Betting on the 94th Academy Awards, Predictions, Odds and Picks

For gamblers looking for interesting wagers in 2022, consider the 94th Academy Awards, a competition between a fascinating array of favorites and underdogs, films, performers, and visionaries all longing for Oscar to boost their reputations, careers (and paychecks) to the next level.

Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the 94th Academy Awards will happen on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles, California and will be televised live on the ABC network.

Like the rest of the world, the film industry has been financially affected by the pandemic and the resulting Covid-19 protocols, so it is no surprise that the latest batch of movies to consider range from big budget to independent projects starring big names and no names, as well.

These and other factors could affect how oddsmakers see them as potential winners or losers, so there are plenty of juicy opportunities to make money on this exciting annual event.

Here we go over the predictions and odds of some of the major categories – good luck – win big!

2022 Academy Award Categories to Place Bets On

There are 24 categories being voted on for Oscars, but we’re going to focus on four of the primary ones: Best Picture, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Director.

Remember, odds are constantly shifting, but the favorites and underdogs typically remain the same, so keep checking back to make sure you get to make the most favorable bet possible.

Here are four of the many categories you can choose from:

Best Picture Predictions

So far at least 31 feature films have received votes for Best Picture of 2021 and of course, the oddsmakers already have an opinion as to their favorites, with three of them sitting close together at the top of the list.

The favorite right now in terms of odds is Kenneth Branagh’s childhood memoir “Belfast” (+240), in which the filmmaker has inserted a handful of clever Easter eggs that hint towards the type of artist that the Irish lad in the story would eventually become.

Next at the top is the remake of “West Side Story” (+300), an adaptation of the 1957 musical that explores forbidden love at first sight and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks.

“The Power of the Dog,” (+400), a Western drama film written and directed by Jane Campion that is based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, hopes to join the four other Westerns that have won that highest honor in the past – “Cimarron” (1930/31), “Dances with Wolves” (1990), “Unforgiven” (1992), and “No Country for Old Men” (2007).

Then with less odds of winning are the crafty noir “Nightmare Alley” (+1100), the American coming-of-age comedy-drama “Licorice Pizza” (+1100), and “Dune” (+1600), a mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey.

Best Picture Odds

Our Pick:

“King Richard” (+1600) – it may be a longshot, but we like the American biographical drama that follows the life of Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, a well-acted and wonderful example of modern day storytelling.

Best Lead Actor Predictions

The odds-on favorite in this category is Will Smith (King Richard), who delivers an excellent performance as the father and tennis coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, his third nomination now after his non-winning nods for “Ali” and “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

Next in line for this prestigious and career-changing award is Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog) whose performance as a poisonous cowboy could earn him his first Oscar, something he fell short of in 2014 when he was nominated for his work in “The Imitation Game.”

Another frontrunner for this award is Andrew Garfield (tick, tick…BOOM!) who brings life to the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson.

Two-time winner Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth) is incredible in this bloody and bold Shakespearean classic as is Bradley Cooper (Nightmare Alley), who plays an ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people.

Best Lead Actor Odds

Our Pick:

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog) +800 – his performance makes this “slow ride” an exciting story to watch unfold, his ability to be perfectly nasty in this role should earn him his first Oscar.

Best Lead Actress Predictions

The overwhelming favorite to win Best Lead Actress this year is Kristen Stewart (Spencer) who plays Princess Diana, or Lady Di, as she struggles with mental health problems and decides to break away from the English royalty by ending her decade-long marriage to Prince Charles.

Next in line is Lady Gaga (House of Gucci) who plays Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings who marries into the Gucci family, her unchecked ambition eventually unraveling their legacy, a role that might get even more Oscar buzz once the movie plays in more theaters.

The award could go to Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) who plays Maria in this classic musical love story or to longshot Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) who helps tell the story of the remarkable rise, fall and redemption of controversial televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.

Last on our short list is Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) who gives what’s been called a “rich, complex and fascinating performance” as Leda in this psychological drama set on a Greek island.

Best Lead Actress Odds

Our Pick:

Kristen Stewart (Spencer) -225 – she perfectly embodies the late, great Lady Di and her performance has been called “gritty and graceful” in this modern day horror story, a role of a lifetime that should bring Stewart her first golden Oscar.

Best Director Predictions

Could this be the year that a woman director wins the Best Director for just the third time in the last 100 years? That is what Jane Campion (The Power of Dog) is hoping for, a previous directing nominee (1994 for “The Piano”) who hadn’t made a film in 12 years and now leads by the widest margin in this category.

Or will it become Steven Spielberg’s (West Side Story) third directing Oscar (and fourth Academy Award overall) for his ability to re-tell an old classic musical in a way that entertains modern audiences?

Hoping to snag their first ever Best Director Academy Award are Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza), and Denis Villeneuve (Dune), a win here representing a career changing accolade for these talented directors.

Best Director Odds

Our Pick:

Jane Campion (The Power of Dog) – this gripping, twisted Western drama was written and directed by Campion and not only would it be a rare win for a female director, but it would also be a multi-country victory since the film was an international co-production between New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

How to Watch the 94th Academy Awards