Entertainment · Kalshi ·September 27, 2026 ·Edited by Samuel Jo Crowd ahead of press

Oscar Race: 'The Odyssey' Eyes Best Picture

The film 'The Odyssey' is gaining traction in early discussions for Best Picture at the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. With the awards ceremony still over a year away, industry publications are beginning to release their initial predictions for the prestigious category. Traders, in a notable divergence from the cautious tone of some reports, currently place the film's chances of winning Best Picture at 49%, suggesting a stronger perceived likelihood than some early analyses might indicate. This early speculation comes as the awards season begins to take shape, even before many of the year's major contenders have fully screened.

Background

The Academy Awards' Best Picture category is one of the most highly anticipated honors in cinema, recognizing the year's most outstanding film. The road to a Best Picture nomination and win is long, typically involving critical acclaim, strong box office performance, and successful campaigns during film festival circuits and industry screenings. 'The Odyssey' is now being discussed as a potential frontrunner, a position that often shifts dramatically as more films are released and reviewed throughout the year. The market's odds for 'The Odyssey' have fluctuated considerably over the tracking period, reflecting the volatile nature of early Oscar predictions.

The precedent

• Historically, films released later in the year often gain momentum for Best Picture nominations, particularly those with strong critical reception.
• Only three fantasy films have won Best Picture in the history of the Academy Awards, the most recent being 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' in 2004.

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

What to watch

As the 99th Academy Awards approach, attention will turn to upcoming film festivals and critical reviews, which often solidify or shift a film's standing in the Best Picture race. Key developments will include the release of other highly anticipated films and their reception among critics and audiences. The official nominations, typically announced early in the new year, will be the next major milestone for 'The Odyssey' and its competitors.

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