SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture

The competition: BlacKkKlansman, Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Rich Asians, A Star is Born

For your information: This year, there are two films nominated without a corresponding cast member, marking the fifth time that has happened in the history of this category. Three films with no individual actors nominated have won – “The Full Monty” in 1997, “The Return of the King” in 2003, and “Hidden Figures” in 2016. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama, has star Rami Malek nominated. “BlacKkKlansman” contends individually for John David Washington and Adam Driver. “A Star is Born” has Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, and Sam Elliott nominated. From this list, only “Crazy Rich Asians” is not nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture. The winner of this award has gone on to win the Best Picture Oscar eleven times since its inception in 1995.

Who should win? My list would be entirely different. “Crazy Rich Asians” is a fun choice but I don’t think it needs to be here over other casts. “BlacKkKlansman” had some good players, but they’re not the best. The stars of “A Star is Born” were terrific, but I wouldn’t cite is as an ensemble. “Bohemian Rhapsody” managed to have all of its players resemble real-life figures and deserves commendation for that. My clear choice, however, is “Black Panther,” a superhero movie that used all of its actors to excellent effect.

Who will win? It’s hard to know. A victory for “Bohemian Rhapsody” would surely make the heads of most critics and prognosticators explode. “BlacKkKlansman” doesn’t seem like it’s been visible enough to take this, and “Crazy Rich Asians” would be a real surprise. The safe choice is probably “A Star is Born,” but I’m going to pick the very popular Black Panther to triumph instead.