53rd Saturn Awards

53rd Saturn Awards
Date	March 8, 2026
Site	Hilton Universal City, Los Angeles, California
Hosted by	Joel McHale
Highlights
Most nominations	Film: Avatar: Fire and Ash / The Fantastic Four: First Steps / Sinners (12) Television: Dexter: Resurrection (6)
Television coverage
Network	ElectricNOW The Roku Channel (streaming)
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The 53rd Saturn Awards will be presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films to honor the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other genres belonging to genre fiction in film, television, and home entertainment. ^[1]

The ceremony will be held on March 8, 2026, at Hilton Universal City in Los Angeles, with Joel McHale returning to host for the fourth consecutive year. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The nominations were announced on January 27, 2026. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The genre-defying film Sinners , Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film The Fantastic Four: First Steps , and science fiction epic Avatar: Fire and Ash led all film nominees, each receiving twelve nominations, followed by Frankenstein with eleven. ^[3] For the television categories, Paramount+ crime drama thriller Dexter: Resurrection led the nominations with six, followed by Andor , It: Welcome to Derry , and Stranger Things with five apiece. ^{[3] [5] [6]}

Category changes

Introduced Best Cinematic Adaptation Film Best International Animated Film Best New Genre Television Series

Discontinued Best Genre Comedy Television Series

Winners and nominees

Film

Best Science Fiction Film	Best Fantasy Film
Avatar: Fire and Ash Bugonia Jurassic World Rebirth Predator: Badlands The Running Man Tron: Ares	Freakier Friday Hamnet How to Train Your Dragon The Life of Chuck Lilo & Stitch Wicked: For Good
Best Horror Film	Best Action / Adventure Film
28 Years Later The Conjuring: Last Rites Final Destination Bloodlines Frankenstein The Monkey Weapons	Ballerina F1: The Movie Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Novocaine Now You See Me: Now You Don't One Battle After Another
Best Thriller Film	Best Cinematic Adaptation Film
Highest 2 Lowest The Housemaid The Long Walk Marty Supreme Sinners Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery	Black Phone 2 Captain America: Brave New World The Fantastic Four: First Steps A Minecraft Movie Superman Thunderbolts*
Best Animated Film	Best International Animated Film
The Bad Guys 2 The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie Elio KPop Demon Hunters The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants Zootopia 2	Attack on Titan the Movie: The Last Attack ( Japan) Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc ( Japan) The Colors Within ( Japan) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle ( Japan) Ne Zha 2 ( China) Stitch Head ( Germany)
Best Independent Film	Best International Film
Adulthood Dust Bunny Eden Good Boy The Plague The Rule of Jenny Pen The Toxic Avenger	40 Acres ( Canada) Bring Her Back ( Australia) Dead of Winter ( Germany) Night Call ( France) Sisu: Road to Revenge ( Finland) The Ugly Stepsister ( Norway)
Best Film Direction	Best Film Screenwriting
James Cameron – Avatar: Fire and Ash Ryan Coogler – Sinners Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein James Gunn – Superman Christopher McQuarrie – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Matt Shakman – The Fantastic Four: First Steps Dan Trachtenberg – Predator: Badlands	James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver – Avatar: Fire and Ash Ryan Coogler – Sinners Zach Cregger – Weapons Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, Eric Pearson, and Ian Springer – The Fantastic Four: First Steps Bryan Fuller – Dust Bunny Erik Jendresen and Christopher McQuarrie – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Best Actor in a Film	Best Actress in a Film
David Corenswet – Superman as Clark Kent / Superman Tom Cruise – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning as Ethan Hunt Tom Hiddleston – The Life of Chuck as Charles "Chuck" Kranz Oscar Isaac – Frankenstein as Victor Frankenstein Michael B. Jordan – Sinners as Elijah "Smoke" Moore / Elias "Stack" Moore Pedro Pascal – The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic Sam Worthington – Avatar: Fire and Ash as Jake Sully	Rachel Brosnahan – Superman as Lois Lane Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good as Elphaba Elle Fanning – Predator: Badlands as Thia / Tessa Julia Garner – Weapons as Justine Gandy Vanessa Kirby – The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman Zoe Saldaña – Avatar: Fire and Ash as Neytiri Emma Stone – Bugonia as Michelle Fuller
Best Supporting Actor in a Film	Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein as The Creature Edi Gathegi – Superman as Michael Holt / Mister Terrific Jeff Goldblum – Wicked: For Good as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Stephen Lang – Avatar: Fire and Ash as Colonel Miles Quaritch Delroy Lindo – Sinners as Delta Slim Mads Mikkelsen – Dust Bunny as Resident 5B Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Ben Grimm / The Thing	Oona Chaplin – Avatar: Fire and Ash as Varang Mia Goth – Frankenstein as Elizabeth Harlander Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good as Glinda Amy Madigan – Weapons as Gladys Florence Pugh – Thunderbolts* as Yelena Belova Hailee Steinfeld – Sinners as Mary Sigourney Weaver – Dust Bunny as Laverne
Best Younger Performer in a Film	Best Film Editing
Miles Caton – Sinners as Samuel "Sammie" Moore Jack Champion – Avatar: Fire and Ash as Miles "Spider" Socorro Maia Kealoha – Lilo & Stitch as Lilo Pelekai Madeleine McGraw – Black Phone 2 as Gwen Sophie Sloan – Dust Bunny as Aurora Mason Thames – How to Train Your Dragon as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III	Avatar: Fire and Ash – James Cameron, John Refoua, Steve Rivkin, Nicolas de Toth, and Jason Gaudio The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Nona Khodai and Tim Roche Frankenstein – Evan Schiff Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Eddie Hamilton Predator: Badlands – Stefan Grube and Dave Trachtenberg Sinners – Michael P. Shawver
Best Film Music	Best Film Production Design
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Simon Franglen The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Michael Giacchino Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat Sinners – Ludwig Göransson Tron: Ares – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Wicked: For Good – John Powell and Stephen Schwartz	Avatar: Fire and Ash – Dylan Cole and Ben Procter The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Jille Azis and Kasra Farahani Frankenstein – Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau Sinners – Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne Superman – Beth Mickle Wicked: For Good – Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
Best Film Costume Design	Best Film Make Up
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Alexandra Byrne Frankenstein – Kate Hawley Predator: Badlands – Ngila Dickson Sinners – Ruth E. Carter Superman – Judianna Makovsky Wicked: For Good – Paul Tazewell	28 Years Later – Flora Moody and John Nolan Frankenstein – Mike Hill and Megan Many Sinners – Mike Fontaine and Siân Richards Tron: Ares – Zabrina Matiru and Donald Mowat Weapons – Jason Collins, Leo Satkovich, and Melizah Wheat Wicked: For Good – Mark Coulier and Frances Hannon
Best Film Visual / Special Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Joe Letteri, and Eric Saindon The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Daniele Bigi, Lisa Marra, and Scott Stokdyk How to Train Your Dragon – Andy Kind, François Lambert, Christian Manz, Glen McIntosh, and Glenn Melenhorst Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Kristin Hall, Ian Lowe, Dave Newton, Jeff Sutherland, and Alex Wuttke Superman – Stéphane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stephane Nazé, and Guy Williams Wicked: For Good – Pablo Helman and Dale Newton

