Sinners Wins Best Ensemble at Actor Awards, Upsetting Favorite

The victory shakes up the Oscar race and sets up a potential nail-biter finale at the Academy Awards.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 1:15pm

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In a surprise upset, the film Sinners won best ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild's 32nd Actor Awards, defeating the heavily favored One Battle After Another. The win for Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, marks the first time a filmmaker has steered two ensembles to the guild's top prize, after Coogler's previous win for Black Panther in 2019. The victory shakes up the Oscar race, with Sinners now seen as having a strong chance to win at the Academy Awards in two weeks, despite One Battle After Another's near-sweep of other major awards this season.

Why it matters

The Actor Awards are one of the most closely watched Oscar precursors, as actors make up the largest slice of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The guild's choices often align with the eventual Oscar winners, making Sinners' upset victory a significant development that could signal a shift in the awards season momentum.

The details

In the individual acting categories, Michael B. Jordan won best male actor for Sinners, upsetting the category favorite Timothée Chalamet. Jessie Buckley won best female actor for her performance in Hamnet. Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) and Amy Madigan (Weapons) won the supporting acting awards. Catherine O'Hara posthumously won best female actor in a comedy series for The Studio, while Harrison Ford was honored with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award.

  • The 32nd Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, March 2, 2026.
  • The Academy Awards are scheduled to take place in two weeks, on March 16, 2026.

The players

Ryan Coogler

The director of Sinners, who became the first filmmaker to steer two ensembles to the guild's top prize, after his previous win for Black Panther in 2019.

Delroy Lindo

The actor who spoke on behalf of the Sinners cast when they accepted the best ensemble award.

Michael B. Jordan

The actor who won best male actor for his performance in Sinners, upsetting the category favorite Timothée Chalamet.

Jessie Buckley

The actress who won best female actor for her performance in Hamnet.

Harrison Ford

The actor who was honored with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award.

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What they’re saying

“From the bottom of our hearts, to the bottom of your hearts, thank you so much for everything.”

— Delroy Lindo, Actor

“I wasn't expecting this at all. Yeah, man, this is pretty cool.”

— Michael B. Jordan, Actor

What’s next

The Academy Awards are scheduled to take place in two weeks, on March 16, 2026, where the upset victory for Sinners at the Actor Awards could signal a potential nail-biter finale in the Oscar race.

The takeaway

Sinners' surprise win for best ensemble at the Actor Awards has shaken up the awards season landscape, potentially setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion at the upcoming Academy Awards. The victory demonstrates the unpredictable nature of the Oscars race and highlights the influence of the actors' guild in shaping the final outcome.