Hollywood’s biggest names gathered on Sunday night for the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, the final major awards ceremony before the Oscars. As the race to the Academy Awards nears its end, the SAG Awards once again proved to be an unpredictable and lively event, filled with heartfelt speeches, unexpected wins, and technical hiccups. Hosted by Kristen Bell and streamed live on Netflix for the first time, the evening brought together the industry’s top talent to celebrate the best performances in film and television.

The Population Appeard was on the scene,

bringing exclusive coverage of the event, from the red carpet arrivals to backstage reactions. The night belonged to Conclave, which took home the coveted award for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) continued their dominant streaks, adding SAG trophies to their already impressive awards season resumes.

Unscripted Chaos and Nostalgic Reunions

The ceremony had its fair share of unexpected moments, from actors stumbling through teleprompter readings to microphone malfunctions. Yet, some of the best surprises came in the form of cast reunions. Fans were treated to nostalgic appearances from stars of New Girl, The Good Place, and Gossip Girl, creating viral-worthy moments that had the audience buzzing.

Kristen Bell kicked off the show with a playful musical number inspired by her Frozen character, Anna. Singing a reworked version of Do You Want to Build a Snowman?, she playfully poked fun at the struggles of making it in Hollywood, setting a lighthearted tone for the evening.

Big Wins and Emotional Speeches

One of the standout moments of the night came from Timothée Chalamet, who delivered one of the most passionate acceptance speeches of the ceremony. Winning Best Actor for A Complete Unknown, Chalamet took a moment to reflect on his ambitions, comparing his pursuit of greatness to legends like Marlon Brando and Michael Jordan. His raw honesty and competitive spirit were refreshing and left an impact on the audience.

Meanwhile, Kieran Culkin once again showcased his charmingly awkward acceptance speech skills. Upon winning Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, he humorously thanked SAG-AFTRA for the "incredibly heavy award" and went on a hilarious tangent about its weight before offering a heartfelt thanks to his wife, children, and director Jesse Eisenberg.

Selena Gomez, visibly shocked, accepted the award for Best TV Comedy Ensemble on behalf of Only Murders in the Building. The Hulu series scored an unexpected victory after consistently losing in past years. Gomez, with a mix of disbelief and excitement, joked, "Wait, we never win. This is so weird," before dedicating the award to her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, and promising to bring it back to New York for Season 5.

Red Carpet Moments and Backstage Insights

The Population Appeard provided an exclusive look at the red carpet, capturing stunning fashion moments, celebrity interviews, and behind-the-scenes energy. From the glamorous gowns to the candid conversations, we saw Hollywood’s finest embrace the spirit of the night. Backstage, winners reflected on their journeys, and the industry’s biggest names shared thoughts on the evolving landscape of film and television.

Final Takeaway: An Unpredictable Lead-Up to the Oscars

With Oscar voting already closed, the SAG Awards may not have a direct impact on next weekend’s winners, but they certainly offered insight into where industry loyalties lie. The unpredictable wins, heartfelt moments, and lively reunions made for a truly memorable evening.

The Population Appeard was proud to be on the ground covering this incredible night, capturing the energy and excitement of one of Hollywood’s most important evenings. With the Academy Awards on the horizon, this final awards show before the big night has only heightened anticipation for what’s to come.