Ryan Coogler Makes Actor Awards History

Ryan Coogler has once again just made history.

At the 32nd Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards), Warner Bros.’ vampire period drama “Sinners” won best cast ensemble.

Directed by Coogler, the film marked his second victory in the category — making him the first director to helm two best ensemble winners in the history of the awards.

“We’re all anointed to be a part of this incredible journey created by the genius Ryan Coogler,” said Delroy Lindo from the stage with the rest of the cast. “We brought ourselves. We brought our hearts, we brought our souls. We brought our spirits to this endeavour, and to be recognized by you all…Thank you doesn’t come anywhere near to encompassing what we feel, the gratitude,” Lindo said, also recognizing Warner Bros.’ Michael de Luca, Pam Abdy and Suzanne Fritz.

The winning “Sinners” ensemble includes Michael B. Jordan, who also won best actor, Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Omar Miller and Buddy Guy.

The group prevailed over “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme” and “One Battle After Another.”

Coogler previously won with “Black Panther” (2018), a film that later made Oscars history as the first superhero movie nominated for best picture. Now “Sinners” has made its own run at the record books, leading this year’s Academy Awards field with its record-breaking 16 nominations, surpassing “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land,” which earned 14 nominations apiece.

Jordan’s win also adds another milestone. With “Sinners” joining “Black Panther” on his resume, he now has two cast ensemble trophies, placing him among a group of 18 performers who have won twice, which includes names like Ben Affleck, Colin Firth, Allison Janney, Emma Stone and more.

The current leader remains Michael Keaton, the only actor to be part of three cast ensemble winners: “Birdman” (2014), “Spotlight” (2015) and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (2020). Of those, “Birdman” and “Spotlight” went on to win the Oscar for best picture. Jordan is the second Black male actor, and third Black performer, to be on the list alongside Don Cheadle (“Traffic” and “Crash”) and Octavia Spencer (“The Help” and “Hidden Figures”).

How that momentum translates to the Oscars remains an open question. Since the best picture lineup expanded in 2009, the Actor Awards’ cast ensemble winner has matched the Academy Award for best picture winner eight times — exactly half of the last 16 years. The overlap includes “The King’s Speech” (2010), “Argo” (2012), “Birdman” (2014), “Spotlight” (2015), “Parasite” (2019), “CODA” (2021), “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022) and “Oppenheimer” (2023).

Final Oscar voting is currently underway, which began on Thursday, February 26, and will continue until Thursday, March 5.

The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15 and will air on ABC, hosted by Conan O’Brien.