LOS ANGELES — The 32nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, officially rebranded this year as The Actor Awards, marked a historic turning point for Hollywood on Sunday night. Streaming live globally on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium, the ceremony traded traditional broadcast tropes for a streamlined, star-heavy celebration that saw Michael B. Jordan and the Southern Gothic horror-musical Sinners emerge as the evening’s dominant force.
The night was also anchored by a poignant, standing-ovation-filled tribute to Harrison Ford, who received the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, cementing a career that has defined the American blockbuster for over half a century.
The ‘Sinners’ Sweep: Michael B. Jordan’s Night of Redemption
For Michael B. Jordan, the night was a crowning achievement in a partnership with director Ryan Coogler that spans over a decade. Jordan took home the trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore in Sinners.
The win was particularly significant as Jordan bested a formidable field of nominees, including Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Jordan admitted during an emotional acceptance speech, acknowledging his mother, Donna Jordan, in the audience. “Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York when we didn’t have enough money for the Holland Tunnel… looking for gas money just so I could get to an audition. This is for that kid from North Jersey.”
Jordan later returned to the stage as the cast of Sinners—which includes Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, and Delroy Lindo—won the night’s top prize: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The film, a high-concept “vampires-meet-the-1930s-South” epic, has become an awards season juggernaut, heading into the Oscars with a record-breaking 16 nominations.
Harrison Ford: “I’m Just Getting Started”
The emotional heart of the ceremony arrived when Woody Harrelson took the stage to present the Life Achievement Award to Harrison Ford. Harrelson, who appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story, joked about his “Star Wars connection” before praising Ford’s recent resurgence in television with Shrinking and 1923.
As the theme from Indiana Jones blared through the auditorium, the 83-year-old Ford was met with a thunderous four-minute standing ovation. Ford, characteristically dry yet visibly moved, accepted the “Actor” statuette with a smirk.
“I feel incredibly grateful for this kind attention, but to be clear, I’m also quite humbled,” Ford told the crowd. “I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive an award for being alive. It feels a little weird to get a Lifetime Achievement Award at the midpoint of my career—I’m still a working actor.”
Ford’s speech touched on the “privilege of working in the world of empathy and imagination,” specifically thanking George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for the roles that changed his life.
Notable Winners and Netflix’s Global Stage
The transition to Netflix allowed the show to run without commercials, resulting in a tighter, more intimate telecast hosted by Kristen Bell.
Film Winners
- Female Lead: Jessie Buckley won for her powerhouse performance in Hamnet, continuing her streak as the favorite for the Academy Awards.
- Supporting Actor: Sean Penn took home the trophy for One Battle After Another, a political thriller that led the night in total nominations.
- Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan was the surprise winner for her role in Weapons, beating out early favorite Ariana Grande (Wicked).
Television Winners
The television categories saw a mix of veteran wins and fresh faces:
- Drama Ensemble: The Pitt, the medical drama led by Noah Wyle, took the top drama prize. Wyle also won Best Male Actor in a Drama Series.
- Comedy Ensemble: The Studio, Seth Rogen’s biting satire of the film industry, won for Comedy Ensemble.
- Posthumous Honor: In one of the night’s most tearful moments, the late Catherine O’Hara was awarded Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series for The Studio. Seth Rogen accepted on her behalf, praising her “undeniable genius and kindness.”
The Rebrand: From SAG to ‘The Actor’
The 2026 ceremony officially completed the transition from the “SAG Awards” to The Actor Awards. According to SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, the move was designed to align the show’s name with its iconic statuette and its status as the only major awards show where actors are judged solely by their peers.
As the credits rolled on the Netflix stream, the momentum for Sinners appeared unstoppable. With the Oscars just two weeks away, Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler look poised to make history yet again.