Sunday night saw the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) make their contribution to this year’s Oscar race as one particular film roared its way to victory.

Marvel’s mega-hit Black Panther clinched a crucial win in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category as it overcame stern competition from BlackKklansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Rich Asians and A Star is Born.

Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed the heroic T’Challa in the blockbuster, delivered a powerful speech about the film’s remarkable success.

“When I think of going to work every day and the passion and the intelligence, the resolve, the discipline that everybody showed, I also think of two questions that we all have received during the course of multiple publicity runs. One is: Did we know that this movie was going to receive this kind of response? Meaning, was it going to make a billion dollars? Was it going to still be around during this awards season?”

The second question is: Has it changed the industry? Has it actually changed the way this industry works and how it sees us? And my answer to that is: ‘To be young, gifted, and black.’”

It is the first time that a superhero flick has won the award, which is normally a strong indicator for winning the Best Picture Oscar. However, the film still faces a big hurdle in overcoming the likes of Roma and Green Book.

The comic-book blockbuster also scooped the Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble award ahead of Avengers: Infinity War and Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Elsewhere, Rami Malek and Glenn Close both bolstered their chances of Oscar glory with key wins in Leading Male Actor and Leading Female Actor.

In the actor category, Malek saw off the likes of Christian Bale (Vice) and Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born) to win for his memorable portrayal of legendary singer Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

During his speech, Malek dedicated his award to Freddie, saying:

“I get some power from him that is about stepping up and living your best life; being exactly who you want to be and accomplishing everything you so desire. And I feel that, and he allows us all to feel that. So, this is for him.”

Close’s winning performance in The Wife was just as crucial, as she overcame tough competition in Leading Female Actor from Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Lady Gaga (A Star is Born). This key victory now leaves her on the verge of finally winning her first Oscar.

 

Another contender looking dead set on a gold statue is Mahershala Ali, as he picked up the Supporting Male Actor gong for his portrayal of Don Shirley in the factual comedy-drama Green Book.

Finally, there was a surprise result in the Supporting Female Actor category, as Emily Blunt overcame Amy Adams (Vice) to win for her role in the post-apocalyptic thriller A Quiet Place.

This was nice recognition for the British actress after she was completely ignored by the Academy for both this film and Mary Poppins Returns.

It proved to be a bad night for the likes of A Star is Born and BlackKklansman, as both films went home empty-handed, thus denting their Oscar chances.

The full list of film winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
BLACK PANTHER

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Glenn Close, THE WIFE

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Rami Malek, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

 

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Emily Blunt, A QUIET PLACE

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Mahershala Ali, GREEN BOOK

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
BLACK PANTHER

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On the television side of things, it was a great night for the Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as the hit comedy claimed a hat-trick of accolades.

 

Stars Rachel Brosnahan and Tony Shalhoub both landed wins in the Female Actor and Male Actor (Comedy) categories, with the show also receiving the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series award.

Elsewhere, NBC’s This is Us triumphed in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series category as it overcame stern competition from The Americans, Better Call Saul and The Handmaid’s Tale.

 

Jason Bateman clinched the Male Actor (Drama) award for his role in Ozark, while Sandra Oh repeated her Golden Globe-winning success from earlier this month as she took home Best Female Actor (Drama) for Killing Eve.

In the Mini-Series/Television Movie line-up, Darren Criss landed another acting gong for his portrayal of serial killer Andrew Cunanan in the acclaimed drama The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. His win came ahead of British stars Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal) and Anthony Hopkins (King Lear).

 

The Female Actor (Mini-Series or TV Movie) category was won by Patricia Arquette for her performance in Escape at Dannemora, as she beat off the much-fancied Amy Adams for HBO’s Sharp Objects.

Finally, the Netflix comedy GLOW won the Outstanding Stunt Ensemble award ahead of Daredevil, The Walking Dead and Westworld.

The full list of television winners are…

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
THIS IS US

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sandra Oh, KILLING EVE

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Bateman, OZARK

 

 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Shalhoub, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL

 

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Patricia Arquette, ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
Darren Criss, THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY

 

OUTSTANDING ACTION PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
GLOW