2026 Actor Awards Nominations (SAGs) Reaction
The newly named Actor Awards Presented by the Screen Actors Guild, that new name is a mouthful, have unveiled their nominations for the films of 2025. So, here are my reactions to the 2026 Actor Award nominations. Film only. Thankfully, there are some surprises that keep the Oscar races interesting.
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
F1
Frankenstein
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
One Battle After Another
Sinners
I don’t really get Frankenstein here, except that the SAGs just really like the movie. I assume this will be Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. We all saw the plane stunt.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Odessa A’zion – Marty Supreme
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
Odessa made it!!! Her Oscar chances are still alive, and I could not be more excited. She missed at the Globes but is here, in a much more important precursor, showing she has support from the acting branch.
I thought I was going to be elated for Amy Madigan here, but she seems to have taken pole position in this race, now with a major win at the Critics’ Choice.
I never would’ve expected this when I watched Weapons upon release. But I knew she’d be in my five for supporting actress. Hopefully, her momentum will continue to the Oscars.
Teyana Taylor will likely be with Amy at the Oscars. Right now, she’s the only one I see usurping Amy for the Oscar win. If she wins here instead of Amy, that’ll keep this race interesting.
Ariana is also likely to get in at the Oscars, but you can see that support for the musical sequel is low compared to the first film. Especially with Ariana being the only nominee here.
Wunmi Mosaku is the other surprise. The big takeaway from these nominees is that there is actor support for Sinners and none for Sentimental Value, or any foreign language film for that matter.
No, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value is surprising, but I expect her getting in at the Oscars, which means she’d likely take the Wunmi or Odessa spot.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Miles Caton – Sinners
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Talk about surprises, and no love for Sentimental Value, no Stellan Skarsgard, in his place is Miles Caton. Once again, the actor support for Sinners is huge. Like Inga, I expect Stellan to get in at the Oscars, but maybe not. Maybe Inga and Stellan were always critics’ picks.
The other four were chalked and have been all season. I expected full chalk until Miles’s name came up first. Then it was a question of who would miss.
So, the bottom four you’ll see at the Oscars. It will be interesting to see whether Jacob’s Critics’ Choice win is indicative of something to come or whether the love for Benicio will continue. I think that’s your true Oscar race right now.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Some big surprises here. Firstly, no Cynthia Erivo. I don’t know if she’s actually going to miss at the Oscars, but it is a tough year in this category. Also, Kate Hudson getting in is a shock. She was a no-brainer at the Globes, but clearly she has industry support.
Emma Stone always has love from SAG. It’s not just her; they like Bugonia enough to nominate it twice. Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value is another notable miss. She is someone who could show up at the Oscars as well.
Kind of feels like Jennifer Lawrence’s campaign ends here for Die My Love. Also, unfortunately, Amanda Seyfried for The Testament of Ann Lee. She has not been getting in anywhere and missed here as well. Unless we get an Oscar shocker, I think her campaign ends as well.
Buckley, Byrne, and Infiniti are the three who appear to be safe to get an Oscar nomination. It’s a two-horse race between Buckley and Byrne. Byrne was the critics’ favorite except at the Critics’ Choice, where Jessie Buckley won.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
Another category that seemed chalked until Jesse Plemons was announced. Wagner Moura has been the talk of awards season as a lead actor contender. I fully expect Wagner to get nominated for the Oscar.
The SAGs went for zero foreign language films, plus the Brazilian contingent is very strong in the Academy. I’ll be surprised to see Jesse’s name announced on Oscar nomination morning over Wagner’s.
This is a two-horse race between Timmy and Leo. Will Tim finally win his first, or will Leo earn a second Oscar? Either way, it will be a deserved winner, which always feels good. I’m glad Ethan seems to be on his way to a nomination.
I wasn’t sure if he’d get there, but everyone who watches Blue Moon praises his performance. Lastly, I expect Michael to get his first Oscar nomination for Sinners. A great movie star performance, and Sinners has the support.
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
I’d say I don’t have complaints. But there are two of these films that I am not high on. Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Sinners all have great casts, and this seems to be a SAG race between the latter two.
I don’t get the Hamnet ensemble; the movie has like four people. But clearly there’s a lot of respect for that film. Likewise for Frankenstein. One thing is for sure: these five are going to get Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards.
