Kieran Culkin (‘A Real Pain’) pulls even with Clarence Maclin (‘Sing Sing’) in Oscar odds for Best Supporting Actor

I recently reported that Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”) had taken the lead in Gold Derby’s Oscar odds for Best Supporting Actor, based on the combined predictions of thousands of our users. But “A Real Pain” co-star Kieran Culkin said, “Hold my beer,” and climbed up to tie him at the top. Now both men are dead even with odds of 5/1.

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As of September 19, there are six Expert journalists forecasting a victory for Maclin and six forecasting a victory for Culkin, making this a dead heat. But three of the five Experts who updated their predictions the most recently give Culkin the edge, so the momentum may be shifting his way. He still has to convince the rest of our most elite pundits, though.

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Among Gold Derby Editors who cover awards year-round, three say Maclin will win, three say Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist“), three say Samuel L. Jackson (“The Piano Lesson“) and just two say Culkin. Meanwhile, seven of our Top 24 Users favor Maclin compared to six who favor Culkin. And 10 of our All-Star Top 24 put their figurative money on Maclin compared to seven for Culkin.

SEEGold Derby Oscar predictions 2025: Nicole Kidman, Selena Gomez now expected to receive noms [Updated September 19]

Neither Maclin nor Culkin has any previous Oscar nominations, and they come to the awards with drastically different personal histories. While Maclin is making his feature film debut after studying the arts at the title prison depicted in “Sing Sing,” Culkin has been acting since he was a child. And Culkin is on a roll right now on the awards scene, claiming the Emmy for Best Drama Actor earlier this year for his performance in “Succession,” which also won him a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award.

In “A Real Pain,” Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg (who also wrote and directed) play cousins who tour Poland in honor of their grandmother. The film won’t open until November, but critics already got a chance to see it earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, and Culkin’s performance has been described as a “sensational piece of acting,” a “powerhouse” and a “sheer delight.” It may soon be described as an Oscar winner.

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