Oscar Odds 2020: A Brief Overview

When the Academy Awards season rolls around, debate rages over not just who deserves to win an Oscar for their work on the silver screen, but who is most likely to actually take home a statuette on the night. While you can bet on sporting events on this site, plenty of movie fans will be putting their money on the outcome of this celebration of artistic achievement.

The 2020 Oscars will no doubt bring triumph and controversy along with them, so here is a look at how the bookies think things will play out.

Best Picture & Best Director

This year it looks like there is a consensus around the film which will win Best Picture, with acclaimed and innovative World War 1 drama 1917 a clear favorite at the moment, with odds of 1/2 being offered by a number of bookmakers. Likewise the film’s helmsman, Sam Mendes, is a clear frontrunner in the category of Best Director, with odds of 1/5 or even 1/10 on the table.

The more interesting prospect, then, is South Korean feature Parasite and its director Bong Joon Ho. With odds of 9/2 and 11/2 respectively, this seems to be a solid second choice, outdoing the more distant chances of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and Joker, both of which are also up for top prizes.

Best Actor & Best Actress

In both of these categories, the odds suggest that there are two very obvious candidates. Best Actor is all but certain to go to Joaquin Phoenix for his performance in Joker, even if the film itself is not tipped for big things. Best Actress, meanwhile, looks set to end up in the hands of Renee Zellweger for her portrayal of the late, great Judy Garland.

Those looking for a more interesting bet might want to opt for Adam Driver, who is 25/1 to win for Marriage Story. Scarlett Johansson, who stars opposite Driver in this film, is also a worthy consideration, with odds of 16/1 offered for her performance in a film that is part comedic relationship drama, part thriller.

Best Supporting Actor & Best Supporting Actress

These two are arguably the more interesting categories from a betting perspective, since while there is some agreement surrounding who will win, this seems less set in stone.

Brad Pitt and Laura Dern are leading the pack in the supporting actor and actress categories at the moment, with odds of around 1/20 apiece. However, Joe Pesci could well be in with a chance thanks to his return to the limelight in The Irishman, a film which has enjoyed access to a wide audience via Netflix, with his odds of earning an Oscar sitting at 11/1 at the moment. Meanwhile Margo Robbie is also in contention for the supporting actress nod, with odds of 10/1 offered by a number of outlets.

Best Original Screenplay & Best Adapted Screenplay

While screenplays are not always the focus of attention during Oscars night, there are some interesting offerings in both the original and adapted categories this year.

For adapted screenplay, the bookmakers are fairly sure that Taika Waititi’s quirky, complex comedy JoJo Rabbit will be a winner, although Little Women from Greta Gerwig is also up there with odds of 15/8 available.

For original screenplay, once again it is Parasite that is currently drawing favour, although Quentin Tarantino could come through on the night, with Once Upon A Time In Hollywood rated with odds of 6/4 to win. Both 1917 and Rian Johnson’s murder mystery movie Knives Out are set at 40/1 in this category, which could tempt those who would like to see an upset to place a bet.