot
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Animated Short Film
Beautiful Men
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Documentary Feature Film
Black Box Diaries
No Other Land
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane
Flow is nominated for both International Feature Film and Animated Feature Film
Documentary Short Film
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
International Feature Film
I’m Still Here (Brazil)
The Girl With the Needle (Denmark)
Emilia Pérez (France)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
Flow (Latvia)
Kieran Culkin has dominated the supporting actor categories in recent weeks for Jesse Eisenberg’s drama A Real Pain
Makeup and Hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance
Wicked
Achievement in Costume Design
A Complete Unknown — Arianne Phillips
Conclave — Lisy Christl
Gladiator II — Janty Yates and Dave Crossman
Nosferatu — Linda Muir
Wicked — Paul Tazewell
Achievement in Film Editing
Anora — Sean Baker
The Brutalist — David Jancso
Conclave — Nick Emerson
Emilia Pérez — Juliette Welfling
Wicked — Myron Kerstein
Anora is nominated for several Oscars, including best picture, actress, supporting actor, director, screenplay and editing
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
