The Saturn Awards flexed its geek muscle Sunday, gathering some of the biggest names in genre into one room, including Tom Cruise, James Cameron, George Lucas, Guillermo Del Toro, Vince Gilligan, Mark Hamill, William Shatner and the cast of The Boys.
Cameron, who was not nominated for director or best picture at the Oscars for Avatar: Fire and Ash, took solace at the Saturns, noting the genre-focused awards show has always supported him, dating back to his days on 1984’s The Terminator. That was a common theme among honorees, who noted that the Saturns have long paid attention to genre films and TV shows, even at times when mainstream awards did not.
“They dismiss us, and yet consistently over time, of the top 20 movies in history, or the top 20 films of the past 10 years — they are our films,” he said to big applause. “Sci-fi, fantasy, horror. We make the films that put people in the theaters and keep the theaters open.”
Cameron took home best science fiction film, best film direction and best film screenwriting (shared with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver). Early in the show, Guillermo Del Toro introduced Cameron, producer Gale Anne Hurd and the cast of 1986’s Aliens for the George Pal Memorial Award celebrating the 40th anniversary of the feature.
Cruise, meanwhile, spent the evening perched at his table up front, flashing his trademark smile, laughing at jokes from emcee Joel McHale and leading a standing ovation for Lucas, who was there to collect the Dr. Donald A. Reed Founder’s Award.
Cruise took home best actor in a film for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, which also won for best action/adventure movie, and he gave a speech honoring frequent collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, who took the Visionary Award.
Indeed, Cruise and Cameron were on stage so often it almost felt like they were co-hosts. Winners often referenced them in their speeches, as well. (David Dastmalchian, who won guest TV actor winner for Dexter: Resurrection, used part of his speech to bashfully pitch Cruise and Mission: Impossible director McQuarrie for a future role as a creepy villain in one of their movies, to smiles and laughs from both.)
On the TV side of things, Pluribus was among the big winners, with creator Vince Gilligan accepting for best new genre TV series, and actors Rhea Seehorn (best actress in a TV series) and Karolina Wydra (supporting actress) taking home wins.
Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy accepted Andor‘s win for best science fiction television series, with Diego Luna wining best actor and Stellan Skarsgard winning best supporting actor.
Peacemaker won best superhero TV series, while Outlander won best fantasy TV series, It: Welcome to Derry won best horror TV series, and Dexter: Resurrection won best thriller TV series.
Read on for the full winners.
FILM WINNERS
Best Science Fiction Film
Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios / Lightstorm)
Best Fantasy Film
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Best Horror Film
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Best Cinematic Film Adaptation
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios)
Best Thriller Film
Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Best Action/Adventure Film
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Best Actor in a Film
Tom Cruise – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Best Actress in a Film
Elle Fanning – Predator: Badlands
Best Supporting Actor in a Film
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Sigourney Weaver – Dust Bunny
Best Younger Performer in a Film
Jack Champion – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Film Direction
James Cameron – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Film Screenwriting
James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Visual/Special Effects
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Film Music
Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross) – Tron: Ares
Best Film Production Design
Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Best Film Make-Up
Mike Hill, Megan Many – Frankenstein
Best Film Editing
Michael P. Shawyer – Sinners
Best Film Costume
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein
Best Independent Film
Dust Bunny (Roadside Attractions / Lionsgate)
Best International Film
Sisu 2: Road to Revenge (Screen Gems / Sony Pictures)
Best Animated Film
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios)
Best International Animated Film
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (Crunchyroll / Sony Pictures)
TELEVISION WINNERS
Best Science Fiction Television Series
Andor (Lucasfilm)
Best Fantasy Television Series
Outlander (Starz / Sony Pictures Television)
Best Horror Television Series
It: Welcome to Derry (HBO / Warner Bros. Television)
Best New Genre Television Series
Pluribus (Sony Pictures Television / Apple)
Best Action/Adventure Television Series
Duster (Bad Robot / Warner Bros. Television)
Best Thriller Television Series
Dexter: Resurrection (Showtime / Paramount+)
Best Superhero Television Series
Peacemaker (Warner Bros. Television / DC Studios)
Best Television Presentation or Limited Series
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC)
Best Animated Television Series or Event
Predator: Killer of Killers (Hulu / 20th Century Studios)
Best Actor in a Television Series
Diego Luna – Andor
Best Actress in a Television Series
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Stellan Skarsgård – Andor
Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series
Karolina Wydra – Pluribus
Best Guest Star in a Television Series
David Dastmalchian – Dexter: Resurrection
Best Younger Performer in a Television Series
Ravi Cabot-Conyers – Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
HOME MEDIA
Best Classic Film Home Media Release
Frailty (Lionsgate Home Video)
Best 4K Home Media Release
Wicked (Universal)
Best Home Media Collection Release
The Pink Panther Peter Sellers Comedy Collection (Kino Lorber)
Best Television Home Media Release
Chucky: The Complete Series (Universal)