'Hidden Figures' Oscars: Does SAG Ensemble Win Signify Best Picture Potential? [VIDEO]
Hidden Figures won the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Sunday night, making it a viable contender to do well at the Oscars in February.
The cast of Hidden Figures won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at last night's SAG Awards, the highest honor of the night for film. Taraji P. Henson, who plays Katherine Johnson the film, spoke on behalf of her cast, who were all very excited surrounding her.
"This story is of unity. This story is about what happens when we put our differences aside and we come together as a human race. We win. Love wins every time," Henson said, with co-stars Janelle Monáe and Octavia Spencer visibly moved.
"Thank you so much for appreciating the work we have done. Thank you so much for appreciating these women," Henson concluded. "They are hidden figures no more!"
Hidden Figures, which tells the previously untold story of three African American women who helped contribute to one of NASA's first launches into space, pulled off a pretty surprising victory at the SAG Awards. Most pundits predicted the Ensemble race would go to either Moonlight or Manchester by the Sea considering they have both done very well this award season and are considered higher contenders in the Oscar race than Hidden Figures.
Yet, Hidden Figures has become a pretty big phenomenon over the past few weeks, with the film now grossing over $100 million at the box office. This is a significant feat for a drama film, especially one with three African American women at the center. There is a clear crowd-pleaser element to the film, which also stars beloved actors like Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Glen Powell, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge and Kevin Costner, so in hindsight, the film's cast winning the big SAG prize isn't too shocking.
This now puts Hidden Figures in the hunt for Best Picture at the Oscars as well. Four of the last six films to win SAG Ensemble have gone on to win the Oscar for Best Picture, and with actors making up the largest percentage of Academy voters, it looks like the film could be in discussion to win big.
Of course, La La Land is a huge behemoth to overthrow, with a record-tying 14 nominations. But if there is enough backlash to La La Land's inevitable victory, Hidden Figures could benefit greatly. It may only have three nominations in total, but records are broken all the time during award season and with Hidden Figures peaking at the right time, anything could happen.
The Oscars will air live Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT on ABC.
