"Black Panther" wins top film award at SAG Awards

Disney and Marvel Studios' superhero film "Black Panther" won top film award at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday evening, picking up the best cast ensemble prize.

(L-R) Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Chadwick Boseman, Danain Gurira, Michael B. Jordan and Andy Sirkis winners of Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for "Black Panther" pose in the press room during the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 2019. [Photo: Jean-Baptiste LACROIX / AFP]

The best cast ensemble prize of SAG Awards, the biggest film award of the night, is the equivalent of a best picture award. "Black Panther" beat out fierce rivals including "A Star Is Born," "BlacKkKlansman," "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "Crazy Rich Asians." It's the highest-grossing film of the five nominees.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, film star Chadwick Boseman plays the role of T'Challa / Black Panther, who returns home as king of Wakanda but finds his sovereignty challenged by a long-time adversary in a conflict with global consequences. "Black Panther" has earned more than 700 million U.S. dollars in North America for a world total of 1.34 billion dollars.

"Black Panther" became the first superhero film earlier this month to earn a best picture nomination in the history of the Oscar Awards.

Rami Malek won the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor In a Leading Role for his portrayal of British singer Freddie Mercury in the biopic film "Bohemian Rhapsody." Malek also won Best Actor in a Drama at the 76th Golden Globe Awards weeks ago.

Glenn Close walked away with the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, cementing her lead in the race for Oscar. The Hollywood veteran has won Best Actress in a Drama at the 76th Golden Globe Awards and Best Actress at the 24th Critics' Choice Awards successively this month for her stunning performance in drama film "The Wife."

Mahershala Ali won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. He is the first person in the history of SAG Awards to win the category twice.

Emily Blunt won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her performance in the sci-fi film "A Quiet Place."

SAG Awards are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild -- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to recognize outstanding performances in film and prime time television.

It's the only awards ceremony where actors are judged exclusively by their own peers. The SAG Awards are considered as the indicators of likely Oscar success next month.