The 94th Academy Award Show is all set to take place in Los Angeles on March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The nominations don’t begin until the end of the month and will be announced on February 8, 2022. The voting phase will begin on March 17, 2022, at 12.00 p.m. ET. However, the odds for Oscars 2022 have already started taking shape.
The Academy Awards are the biggest event of the movie awards season. It also means big money for sportsbooks that have chosen to post Oscar odds in recent years. The Golden Globes was handed out on January 9. Thus, the odds have tightened on the favorites, with the Power of the Dog climbing to the top of the board in two big categories.
We bring you the early Oscars betting odds for the major categories and give you insight into how to bet on the Academy Awards to ensure greater chances of success.
Best Picture Odds
Whether it is passion, emotion, or just pure industry affection, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical historical drama Belfast is a top contender in this category. Revolving around a tight-knit Irish family, the film was magical on its own. It also won the most coveted TIFF People’s Choice Award.
On the other hand, Steven Spielberg’s musical West Side Story has also steadily risen in recent weeks, despite underperforming at the box office. Nevertheless, the movie’s emotional highs captured the critics’ hearts just like Belfast. Unfortunately, West Side Story did fail to get on the SAG nominee list, with Arian DeBose bagging a lone nod for her supporting role.
Additionally, unusual suspects like Power of the Dog, Licorice Pizza, and King Richard are also quietly rising in the background.
Best Actor Odds
Will Smith’s rise on the prestige circuit happens to be one of the interesting mysteries of this award season. People never thought his talent as a movie star would translate into an Oscar victory. However, his luck might change this year, as his latest role in the biographical movie “King Richard” continuously shows upon the precursor lists, including the SAG awards.
But neck-and-neck with Smith is Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), and Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick…Boom!). Both actors received a healthy boost for their performance in the AFI Fest and the SAG Awards.
Best Actress Odds
The Academy Awards love star-on-star matchups, which is why we believe Nicole Kidman transforming into Hollywood icon Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos” is a massive contender in this category. Kidman had also received a SAG nomination for her performance.
Another strong contender is Lady Gaga, a musician-turned-actor who proved that her Oscar-nominated performance in “A Star Is Born” was no fluke. She drew from her personal inspiration to play the budding pop star. Gaga received nominations from precursor groups like Critics Choice, SAG, Golden Globes, and New York Film Critics Circle Victory.
Best Director Odds
The Power of the Dog marks Jane Campion’s return to filmmaking after 12 long years. And yes, she did make industry’s heart grow fonder. The Netflix feature hit every precursor—from journalist-backed organizations to groups with real industry ties. Furthermore, the performances in the movie, especially those of Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee, also received individual praises, enough to enter the solo categories at the SAG Awards.
Kenneth Branagh is also rising up, thanks to Belfast’s dominance. Nevertheless, an interesting factor to look forward to is Steven Spielberg’s ascend as the race intensifies. There were a lot of questions surrounding the need for a new West Side Story adaptation, particularly with him at the helm. However, early reviews and the odds from DraftKings were quick to declare that it is one of the standout offerings of his entire filmography. So, don’t count him out.
What Odds Do Sportsbooks Offer for the Oscars?
Typically, you will find most sportsbooks offering odds for all the big Academy Awards categories, including Best Picture, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, and Best Director. Sometimes, odds for categories like Best Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound are also offered.
While legally betting on the Academy Awards is currently limited to a few states, the betting markets are expanding and could be available across the US soon.
