Entertainment · Kalshi ·July 19, 2026 ·Edited by Samuel Jo

Nolan's The Odyssey Stakes Early Claim in 2027 Oscar Race

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has become the most discussed contender for the 2027 Best Picture Oscar, with coverage across multiple awards outlets framing the mythological epic as a formidable early frontrunner. The film, starring Matt Damon, arrives on the heels of Nolan's Oppenheimer, which swept the 96th Academy Awards. Variety, Entertainment Weekly, Gold Derby, Next Best Picture, and Awards Daily have all published Oscar-focused features in the past week, an unusually concentrated burst for a film that will not be eligible for the 99th Academy Awards until 2027. The coverage has been further amplified by Ben Shapiro's public endorsement of the film as a "masterpiece" and his declaration that Nolan is the "best working director today." Traders put The Odyssey's nomination probability at 99%, broadly in line with the overwhelmingly favorable press. The odds have moved +1 pts over the past 24 hours, reflecting stable consensus rather than any sudden shift.

Background

The Odyssey marks Nolan's first feature since Oppenheimer, which won seven Oscars in March 2024, including Best Picture and Best Director. Nolan's prior Oscar history includes nominations for Dunkirk (2017), Inception (2010), and Interstellar (2014) across various categories. Matt Damon, who stars in The Odyssey, has been nominated for acting Oscars twice — for Good Will Hunting (1997, Best Actor) and Invictus (2009, Best Supporting Actor) — but has never won. Awards Daily's early prediction piece positions Damon as a potential Best Actor contender, while Next Best Picture highlights Nolan's shot at consecutive Best Picture wins, a feat last achieved in the 1990s. The market resolves on December 31, 2027, roughly aligning with the 99th Academy Awards nomination cycle, though the actual nominations will be announced earlier that year.

The precedent

• Christopher Nolan won Best Picture and Best Director for Oppenheimer at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024, his first wins in both categories after multiple prior nominations.
• Matt Damon has been nominated for two acting Oscars — Best Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997) and Best Supporting Actor for Invictus (2009) — and has won once, for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting, shared with Ben Affleck.

Context compiled by Crowdtells from the public record — verify before relying on it.

What to watch

The next inflection points are a confirmed release date for The Odyssey, which will determine its eligibility window, and the fall 2026 festival circuit, where Nolan's films have sometimes premiered. Awards Daily's early Best Actor prediction for Damon signals that the acting categories, not just Best Picture, will be part of the conversation. Whether Shapiro's endorsement draws sustained cultural-political attention or proves a fleeting headline will also shape the narrative around the film.

AI-written briefing grounded in 5 sources and the live market, edited by Samuel Jo. Odds are crowd probabilities, not advice — how this works.