Best Picture Race: Hype vs. Big Money vs. No Money
A little chart in which top-ranked Best Picture Oscar contenders are cross-referenced with most recent "stock" sale price at Intrade, cross-referenced by number of screens on which the film will play on December 31st, 2004 (as per Box Office Mojo). The number in parentheses after the movie title represents Entertainment Weekly writer Dave Karger's ranking for inclusion in the Best Picture race, because he's both pretty and stupid, just the way we like our men. His number 5 choice, Eternal Sunshine, didn't make our list because we'll eat Dave's sweaty shirt if it makes the Academy's.
| Film | Sell Price | Screens |
| Aviator (4) | 42 | 1796 |
| Million Dollar Baby | 33 | 9 |
| Sideways (2) | 10.9 | 373 |
| Finding Neverland (1) | 9.4 | 1054 |
| Ray | 312 | 343 |
| Hotel Rwanda | 2.2 | 7 |
| Life Aquatic | 2.0 | 1105 |
| Closer (3) | 1.8 | 1094 |
| Motorcycle Diaries | .7 | 93 |
| National Treasure | .5 | 2282 |
| A Very Long Engagement | .4 | 167 |
