The 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony, often known as the Oscars, is scheduled to take place on March 2nd, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.
The nominations for the 97th annual Academy Awards were announced late after two delays due to the devastating Southern California wildfires. This season’s Oscars have a little bit of a strange feel, as entertainment industry workers likely want to celebrate their work, but also the celebration could be a little more muted than in past years.
The Oscars betting odds are accessible at a limited number of sportsbooks in the United States and offshore. Nevertheless, event betting is not legal in all jurisdictions, so some restrictions do apply. DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the major sportsbooks offering action. We’ll take a look at some of the best value bets to enhance your viewing experience. The film expected to win in numerous major categories is Anora.
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The 97th Academy Awards Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
2025 Best Picture
- Anora (-200)
- Conclave (+225)
- The Brutalist (+600)
- A Complete Unknown (+3500)
- Wicked (+5000)
- Emilia Perez (+6500)
- The Substance (+8000)
- I’m Still Here (+10000)
- Dune: Part Two (+10000)
- The Nickel Boys (+15000)
It’s likely a longshot bet, but The Brutalist is worth a look for the opportunity to multiply your wager six times. This film has received 10 nominations, the same number as Wicked.
The Brutalist is a film that is over three hours long, at 215 minutes, to be exact. It is about a Holocaust survivor who heads to the United States after World War II. It was also the winner at the Golden Globes for the best motion picture drama, while lead actor Adrian Brody secured a Golden Globe award for his part in the film.
It likely will be throwing money away, though, as it has the third-shortest odds, with Anora as the favorite, but we don’t have an overwhelmingly favored film like we did in 2024 with Oppenheimer.
Best Value Bet: The Brutalist (+600)
2025 Best Actor
- Adrien Brody – The Brutalist (-250)
- Timothee Chalamet – A Complete Unknown (+150)
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave (+1800)
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice (+3500)
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing (+5000)
Adrien Brody took home the honors in this category at the Golden Globes, but if you’re hunting around for value, Timothee Chalamet at plus-money is worth a roll of the dice. It’s a two-horse race.
The French-American actor and film producer, Chalamet surprised college football fans as a guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay in early December, and he crushed it. Perhaps he gained a throng of fans for his unlikely and surprising crossover role.
He is a much better actor, however, and his portrayal of folk music singer-songwriter Bob Dylan opened some eyes to the casual moviegoer. The film was nominated eight times at these Oscars, and while a good film, it is not in the ballpark of Anora, Conclave or The Brutalist. However, best actor is a huge category, and this would be a nice feather in the cap for Chalamet. If he were to win this award, The Times… yep… They Are A-Changin’. Seriously, Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right, go and make that bet, and you’ll be Tangled Up In Blue… err, green.
Best Value Bet: Timothee Chalamet (+150)
2025 Best Actress
- Demi Moore – The Substance (-250)
- Mikey Madison – Anora (+200)
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here (+900)
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked (+3500)
- Karla Sofia Gascon – Emilia Perez (+5000)
Entertainment industry veteran Demi Moore is a substantial favorite for her role as Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress at the tail end of her career, fired by a producer due to her age. She finds a drug on the black market which helps to create a younger version of herself. The body of a woman in her 20s comes out of a hole in her back. Seriously. Ha. That actress, Sue, is played by Margaret Qualley. The movie, written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, is about an aging actress who previously won an Academy Award.
Anyway, will Mikey Madison be the Sue to Demi Moore’s Sparkle? At plus-money, the star of the best film favorite Anora is worth a look. Anora was a romantic comedy about a sex worker and a Russian oligarch. It was much more watchable than the weird aging woman movie. That’s not to say it is a better film (it is - much better), but it is just a personal preference. I lost interest in Moore after G.I. Jane.
Best Value Bet: Mikey Madison (+200)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Sunday:
- NHL Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions
- College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions
- NBA PrizePicks Player Predictions
- NBA Same Game Parlay Picks & Predictions
- NBA Player Prop Bets, Picks & Predictions
Daniel is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Daniel, follow him @danieledobish.
