Hollywood’s biggest stars just found out who’s competing for one of the industry’s most coveted honors.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s counterculture comedy thriller “One Battle After Another” and Apple’s breakout comedy “The Studio” are dominating this year’s Actor awards—the prestigious ceremony formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
With over 160,000 actors casting votes, these nominations often predict Oscar winners, making them incredibly important for award season campaigns.
The ceremony, streaming on Netflix March 1st, promises fierce competition across film and television categories.
One Battle After Another Leads Film Nominations
Anderson’s $130 million epic swept the nominations with an impressive seven nods for its star-studded cast.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, and Sean Penn all received individual recognition. The film also earned nominations for acting ensemble and stunt ensemble—testament to its ambitious scope and execution.
The film already claimed best picture at last weekend’s Critics Choice Awards and leads nominations for this weekend’s Golden Globes, establishing itself as the front-runner heading into awards season.
Sinners Emerges as Major Contender
Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror “Sinners” proved it’s no underdog, securing five nominations to become the second-most recognized film.
Michael B. Jordan earned a lead actor nomination, while breakout star Miles Caton and Wunmi Mosaku received supporting nods. The smash-hit horror demonstrates genre films can compete at the highest levels when executed with vision and skill.
Ensemble Category Stacked with Prestige
“One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” will face formidable competition in the ensemble category from “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” and “Hamnet.”
This category often signals which film has true momentum across the entire acting community—not just with lead performances.
Lead Actor Race Features Hollywood Heavyweights
DiCaprio squares off against Jordan in what promises to be one of the most competitive categories.
They’ll compete alongside Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon,” Jesse Plemons for “Bugonia,” and Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme”—who won this award last year and could repeat.
Lead Actress Battle Showcases Range
Chase Infiniti’s nomination recognizes her work in Anderson’s ensemble epic.
She faces Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Emma Stone for “Bugonia,” Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue,” and Jessie Buckley for “Hamnet.” Each performance represents vastly different genres and acting styles.
Supporting Categories Highlight Breakout Talent
Del Toro and Penn from “One Battle After Another” face Miles Caton, whose performance in “Sinners” earned the “breakout” designation—a significant achievement in such elite company.
Jacob Elordi’s “Frankenstein” nomination and Paul Mescal’s “Hamnet” recognition round out the supporting actor category.
For supporting actress, Taylor competes against Mosaku from “Sinners,” Amy Madigan for “Weapons,” Odessa A’zion for “Marty Supreme,” and Ariana Grande for “Wicked: For Good.”
Notable Film Snubs Raise Eyebrows
Several high-profile performances failed to secure nominations, surprising industry watchers.
- Wagner Moura for “The Secret Agent”
- Joel Edgerton for “Train Dreams”
- Dwayne Johnson for “The Smashing Machine”
- The entire cast of “Sentimental Value”
These omissions demonstrate how competitive this year’s field truly is.
The Studio Dominates Television Comedy
Apple’s breakout comedy series “The Studio” earned five nominations, leading all television programs.
Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, and Ike Barinholtz all received individual recognition, plus an ensemble nomination. The series about Hollywood insiders clearly resonated with actors who understand that world intimately.
The comedy ensemble category includes “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Hacks,” and defending champion “Only Murders in the Building.”
Comedy Acting Categories Feature Fierce Competition
Hahn and O’Hara from “The Studio” face Jenna Ortega for “Wednesday,” Kristen Wiig for “Palm Royale,” and three-time winner Jean Smart for “Hacks.”
Smart’s track record makes her formidable opposition despite the newcomers’ momentum.
Rogen and Barinholtz compete against Adam Brody for “Nobody Wants This,” Ted Danson for “A Man on the Inside,” and defending champion Martin Short for “Only Murders in the Building.”
The Bear’s Surprising Shutout
“The Bear” received only an ensemble nomination after years dominating awards ceremonies.
No individual actor nominations represent a stunning reversal for the former heavyweight. Perhaps voters wanted fresh faces after consecutive wins.
White Lotus Leads Drama Nominations
“The White Lotus” earned four nominations—Parker Posey, Aimee Lou Wood, Walton Goggins, and ensemble—proving the anthology series maintains its prestige.
The drama ensemble category includes “The Diplomat,” “Landman,” “The Pitt,” and “Severance.”
Posey and Wood compete against Britt Lower for “Severance” and Rhea Seehorn for Apple’s acclaimed “Pluribus” in drama actress.
Goggins faces Billy Crudup for “The Morning Show,” Noah Wyle for “The Pitt,” Sterling K. Brown for “Paradise,” and Gary Oldman for “Slow Horses.”
Adolescence Emerges as Limited Series Powerhouse
Netflix’s breakout drama “Adolescence” secured four nominations—Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, and Christine Tremarco—dominating the limited series categories.
Graham and Cooper compete against Jason Bateman for “Black Rabbit,” Charlie Hunnam for “Monster,” and Matthew Rhys for “The Beast in Me.”
Doherty and Tremarco face Sarah Snook for “All Her Fault,” Michelle Williams for “Dying for Sex,” and Claire Danes for “The Beast in Me.”
Award Ceremony Details and Significance
The awards were renamed last year from Screen Actors Guild Awards to provide “clearer recognition in terms of what the show is about,” according to organizers.
With the acting branch representing the Academy’s largest voting bloc, these results often predict Oscar winners with remarkable accuracy.
Last year saw victories for Chalamet, Demi Moore, Colin Farrell, and the ensembles of “Conclave” and “Shōgun.”
Notably, “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game” final seasons received only stunt ensemble nominations—recognition for technical achievement rather than acting performances.