Michael B. Jordan won best actor for his role in the Warner Bros. vampire drama 'Sinners' at the Actor Awards on Sunday night, while the film's cast secured the ensemble prize. This double victory has intensified the competition for best picture against Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another,' which triumphed at the Producers Guild Awards the previous day. The wins position 'Sinners' as a strong contender heading into the Oscars.
The Actor Awards ceremony on Sunday marked a pivotal moment in the 2026 Oscar season. Michael B. Jordan claimed the best actor award for 'Sinners,' directed by Ryan Coogler, outperforming presumed frontrunners. The ensemble cast of 'Sinners' also took home the top cast prize, prompting a roar from the audience and signaling a shift in momentum.
This development follows 'One Battle After Another' winning the Producers Guild of America top prize on Saturday, a result that historically predicts Oscar success for best picture. 'Sinners' now joins a select group as only the fifth film to win both best actor and ensemble at the SAG Awards, after 'American Beauty' in 1999, 'Traffic' in 2000, 'The King's Speech' in 2010, and 'Oppenheimer' in 2023. Notably, 'Traffic' is the only one among these to lose best picture at the Oscars.
Reporting indicates the race remains fluid, with conversations among Oscar voters suggesting real-time changes. 'Sinners' holds 16 nominations, the highest this year, and is predicted to win best picture, director for Coogler, actor for Jordan, supporting actor for Delroy Lindo, original screenplay for Coogler, cinematography, and original score by Ludwig Göransson. 'One Battle After Another' leads in predictions for adapted screenplay, film editing, and potentially director.
No film with wins at Critics Choice, Golden Globes, BAFTA, ACE Eddie, DGA, PGA, and WGA alongside a SAG prize has lost best picture historically, favoring 'One Battle After Another.' Conversely, no film with ACE, SAG, and WGA wins has lost. Historical upsets, such as 'Moonlight' losing PGA, DGA, and SAG yet winning best picture, provide precedent for 'Sinners.'
Final Oscar voting runs from February 26 to March 5, with the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, airing on ABC and hosted by Conan O’Brien. The Actor Awards, voted by about 160,000 members, overlaps significantly with the Academy's largest branch, the actors, potentially influencing outcomes.
