The 2027 Academy Awards race is finding its rhythm as November settles in, with major campaigns beginning to define the landscape. Variety's latest predictions, updated on November 5, 2026, show Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' as the clear frontrunner. The film is projected to receive 14 nominations, a tally that would tie for the second-most in history alongside 'All About Eve,' 'Titanic,' and 'La La Land.' This count trails only the record 16 nominations earned by 'Sinners' last year, a mark 'The Odyssey' could still match or break.
Universal Pictures is kicking off its official Oscar campaign for 'The Odyssey' in earnest the week of November 9. The strategy involves a rigorous schedule of screenings and question-and-answer sessions. This initiative will place director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and star Matt Damon in front of voters nearly every night for two weeks, signaling a high-energy push for the top honors.
In a notable shift for the independent film sector, Variety confirmed that 'You Can See Everything,' written by Nathan Fielder and directed by Lance Oppenheim, will not be in contention for the Directors Guild of America Award this season. Despite this setback in the DGA race, the film remains in the predicted nominees for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay, suggesting it still holds strong potential in other categories.
Zendaya is set to campaign for Oscar consideration in the lead actress category for her role as Chani in 'Dune: Part Three.' This marks her entry into the lead race for the final chapter of Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic. In a related move, Mubi will campaign Sandra Hüller and co-star Hanns Zischler for the lead actress and supporting actor categories, respectively, for the film 'Rose.'
The Golden Globe submissions have also been finalized, revealing a competitive field. Jordan Firstman's 'Club Kid,' his feature debut as writer, director, and star, was submitted in the drama categories. Amazon MGM Studios will field two contenders in the musical or comedy category: 'Project Hail Mary,' directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and starring Ryan Gosling, and 'I Play Rocky,' directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Anthony Ippolito.
Several other high-profile films are poised to shake up the categories in the coming weeks. These include Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune: Part Three,' David Fincher's 'The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,' the Russo brothers' 'Avengers: Doomsday,' and Robert Eggers' 'Werwulf.' Each of these titles is expected to impact specific technical and acting categories as their campaigns ramp up.
The key dates for the awards season are now set. The Governors Awards, which will present honorary Oscars to Glenn Close and Ridley Scott, will take place on Sunday, November 15. Preliminary voting for the Oscar shortlists in 12 categories runs from December 7 to 11, with the shortlist announcement scheduled for Tuesday, December 15.
Following the close of the eligibility period on December 31, 2026, nominations voting will occur from January 11 to 15, 2027. The Academy will announce the official nominations on Thursday, January 21, 2027. The 99th Oscars ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Conan O'Brien will host the event, which will air live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and in over 200 territories worldwide.
In the projected nomination leaders for studios, Universal Pictures leads with 16 expected nominations, followed by A24 with 14. Netflix and Warner Bros. are tied with 13 each, while Focus Features is projected to have 11 and Amazon MGM Studios 9. In the acting categories, predictions favor Andrew Scott for Best Actor in 'Elsinore,' Julianne Moore for Best Actress in 'The Debut,' Andrew Garfield for Best Supporting Actor in 'Artificial,' and Anne Hathaway for Best Supporting Actress in 'The Odyssey.'
