All eyes were fixed on the top frontrunners as the SAG Awards spotlighted the nominated best actors. Among the contenders were stellar performers like Bradley Cooper, Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti, and Jeffrey Wright. However, it was Cillian Murphy who emerged as the winner for his performance in Oppenheimer. Murphy clinched the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award at the 2024 SAG Awards ceremony.

In his heartfelt speech, the actor graciously acknowledged his fellow cast members and expressed gratitude to everyone who supported him along the way, including his unsuccessful stint in the music industry, which ultimately led him to be part of something extraordinary. However, Cillian Murphy is not the only one in the Oppenheimer gang who stole the SAG show.

Robert Downey Jr. won Best Supporting Actor for the film, and the entire cast took home the Best Ensemble award at the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Nevertheless, Emily Blunt’s snub from the Best Actress category was unexpected for many. Although Oppenheimer beat all major contenders, including Barbie and Maestro, at the SAG, they will face another showdown at the Oscars.

Although all signs are pointing towards Oppenheimer, there are nine other films still in the running for Best Picture, with some also having strong Oscar buzz.

Can anything stop Oppenheimer from claiming the Oscars?

It is safe to say that Barbie has lost its momentum with the constant award snubs. The Academy has made it clear that it will not allow Barbie to break through a certain barrier. Similarly, Killers of the Flower Moon has missed out on the action as well. However, the Academy has shown more leniency toward Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro’s projects. And despite its fading Best Picture hopes, when compared to the treatment given to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, Killers of the Flower Moon has a better shot.

Furthermore, Poor Things faced no major hiccups during the nomination announcements. It got a tally of 11 nominations, second only to Oppenheimer. This placed it in a prime position to mount a credible challenge for a Best Picture win that can compete with Oppenheimer‘s dominance. However, with Oppenheimer maintaining its stronghold on major awards, including its recent SAG triumph, it seems doubtful that any of the remaining contenders pose a significant threat to its domination.

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