LOS ANGELES — “Sinners,” a vampire movie that unfolds in the segregated South, triumphed at the 2026 Actor Awards on Sunday night, winning the top prize for best ensemble in a motion picture while its star Michael B. Jordan was named best lead actor in a stunning upset that has reshaped the Oscars race .
Film Winners
The 32nd annual ceremony, formerly known as the SAG Awards, delivered a night of shocks and sentiment as Ryan Coogler’s blues-soaked vampire saga claimed best ensemble, challenging the dominance of frontrunner “One Battle After Another” . The victory gives the film significant momentum heading into the Academy Awards on March 15, as actors make up the largest voting bloc of the Oscars .
Michael B. Jordan, who pulled double duty playing twins in the film, won outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role, upsetting category favorite Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”) . Even Jordan looked shocked as the audience rose to its feet.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” said Jordan, who reflected on starting out as an actor before pausing to appreciate the moment. “Yeah, man, this is pretty cool” .
Jessie Buckley won best female actor for her performance in “Hamnet,” continuing her awards season sweep . Sean Penn took best supporting male actor for “One Battle After Another,” while Amy Madigan won best supporting female actor for “Weapons” in her first-ever nomination from the guild .
“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” won best stunt ensemble in a motion picture .
Television Triumphs
“The Studio,” a sendup of many of the powerbrokers in the show’s audience, won a leading three awards, including best ensemble in a comedy series . The Apple TV+ Hollywood satire also saw Seth Rogen win best male actor in a comedy series, while the late Catherine O’Hara posthumously won best female actor in a comedy series for her performance as a deposed movie executive .
O’Hara died at age 71 on Jan. 30 from a blood clot in the lungs. The crowd at the Shine Auditorium rose for a standing ovation when her win was announced . Rogen, accepting on her behalf, recalled a passionate collaborator who “showed that you could be a genius and you could be kind” .
“The Pitt,” a gritty medical drama, was close behind with two awards, including best ensemble in a drama series . Noah Wyle won best male actor in a drama series for his performance, while Keri Russell took best female actor in a drama series for “The Diplomat” .
Owen Cooper won best male actor in a limited series for “Adolescence,” and Michelle Williams won best female actor in a limited series for “Dying for Sex” . “The Last of Us” won best stunt ensemble in a television series .
Harrison Ford Honored
Harrison Ford was honored with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, presented with warm sarcasm by Woody Harrelson . The 83-year-old actor joked it was “a little early” in his career for such an award and reflected on a career that was “not an overnight success” .
Oscar Implications
The victory for “Sinners” ensures that Warner Bros. will head into the Academy Awards with two clear best picture favorites in it and “One Battle After Another”—an awards-season coup for a studio set to be acquired by Paramount . The guild’s choices often align with Oscar winners, making Sunday’s results a potential preview of what’s to come on March 15 .
