Just when we thought the 2026 awards season had become as predictable as a Marvel post-credits scene, the newly rebranded Actor Awards—formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, for those of us still adjusting to the new name—rolled into Los Angeles and set fire to every expectations board in town.
Held Sunday night at the historic Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall and streamed live on Netflix, the 32nd annual ceremony delivered exactly what we needed: genuine surprises, emotional gut-punches, a musical number that actually worked, and at least one speech that veered into Ken doll anatomy . Host Kristen Bell returned for her third go-round, promising a “political-free zone” and delivering a night that was equal parts old-school Hollywood glamour and beautifully chaotic train wreck .
But let’s talk about the elephant—or rather, the vampire—in the room. Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror “Sinners” didn’t just show up; it conquered. In a night that was supposed to belong to Paul Thomas Anderson’s frontrunner “One Battle After Another,” the underdog rose from the grave and bit the competition right in the neck .
The Upset That Shook the Room
If you had Michael B. Jordan beating both Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet for Best Actor, congratulations—you’re either a psychic or a very committed Sinners stan.
Jordan, who delivered a career-defining dual performance as twin brothers in Coogler’s period vampire thriller, took home the trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role . The category was stacked like a Jenga tower: DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon,” and Jesse Plemons for “Bugonia” . Nobody—and I mean nobody—saw this coming.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” Jordan told the audience, visibly shaking. “I wasn’t expecting this at all” .
But the best part? His speech. Jordan took us all the way back to Newark, New Jersey, thanking his mother for the sacrifices that made his career possible. “Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York when we didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel. We were looking for gas money, parking spaces” .
It was the kind of moment that reminds you why awards shows matter—not for the trophies, but for the humanity behind them.
The Ensemble That Wouldn’t Be Denied
If Jordan’s win was the night’s biggest surprise, “Sinners” taking home Best Ensemble Cast was the confirmation that something bigger was happening . The category had been widely expected to go to “One Battle After Another,” which came in with a record-breaking seven nominations . But the actors—the largest voting bloc in the Academy—had other ideas.
Delroy Lindo, accepting on behalf of the cast, got emotional as he celebrated his “extraordinary” fellow performers. “This project is anointed,” he said. “From the bottom of our hearts, from the bottom of your hearts, thank you so much” .
The win sends a clear message heading into the Oscars: “Sinners” has momentum, and “One Battle After Another” might not have this thing locked up after all.
The Queen of “Hamnet” Reigns Supreme
In the female lead category, there was no suspense, only celebration. Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for her devastating performance in “Hamnet,” the Chloé Zhao-directed adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about Shakespeare’s family .
Buckley, who has been quietly delivering extraordinary work for years, used her speech to honor her costar and date for the evening, Emily Watson. “The best advice you always give to me is to always go back to the well of just being human,” Buckley said, tearing up. “You’re the realest of the real” .
She’s now the undeniable frontrunner for the Oscar, and honestly? It’s about time.
The Supporting Categories: A Veteran, A Winner, and One Empty Chair
Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her terrifying turn as Aunt Gladys in the horror film “Weapons” . And her acceptance speech? Pure, unadulterated gold.
The 75-year-old veteran, best known for classics like Field of Dreams and Uncle Buck, recreated her character’s iconic run from the film as she approached the stage. Then she got distracted—by the statue itself.
“Let’s see, what does he have here?” Madigan mused, examining the nude male statuette. “It’s like when you were little and you had Barbie and then you had Ken, and you whipped off those drawers and you said, ‘Ken has nothing!’ I never quite understood that. Anyway, I really am digressing. I apologize!” .
The room lost it. So did we.
Over in the supporting male category, Sean Penn won for “One Battle After Another” —but he wasn’t there to accept it . Penn skipped the bash entirely, leaving presenter Allison Janney to grab the trophy on his behalf. It was the night’s only awkward moment, but hey, you can’t win ’em all.
The Television Triumphs: Medical Dramas and Posthumous Tears
On the small screen side, “The Pitt” continued its dominant run, winning Best Drama Ensemble and scoring a lead actor win for Noah Wyle . Wyle, who played Dr. John Carter on ER decades ago, seems to have found a second home in medical dramas. “I will be honest to say that of all the trophies that are out there, I was so desirous of this one, for this cast,” he said, genuinely giddy .
