Awards season just got more complicated.
The Screen Actors Guild dropped its iconic name this year, rebranding to simply “Actor Awards” — and yes, people are already confused.
On January 7, the newly christened Actor Awards (which will stream live on Netflix March 1) unveiled its first round of nominations under the rebrand, with “Heated Rivalry” breakout Connor Storrie and “Abbott Elementary” star Janelle James presenting during a live stream event.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s unexpected contenders, surprise snubs, and what the nominations reveal about the race to Hollywood’s biggest night.
Film Nominations: “One Battle After Another” Dominates
“One Battle After Another” led all films with an impressive seven nominations, solidifying its position as this season’s heavyweight contender.
Following closely behind, “Sinners” grabbed five nominations, while “Hamnet,” “Frankenstein,” and “Marty Supreme” each earned three nods. These titles mirror the trends seen across other major awards shows this season, suggesting a predictable — yet fiercely competitive — race ahead.
Cast Ensemble Recognition Highlights Collaborative Performances
The Cast Ensemble category showcases some of 2024’s most talked-about films:
- “Frankenstein”
- “Hamnet”
- “Marty Supreme”
- “One Battle After Another”
- “Sinners”
This category often serves as a bellwether for broader industry recognition, particularly at the Academy Awards. Films that win here frequently translate that momentum into Best Picture wins.
Leading Role Contenders Reflect Critics’ Choices
Timothée Chalamet earned his nomination for “Marty Supreme,” fresh off his Critics Choice Award win. He’s joined by Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”), Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”), Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”), and Jesse Plemons (“Bugonia”).
On the female side, Jessie Buckley’s Critics Choice-winning performance in “Hamnet” positions her as a frontrunner. Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”), Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”), and Emma Stone (“Bugonia”) round out the category.
Supporting Categories Pack Serious Star Power
The supporting actor race features an embarrassment of riches. Jacob Elordi’s Critics Choice-winning turn in “Frankenstein” faces competition from Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn (both for “One Battle After Another”), Miles Caton (“Sinners”), and Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”).
Amy Madigan has already collected trophies from both the New York Film Critics Circle and Critics Choice Awards for “Weapons,” making her the one to beat. She’ll compete against Odessa A’Zion (“Marty Supreme”), Ariana Grande (“Wicked: For Good”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”), and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”).
Television Nominations Blend Familiar Favorites With Fresh Faces
Awards season staples like “Severance,” “The Bear,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “Hacks” returned with expected nominations.
But newcomers “The Studio” and “The Pitt” crashed the party, proving there’s still room for breakthrough shows. Meanwhile, “Adolescence” — which premiered nearly a year ago on Netflix — remains eligible and is expected to dominate when the winners are announced.
Drama Series: Prestige TV’s Heavyweights Return
The Cast Ensemble in a Drama Series category features:
- “The Diplomat”
- “Landman”
- “The Pitt”
- “Severance”
- “The White Lotus”
“Severance” and “The White Lotus” continue their critical acclaim runs, while “The Pitt” represents the kind of medical drama that typically resonates with SAG voters. Noah Wylie’s individual nomination for “The Pitt” adds momentum to the show’s ensemble chances.
Comedy Series Celebrates Industry Darlings
“The Studio” made an impressive showing with four total nominations across categories — a remarkable achievement for a first-year series. Ike Barinholtz, Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara all earned individual recognition for the show.
“Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Hacks,” and “Only Murders in the Building” secured their expected ensemble nominations, reflecting their sustained creative excellence and industry support.
Limited Series Category Showcases “Adolescence” Power
“Adolescence” collected four nominations in the TV Movie or Limited Series categories alone. Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Christine Tremarco all received individual recognition for their performances.
This concentrated support suggests “Adolescence” could sweep when ceremonies arrive, particularly given its critical acclaim and the time it’s had to build industry momentum since its premiere.
What Tuesday’s New York Film Critics Circle Results Mean
The New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Tuesday night offered additional clues about where the season is heading.
Rose Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, and Amy Madigan all collected NYFCC prizes — and all three appeared on Wednesday’s Actor Awards nominations list. Wagner Moura won for “The Secret Agent” but didn’t make the cut, though insiders suggest he shouldn’t be ruled out for international Academy consideration.
The overlap between Critics Choice, NYFCC, and Actor Awards nominees creates a clearer picture of frontrunners. Momentum matters in awards season, and actors collecting multiple precursor wins typically translate that into Oscar gold.
Why This Name Change Matters (And Why It’s Confusing)
Rebranding from “Screen Actors Guild Awards” to simply “Actor Awards” might seem like a minor adjustment, but it creates legitimate confusion.
The Screen Actors Guild organization still exists — it’s the labor union representing performers. But now their signature awards ceremony carries a generic name that sounds less distinctive and potentially harder to differentiate from other industry honors.
Industry observers note that the move might be an attempt to streamline branding and appeal to younger audiences, particularly with Netflix streaming the ceremony. Whether this strategy succeeds remains to be seen, but confusion during this transition period seems inevitable.
What To Watch For Next
The Actor Awards ceremony streams live on Netflix March 1, giving voters and audiences several weeks to digest these nominations.
Key narratives to follow include whether “One Battle After Another” can convert its seven nominations into wins, if Amy Madigan continues her sweep in supporting actress categories, and whether “The Studio” can maintain its surprising momentum as a freshman series.
On the film side, watch how the Cast Ensemble winner aligns with eventual Best Picture trajectories. Historically, alignment between these awards has been remarkably strong — making March 1 an essential viewing event for anyone tracking Oscar predictions.