You know that feeling when you're looking at a list of names and you just have to double-check if you're reading it right? That's basically been the vibe ever since the screen actors guild awards 2025 nominations dropped. Honestly, the SAG-AFTRA crowd always does things a little differently than the Oscars, but this year? They really leaned into the chaos.
It wasn't exactly a smooth start. The announcement was supposed to be this big, glitzy live event on January 8, but those Southern California wildfires forced everyone to pivot. Instead of a stage and a podium, we got a press release. Kinda anticlimactic, sure, but the names on that list were anything but boring.
If you've been following the race, you've probably noticed a massive trend: the actors aren't just following the "prestige" path. They’re voting for the stuff they actually like watching.
The Wicked Sweep and the Shōgun Takeover
When the dust settled on the announcement morning, two titles were basically everywhere. Wicked and Shōgun. Both pulled in five nominations apiece, which is basically the equivalent of a straight-A report card in Hollywood.
For Wicked, it wasn’t just the obvious nods for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The real "wait, what?" moment was Jonathan Bailey sneaking into the Supporting Actor race. He’s been a fan favorite for years, but seeing him get recognized by his peers for a massive musical? That’s big.
On the TV side, Shōgun is just a juggernaut. It’s rare to see a show dominate the drama categories like this, but Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai have essentially made themselves the ones to beat. Tadanobu Asano even grabbed a nod for Supporting Actor. It’s a total takeover, and honestly, it’s about time.
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Why Everyone is Obsessed with the Lead Actress Race
This is where things get really spicy. The Lead Actress category for film is a total bloodbath. You’ve got:
- Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl)
- Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
- Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
- Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Demi Moore (The Substance)
Notice anyone missing? Yeah, everyone else did too. No Nicole Kidman for Babygirl. No Angelina Jolie for Maria. Both of those women were supposed to be "locks," as the industry nerds say. But the SAG voters decided to go with Pamela Anderson instead. If you told me three years ago that C.J. Parker would be an awards season frontrunner, I would’ve asked what you were drinking. But she’s incredible in that movie, and clearly, the guild agrees.
Breaking Down the Big Film Categories
The screen actors guild awards 2025 nominations for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture" (the SAG version of Best Picture) are a wild mix. We have A Complete Unknown, Anora, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, and Wicked.
It’s a very "actor-y" list. You’ve got the Bob Dylan biopic, the neon-soaked indie darling, the Vatican thriller, a Spanish-language musical about a cartel leader, and the biggest Broadway adaptation in a decade.
In the Lead Actor category, Timothée Chalamet is obviously the headline as Dylan. But don't sleep on Adrien Brody in The Brutalist or Colman Domingo in Sing Sing. Those are the kind of heavy-hitting, transformative roles that SAG members absolutely drool over.
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The Television Shakeup
While we're talking about the small screen, The Bear is still the king of comedy. Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Liza Colón-Zayas all snagged individual nods. But the competition is getting stiff. Hacks is right there, and Jean Smart is basically a permanent fixture on these lists at this point.
The limited series categories are where the "prestige" TV lived this year. Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning from Babyindeer (that Netflix show that made everyone uncomfortable but we couldn't stop watching) both got nominated. And then you have Colin Farrell as The Penguin. Seeing him get a nod for a role where he’s unrecognizable under pounds of latex is a testament to how much actors respect the craft of "disappearing."
Who Got Left Out? The Snubs are Real
Every year, there’s a group of actors who probably woke up, checked their phones, and went right back to sleep. Zendaya was a massive snub for Challengers. She was everywhere during that press tour, and her performance was electric, but SAG just didn't bite.
Sebastian Stan was another one. He won a Golden Globe for A Different Man, but he couldn't crack the SAG list. It just goes to show that a win at one show doesn't mean a thing when it comes to the actors' guild. They’re a different breed.
What Happens Next?
The ceremony itself is happening on Sunday, February 23, 2025. It’s at the Shrine Auditorium in LA, and Kristen Bell is back to host. This is the second year in a row that Netflix is streaming it live. No commercials, no weird local news interruptions—just actors talking about how much they love acting.
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Jane Fonda is getting the Life Achievement Award, which will probably be the highlight of the night. She’s an absolute legend, and her speech is guaranteed to be either very inspiring or very funny—or both.
Actionable Tips for the Awards Season Fan
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here’s how you should play the rest of the season:
- Watch Anora and The Substance ASAP. These aren't your typical "awards movies," but they are clearly the favorites among actors. They're weird, bold, and worth the hype.
- Keep an eye on the "Ensemble" winner. More often than not, the movie that wins the SAG Cast award goes on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. If Conclave or Anora takes it, the Oscar race is officially over.
- Sign into Netflix on Feb 23. Set a reminder for 8 p.m. ET. The SAGs are usually shorter and faster than the Oscars, and because they're on a streamer now, they can get a little more "loose" with the rules.
The screen actors guild awards 2025 nominations have set the stage for a very unpredictable spring. It’s not just about who gave the "best" performance; it’s about who the 119,000 members of SAG-AFTRA felt a connection with. And this year, they’re feeling the musicals, the indies, and a whole lot of Bob Dylan.
Make sure to bookmark the official SAG Awards site to see if any late-breaking schedule changes happen before the big night in February.
Next Step: You should check out the full trailers for The Last Showgirl and A Complete Unknown to see why the SAG voters were so impressed with those transformations.