Michael B. Jordan's SAG Upset
Michael B. Jordan pulled an upset win for Best Actor at the SAG Awards for his performance in 'Sinners,' with industry reaction described as going 'wild'. The win was characterized as surprising, suggesting he beat established favorites. 'Sinners' has been climbing box office charts and hit a major milestone in just five weeks — positioning Jordan as a serious Oscar contender.
Michael B. Jordan's win for 'Sinners' came at the expense of presumed frontrunner Timothée Chalamet ('Marty Supreme'), who had already secured a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award this season. The category was stacked with formidable contenders, including Leonardo DiCaprio for 'One Battle After Another,' Ethan Hawke for 'Blue Moon,' and Jesse Plemons for 'Bugonia'. The victory marks the fifth collaboration between Jordan and director Ryan Coogler. In the Southern Gothic horror film, Jordan plays a dual role as the Smokestack twins, bootleggers who return to the 1930s Mississippi Delta and are confronted by vampires. The upset immediately reshaped the Oscar race, with prediction markets dramatically shifting. Jordan's odds for the Best Actor Oscar surged from as low as 6.9% before the ceremony to around 37-39% immediately after, placing him as a top contender against Chalamet. History suggests this is a significant indicator for the Academy Awards. The SAG award for Best Actor has a strong track record, with eight of the last ten winners going on to receive the Oscar in the same category. The night's success wasn't limited to Jordan's individual performance. 'Sinners' also won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, beating the film widely considered the Best Picture favorite, 'One Battle After Another'. The award was presented by a visibly thrilled Viola Davis, and Jordan received a standing ovation from his peers. In an emotional acceptance speech, he thanked his mother for driving him to auditions when they struggled to afford gas and tunnel tolls.
