25th Screen Actors Guild Awards Nomination Predictions

The nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards are slowly upon us. Even though they aren’t announced until December 12th, I figured I’d give predicting them a shot.

As I was making my predictions, there were a few things I kept in mind. One is that because the Screen Actors Guild is made up of actors from both film and television, we will likely see movie ensembles with both film stars and television actors benefit from that type of crossover. Also, because SAG tends to have earlier nomination and submission deadlines than the other guilds, films and performances that came out early in the year have an easy time making a play here.

Anyhow, without further ado, here are my predictions for the film categories:

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture:

Black Panther

Crazy Rich Asians

If Beale Street Could Talk

A Star Is Born

Widows

Crazy Rich Asians looks like it’ll be the “early bird comedy hit” entry in this category which is a slot that previously went to films like Bridesmaids and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. As for If Beale Street Could Talk and Widows, because both ensembles possess actors who are staples on film and/or television, they should benefit from that crossover appeal. Also, if Black Panther truly does become a force in the Oscar race, it could make a showing here. I mean, if the Lord Of The Rings trilogy can do it, no reason Black Panther can’t.

Lastly, A Star Is Born seems like an odd choice because the film is a two-person piece. However, there have been similar occurrences in this category like when The Theory Of Everything and Dallas Buyers Club were nominated despite both films being two-handers. Unless it misses out like La La Land, I’m going to predict that it makes it in here in case voters nominate it based on strong enthusiasm for the film.

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role:

Christian Bale, Vice

Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born

Ethan Hawke, First Reformed

Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Bradley Cooper and Viggo Mortensen are pretty safe bets. Since early bird performances tend to benefit from SAG love, Ethan Hawke could easily sneak in here for his performance in First Reformed and unless Vice peaks too late, Christian Bale should make a play here as well. Lastly, despite the criticisms people have about Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek is still in the hunt for a Best Actor nomination and given the goodwill he’s garnered as a TV actor with Mr.Robot, he’ll likely be cited here.

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role:

Glenn Close, The Wife

Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindergarten Teacher

Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Glenn Close, Olivia Colman, Lady Gaga, and Melissa McCarthy are pretty safe. As for that last slot, I was torn between Viola Davis in Widows, Nicole Kidman in Destroyer, and Julia Roberts in Ben Is Back. But instead of those three, I went out on a limb and picked Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Kindergarten Teacher. Much like the aforementioned three names, Gyllenhaal is a respected thespian and despite not being likely to be Oscar nominated, she could still pull off a “WTF?” surprise in this particular category in the same style as Sarah Silverman in I Smile Back a few years ago.

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role:

Mahershala Ali, Green Book

Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy

Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman

Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born

Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Mahershala Ali and Richard E. Grant seem pretty safe along with Sam Elliott because SAG loves to reward veterans. As for the other two slots, there’s Adam Driver who has, rather awkwardly, been the sole acting representation of BlacKkKlansman and Timothee Chalamet for Beautiful Boy. Admittedly, Chalamet’s Oscar prospects are rather shaky at the moment given the film’s middling reception. That being said, a SAG nomination would still keep his hopes alive. He may be down but he’s not out.

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role:

Claire Foy, First Man

Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Leave No Trace

Emma Stone, The Favourite

Michelle Yeoh, Crazy Rich Asians

Since SAG loves to honor TV actors crossing over into film, Claire Foy and Regina King should easily benefit from that kind of industry goodwill. Because SAG also loves honoring child actors and actresses, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie could easily sneak in this category for Leave No Trace which came out early in the year. Speaking of early bird performances, veteran actress Michelle Yeoh should easily be the individual acting representation for Crazy Rich Asians.

So, those are my predictions. What do you guys think? Agree or disagree? Please feel to share your thoughts and offer your own predictions in the comments section. Thanks for reading!