Variety’s Sept. 24 forecast names “The Odyssey” its predicted 2027 best-picture winner and projects it for 16 nominations, ahead of “Dune: Part Three” (12) and “La Bola Negra” (11); the figures are predictions, not official nominations.
Netflix’s Spanish-language “La Bola Negra,” by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, won the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award—the first Netflix film to do so and the first non-English-language winner in 15 years. Variety notes that 14 of the last 16 audience-award winners earned best-picture nominations and four won; its commentary calls the film a contender to win.
Other predicted winners include Denis Villeneuve for directing, John Malkovich for actor and Julianne Moore for actress. Variety says early reactions to Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger” are mixed, while Tom Cruise’s performance has drawn praise; whether his awards campaign can overcome the divided response remains uncertain. Oscar nominations are scheduled to be announced Jan. 21, 2027; the ceremony is set for March 14.
