It's that time of year again — the the 96th edition of the Oscars, the biggest night in show business, takes place this Sunday (7:00 p.m. ET, ABC). In many ways, the Academy Awards serves as the Super Bowl of showbiz, and it has taken on a whole new level of popularity now that you can bet on basically all the major categories.
Of course, many friends and family groups prefer the old reliable form of Oscars Sunday betting — party pools — with every member of a watch party picking every major category. The attendee with the most correct picks wins the pot, even if the pot is comprised of biscotti drowning in chocolate fondue (great, now I'm hungry!).
Gearing up for your Oscars pool but not as familiar with the past year or so of films as usual? Looking for a refresher or some second opinions before you lock in your picks? Need some Academy Award locks on DraftKings as a change of pace from basketball betting? We've got you covered.
STREAM: Watch the 2024 Oscars for free with Fubo
Let's run the gauntlet and list the odds as well as Sporting News' predictions for every major Oscars category featured as a prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Oscars 2024: Betting odds, category predictions, favorites & sleepers
All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Picture odds
| Film | Odds |
| Oppenheimer | -5000 |
| Poor Things | +2000 |
| The Zone of Interest | +2500 |
| The Holdovers | +2800 |
| Barbie | +3500 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | +4000 |
| Anatomy of a Fall | +4000 |
| American Fiction | +8000 |
| Past Lives | +10000 |
| Maestro | +15000 |
SN pick: "Oppenheimer." This might be the biggest lock since "The Departed" in 2006.
We can't get over Cillian Murphy's phenomenal performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, and esteemed director Christopher Nolan has told his most masterful story yet.
Enjoy the free square in your pool, folks, unless you somehow have the overhead to risk $5,000 to make $100. The -5000 odds translate to a 98 percent win probability.
Best Director odds
| Director | Odds |
| Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) | -5000 |
| Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things) | +2000 |
| Martin Scorcese (Killers of the Flower Moon) | +2200 |
| Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) | +3500 |
| Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall) | +6500 |
SN pick: Nolan for "Oppenheimer." The man responsible for "The Dark Knight" trilogy, "Inception," and "Dunkirk" has told his most brilliant and complex story yet.
"Oppenheimer" is a work of art, and the eighth Oscar nomination will be the charm for the 53-year-old British filmmaker. Sorry, Marty, you can't win 'em all!
Best Actor odds
| Actor | Odds |
| Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) | -1000 |
| Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) | +500 |
| Bradley Cooper (Maestro) | +1600 |
| Colman Domingo (Rustin) | +8000 |
| Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) | +8000 |
SN pick: Murphy as "Oppenheimer."
Most other years, Giamatti would probably run away with a statue for his portrayal of a hilariously brutal Barton College professor in the mid-1970s. Alexander Payne, who directed Giamatti in "Sideways" in 2004, brings out the best in his counterpart.
But, alas, Murphy will not be denied for his historically haunting portrayal of the rise and fall of the man behind the atomic bomb. He has already won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award, a clear indicator he's about to win his first Oscar. Three up, three down!
Best Actress odds
| Actress | Odds |
| Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) | -225 |
| Emma Stone (Poor Things) | +150 |
| Sandra Huller (Anatomy of a Fall) | +3500 |
| Carey Mulligan (Maestro) | +5000 |
| Annette Bening (Nyad) | +5000 |
SN pick: Gladstone for "Killers of the Flower Moon." In a film about wicked men ruthlessly killing in the name of greed, it's the beautifully staggering performance of Gladstone as Mollie that really makes the movie.
An Indigenous woman who lived her first 11 years on a Montana reservation, Gladstone operates as the main vessel for a dark central narrative so few members of cinema have been willing to tell. As RogerEbert.com Managing Editor Brian Tallerico put so eloquently, "How did we allow blood to fertilize the soil of this country?"
Stone was brilliant in "Poor Things," but she already has an Oscar for "La La Land." Huller was even more moving in "Anatomy of a Fall," which has been criminally overlooked this awards season. We can't see either getting in the way of Gladstone making history as the first Native American to win an Oscar.
Best Supporting Actor odds
| Actor | Odds |
| Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer) | -3500 |
| Ryan Gosling (Barbie) | +1000 |
| Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things) | +2000 |
| Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon) | +2500 |
| Sterling K Brown (American Fiction) | +4000 |
SN pick: Downey Jr. in "Oppenheimer." It's almost unfair for an actor of Downey Jr.'s ability to team up with Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy and be eligible for Best Supporting Actor. Like the odds suggest, this one was over before it was announced.
Side note: the Oscars messed up royally by nominating Gosling for "Barbie" here yet snubbing Margot Robbie for the title role. Talk about tone-deaf on the part of the Academy.
Best Supporting Actress odds
| Actress | Odds |
| DaVine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) | -3500 |
| Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer) | +2000 |
| Danielle Brooks (The Colour Purple) | +2000 |
| America Ferrera (Barbie) | +2000 |
| Jodie Foster (Nyad) | +4000 |
SN pick: Da'Vine Joy Randolph for her breakout performance in "The Holdovers." It's not often a household-name actor with Paul Giamatti's range has the show stolen by a supporting actress few film buffs knew a year prior.
Randolph's deeply heartbreaking performance as a grieving mother brought tears to the eyes of parents worldwide, and it will soon make her the 10th black woman to win Best Supporting Actress.
Best Original Screenplay odds
| Film | Odds |
| Anatomy of a Fall | -280 |
| The Holdovers | +200 |
| Past Lives | +1200 |
| Maestro | +4000 |
| May December | +5000 |
SN pick: "The Holdovers." Finally a slight sleeper pick! Giamatti, Randolph, and Dominic Sessa were all brilliant in this film, a testament to David Hemingson's original screenplay. "Anatomy of a Fall" was fantastic, but we're giving the nod to the more unique story.
