The SAGs are Unsentimental

The Screen Actors Guild Awards, formerly known as the SAGs, are now The Actor Awards although everyone I know who works in Hollywood and the entertainment industry in general, is still saying “SAGs”. I wonder how long it will take to catch on.

Anyway, the nominations happened today, announced by the incomparable Janelle James and impossibly adorable Connor Storrie, aka Ilya Rozanov of Heated Rivalry. And there are some SURPRISES. Snubs and surprises. We’re focusing on films here because that’s really where the snubs and surprises are, although we’ll start with the positive…

It was expected that One Battle After Another would do well and right now it is firmly the frontrunner for the best picture Oscar. But Sinners is not going away and today was a really strong showing for Sinners as both Wunmi Mosaku and Miles Caton were nominated in the supporting categories – which is HUGE considering that they haven’t been making as much noise as the others on the circuit. And, as I’ve already noted many times about Wunmi, she is the heart and soul of the film!

SAG clearly feels strongly about Sinners and that’s a good sign for the film heading into the nomination period for the Oscars. Again, OBAA is for sure in the lead but they don’t have to run away with it either.

The shock, though, on the film side, is that Sentimental Value was completely shut out. In fact, no non-English language films were nominated. Sentimental Value was seen as a contender coming out of Cannes, it’s considered by critics to be one of the best films of 2025, and the fact that it didn’t pick up even one nomination is crazy considering how it’s performed with so many other associations, boards, and etc.

That said, while there is definitely a lot of overlap between the SAGs and the Oscars, the Oscars are now perhaps more international than the Screen Actors Guild in membership. So it’ll be interesting to see whether or not that plays out positively not just for Sentimental Value but also It Was Just An Accident, Sirāt, No Other Choice, and The Secret Agent.

Speaking of The Secret Agent, I was just talking in today’s open about Wagner Moura – and he was left off the list. The actor who may have taken his spot is Jesse Plemons in Bugonia, and you’ll recall, in my post about Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone earlier today, I mentioned Emma’s popularity; no surprise, she’s in at the SAGs, alongside Jesse, which tells you how well that campaign has been working behind the scenes.

While the SAGs broke for Emma, they did not break for Cynthia Erivo. No Cynthia Erivo or Renate Reinsve but Kate Hudson gets nominated? She is never beating those “industry plant” allegations. But this also tells you about the insidery-ness of the guild. Kate has so many connections in Hollywood and the people managing her campaign clearly leaned in as hard as they could to pull this off.

A full list of SAG nominations is here and more SAG commentary is coming tomorrow.

 For now… please enjoy this. Exactly the kind of interaction I was hoping for.

"I've seen what you do in bed and sleep was not it."

Every second of Janelle James and Connor Storrie presenting The Actor Awards nominations was a gift. pic.twitter.com/a6RuXN37Gm

— Netflix (@netflix) January 7, 2026

What else happened today…

The SAGs had no love for Stellan Skarsgård and Sentimental Value but the internet has so much thirst for Stellan and his sons and, yes, they should all do a movie together, or a reality show, what is taking so long. For all the money that they threw at Mr Beast, I would have spent that on the Family Skarsgård. (Pajiba)

Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker were honoured ahead of the Golden Globes this weekend. Which means that, probably, they’ll be there on Sunday as presenters? SJP’s look is underwhelming, maybe she’s saving the better piece for the weekend. (Go Fug Yourself)

 I can’t wait for season two of Beef. And it’s coming in April! (The Mary Sue)

An officially fresh new year for Nicole Kidman. The divorce is official. The hair is curly. The skin is glowing. My smutty senses are tingling… in a good way. Nicole in 2026 will give us good gossip. (Celebitchy)

Sarah’s list of her top 10 films of 2025 was published today at The Squawk - subscribe and read! (The Squawk)