One Battle After Another Leads the SAG Actor Awards Race
Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged drama One Battle After Another has stormed the Screen Actors Guild’s newly renamed Actor Awards, earning a record-breaking seven nominations. This impressive tally officially places the film at the front of this year’s Oscars race.
Coming in close second is Ryan Coogler’s haunting period horror Sinners, which secured five nominations, promising a thrilling two-film face-off on the road to the Academy Awards in March.
A Powerhouse Ensemble and Record Nominations
One Battle After Another follows the turbulent journey of an aging revolutionary, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his teenage daughter, portrayed by Chase Infiniti. The film dives into themes of radical politics, immigration raids, and racial extremism — all wrapped in Anderson’s signature cinematic intensity.
The movie earned a coveted nomination for Best Ensemble — the SAG equivalent of Best Picture — alongside Sinners, Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme. DiCaprio and Infiniti also picked up individual nods for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, while Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Teyana Taylor were recognized in supporting categories. The film’s stunt team rounded out its seven nominations.
Sinners and the Two-Horse Race to the Oscars
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, featuring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as criminal twins in 1930s Mississippi, continues to captivate audiences and critics alike. The film’s eerie depiction of racial tension and supernatural dread earned it nominations for Best Ensemble, Best Actor (Jordan), Best Supporting Actor (Miles Caton), Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku), and Best Stunt Ensemble.
Just days earlier, One Battle After Another triumphed over Sinners at the Critics Choice Awards, winning Best Picture and Best Director, while the two films tied for Best Screenplay.
Expert Insights and Surprises
Awards analyst Clayton Davis told AFP that One Battle After Another now stands as the Oscars frontrunner, while Sinners ties for the second-highest number of nominations in SAG history. “This is starting to feel a bit like La La Land versus Moonlight all over again,” Davis noted.
He also mentioned surprises in the nominations list — particularly the absence of international contenders like Norway’s Sentimental Value and Brazil’s The Secret Agent.
Television and the Road to March 1
On the TV side, Hollywood satire The Studio led with five nominations after its Emmy success.
The SAG Actor Awards, voted on by Hollywood’s own performers — the largest branch of the Academy — are widely regarded as key indicators for the Oscars. The ceremony will be held on March 1 in Los Angeles and stream live on Netflix.