Best Adapted Screenplay odds
| Film | Odds |
| American Fiction | -250 |
| Oppenheimer | +200 |
| Barbie | +500 |
| Poor Things | +2500 |
| The Zone of Interest | +4000 |
SN pick: The fascinatingly complex "American Fiction" probably takes it. However, we can't help but sprinkle a little wager on "Barbie," on the off-chance the Academy tries to make it up to Greta Gerwig and company over their ridiculous snub of Gerwig for a Best Director nom and Margot Robbie for a Best Actress nom.
Of course, "Oppenheimer" should win. However, Adapted Screenplay has sort of become a conduit for the Academy to mix it up a little bit and throw another deserving film a proverbial bone.
Best Animated Feature odd
| Film | Odds |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | -150 |
| The Boy and the Heron | +110 |
| Nimona | +2500 |
| Elemental | +2800 |
| Robot Dreams | +3500 |
SN pick: "The Boy and the Heron." This is one of the best films of the year, hitting everyone who had the pleasure of watching it squarely in the feels. It would be shameful for a Spider-Man cartoon to prevail over this mesmerizing tale of love and loss, beauty and pain.
The "Heron" is likely filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s swan song, his record-tying fourth nomination in this category, and his chance to win Oscar No. 2 a whopping 22 years after his first one for "Spirited Away."
Best Cinematography odds
| Film | Odds |
| Oppenheimer | -2000 |
| Poor Things | +800 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | +1200 |
| Maestro | +2000 |
| El Conde | +2500 |
SN pick: "Oppenheimer." Some of these are just flat-out too easy to pick this year.
Best Original Score odds
| Film | Odds |
| Oppenheimer | -2000 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | +1000 |
| Poor Things | +1200 |
| Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | +2500 |
| American Fiction | +2500 |
SN pick: Want to take a guess? "Oppenheimer." Ludwig Göransson's score was impeccable from start to finish, just like the film it backs.
It would be amazing to see the late, great Robbie Robertson posthumously honored for his fantastic "Killers of the Flower Moon" score, but we don't see Göransson losing here.
Best Original Song odds
| Song | Odds |
| "What Was I Made For?" (Barbie) | -750 |
| "I'm Just Ken" (Barbie) | +450 |
| Wahzhazhe (Killers of the Flower Moon) | +1400 |
| The Fire Inside (Flamin' Hot) | +2000 |
| It Never Went Away (American Symphony) | +2500 |
SN pick: Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" — like Greta Gerwig's deeply intelligent screenplay for "Barbie" — hits the nail on the head for countless women in America.
It's about identity, purpose, belonging, and feeling the need to please everyone around you with little to no reciprocity (“I’m sad again, don’t tell my boyfriend / It’s not what he’s made for.”). Another runaway dub — "I'm Just Ken" is fun, but this one is deep and real.
Best International Feature odds
| Film | Odds |
| The Zone of Interest | -2500 |
| Society of the Snow | +900 |
| Perfect Days | +1600 |
| Io Capitano | +2000 |
| The Teacher's Lounge | +2500 |
SN pick: "The Zone of Interest." We have little interest in betting against this odds-on favorite, which also happens to be nominated for Best Picture. International films nominated for Best Picture always gobble up this award.
Best Documentary Feature odds
| Film | Odds |
| 20 Days in Mariupol | -1100 |
| Four Daughters | +850 |
| The Eternal Memory | +1200 |
| Bobi Wine: The Peoples President | +1200 |
| To Kill a Tiger | -2500 |
SN pick: "20 Days in Mariupol." A -1100 favorite won't let you down, especially in a category like Documentary Feature.
Best Costume Design odds
| Film | Odds |
| Barbie | -165 |
| Poor Things | +110 |
| Oppenheimer | +2500 |
| Napoleon | +2500 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | +2800 |
SN pick: "Barbie," easily, in a money-making opportunity few categories seem to be yielding this year. For an hour and 54 minutes, we were welcomed into a Barbie world with a bunch of Barbie girls...and Ken, of course.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling odds
| Film | Odds |
| Maestro | -175 |
| Poor Things | +125 |
| Society of the Snow | +1600 |
| Oppenheimer | +2000 |
| Golda | +3500 |
SN pick: "Poor Things" takes it, thanks to Willem Dafoe's incredibly realistic scarred face.
"Maestro" is the favorite thanks to Bradley Cooper's prosthetic nose. But let's not forget that countless members of the Jewish community were none too pleased about the nose after the film's release.
After nearly striking out on "Barbie," the Academy will do whatever it can to shy away from controversy here.
Best Production Design odds
| Film | Odds |
| Poor Things | -200 |
| Barbie | +140 |
| Oppenheimer | +1400 |
| Napoleon | +4000 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | +4000 |
SN pick: "Barbie" in another value betting opportunity. "Barbieland" was vivid and creative at every turn, wowing us much more than "Poor Things."
Best Film Editing odds
| Film | Odds |
| Oppenheimer | -800 |
| Anatomy of a Fall | +550 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | +1000 |
| The Holdovers | +1800 |
| Poor Things | +2200 |
SN pick: "Oppenheimer." Christopher Nolan movies are known for brilliant editing, and his latest masterpiece is the most stunning of them all. Don't get cute and bet a sleeper here.
Best Visual Effects odds
| Film | Odds |
| Godzilla Minus One | -200 |
| The Creator | +130 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | +1600 |
| Napoleon | +2000 |
| Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One | +5000 |
SN pick: We'll put $20 minus one on "Godzilla Minus One," and call it a night. Good luck this Oscars Sunday, and may the film betting odds be forever in your favor!