Keri Russell won for “The Diplomat” in the drama actress category, while Seth Rogen and the late Catherine O’Hara swept the comedy acting awards for Apple TV+’s “The Studio” .
O’Hara’s win was the emotional gut-punch of the night. The beloved actress, who died on January 30 from a pulmonary embolism at age 71, won Best Comedy Actress posthumously . Her Studio co-star Seth Rogen took the stage to accept, and his words left the room in tears.
“She really showed that you can be a genius and be kind,” Rogen said. “Tell the people as they are laughing, ‘That’s Catherine O’Hara, and we were lucky that we got to live in a world where she so generally shared her talents with us'” .
Michelle Williams won for “Dying for Sex” in the limited series category, and 16-year-old Owen Cooper took home the male equivalent for “Adolescence,” proving that age is just a number when you’ve got talent .
The Legends: Harrison Ford Gets Weepy, Michael J. Fox Gets a Standing O
Let’s be honest: the night belonged to the icons.
Harrison Ford, 83, received the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, and his speech was everything you’d hope for and more . Introduced by his friend Woody Harrelson—who revealed he was Ford’s third choice after Helen Mirren and Kamala Harris turned him down—the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” legend got emotional.
“I feel incredibly grateful for this kind attention,” Ford said, visibly moved. “But to be clear, I also am quite humbled. I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here because they are nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive a prize for being alive” .
He deadpanned: “It’s a little weird to be getting a lifetime achievement award at the half point of my career. It’s a little early, isn’t it? I’m still a working actor” .
Ford reflected on feeling “lost” in college before finding his people in acting. “They were misfits and geeks,” he said. “And they turned out to be my people” .
And then there was Michael J. Fox.
The 64-year-old, who has lived with Parkinson’s disease for decades, made a rare appearance during the opening “I Am an Actor” segment . He shared a story about a teacher who told him he “wasn’t gonna be cute forever.” Fox’s response? “Maybe just long enough, sir” .
He credited Family Ties with giving him “the biggest gift of my life”: his wife, Tracy Pollan. “And she gave me four gifts: Schuyler, Aquinnah, Esmé and Sam,” Fox said. “Sometimes I like to remind them, ‘If it wasn’t for acting, you wouldn’t be here'” .
The standing ovation lasted forever. It still hasn’t stopped.
The Fashion, The Fun, The Chaos
The red carpet had a theme this year—”Reimagining Hollywood Glamour from the ’20s and ’30s”—and the stars delivered . But the real winner was Teyana Taylor and her 5-year-old daughter Rue, who stole the show by fixing her mom’s train on the carpet and serving more poses than a professional model .
Taylor herself rocked a strapless silver and gray trompe l’oeil dress with faux nipple details, because why not? .
Inside, Kristen Bell opened with a musical number that actually worked—a rarity in awards show history—and the cast of Abbott Elementary kicked things off with a comedy bit that had the room laughing . There were ping-pong games backstage, a recurring bit that apparently ran long, but hey, that’s live television .
The Full Winners List (For Your Pool Party Arguments)
FILM
- Best Ensemble Cast: Sinners
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, Weapons
- Best Stunt Ensemble: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
TELEVISION
- Drama Ensemble: The Pitt
- Comedy Ensemble: The Studio
- Drama Actor: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
- Drama Actress: Keri Russell, The Diplomat
- Comedy Actor: Seth Rogen, The Studio
- Comedy Actress: Catherine O’Hara, The Studio
- Limited Series/TV Movie Actor: Owen Cooper, Adolescence
- Limited Series/TV Movie Actress: Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
- Stunt Ensemble (TV): The Last of Us
The Takeaway: The Oscars Just Got Interesting
With two weeks to go until the Academy Awards, the 2026 Actor Awards did exactly what they were supposed to do: they shook things up.
Michael B. Jordan’s win throws the Best Actor race into chaos. “Sinners” taking Best Ensemble suggests the Academy might be leaning toward the horror film in a way nobody predicted. And the emotional tributes to Catherine O’Hara, Harrison Ford, and Michael J. Fox reminded us all why we fell in love with movies in the first place.
The Oscars on March 15 just got a whole lot more interesting. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.