The Awards Tape: Mid-Year Above the Line Oscar Predictions

It's been a full six months into 2026, and quite a lot has happened. The Sundance, Berlin, and Cannes Film Festivals have come and gone. Greta Gerwig's Narnia has been moved to 2027. Luca Guadagnino's Artificial has been pushed to 2027, dropped by Amazon MGM, and acquired by NEON to go back into the 2026 slate. Michael has surpassed Oppenheimer as the highest grossing biopic of all time, and Obsession is the cultural box office phenomenon of the year. That means it's time for an Oscar Pulse check. Before Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is out in three weeks, we decided to do an episode where we check in on how we feel about the upcoming Oscar race for 2027. We give our updated predictions for the above the line categories, which include the four acting categories, Best Director, and Best Picture lineups. We discuss how they've changed, how they reflect the current mood of the overall race, and our overall gut check level on how we feel about the awards season so far.On this episode:Paul RaiDanny JarabekJacob DiedenhoferAdam Patla Support the showSubscribe for Early Access and Video:The Rolling Tape PatreonListen Here:SpotifyApple PodcastsAll Listening PlatformsHave questions? Email [email protected] Website LinkWebsite & Publications: www.therollingtape.comSocial Platforms on LinktreeCredits:Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl VincentArtwork: Danny JarabekEditor: Danny JarabekAssistant Producer: Evan Miller