Television

Programs

Best Science Fiction Television Series	Best Fantasy Television Series
Andor (Disney+) The Ark (Syfy) Foundation (Apple) Severance (Apple) Silo (Apple) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)	Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches (AMC) Ghosts (CBS) The Librarians: The Next Chapter (TNT) Outlander (Starz) Stranger Things (Netflix) Wednesday (Netflix)
Best Horror Television Series	Best Action / Adventure Television Series
Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC) The Institute (MGM+) It: Welcome to Derry (HBO) The Last of Us (HBO) The Walking Dead: Dead City (AMC) Yellowjackets (Showtime)	Cobra Kai (Netflix) Duster (HBO Max) Paradise (Hulu) Reacher (Prime Video) Squid Game (Netflix) Twisted Metal (Peacock)
Best Thriller Television Series	Best Superhero Television Series
Dark Winds (AMC) Dexter: Resurrection (Paramount+) The Lowdown (FX) MobLand (Paramount+) The Rainmaker (USA Network) Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple)	Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+) Gen V (Prime Video) Invincible (Prime Video) Ironheart (Disney+) Peacemaker (HBO Max) The Sandman (Netflix)
Best Television Presentation	Best Animated Television Series or Special
The Beast in Me (Netflix) Black Mirror (Netflix) Murderbot (Apple) Nautilus (Prime Video) The Pitt (HBO Max) The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC)	Creature Commandos (HBO Max) Harley Quinn (HBO Max) Marvel Zombies (Disney+) Predator: Killer of Killers (Hulu) Solo Leveling – Arise from the Shadow (Crunchyroll) Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (Disney+) Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)
Best New Genre Television Series
Alien: Earth (FX) Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Starz) Pluribus (Apple) Robin Hood (MGM+) Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz) Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+)

Acting

Best Actor in a Television Series	Best Actress in a Television Series
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise as Xavier Collins (Hulu) John Cena – Peacemaker as Chris Smith / Peacemaker (HBO Max) Michael C. Hall – Dexter: Resurrection as Dexter Morgan (Paramount+) Sam Heughan – Outlander as Jamie Fraser (Starz) Diego Luna – Andor as Cassian Andor (Disney+) Norman Reedus – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon as Daryl Dixon (AMC) Adam Scott – Severance as Mark Scout / Mark S. (Apple)	Caitríona Balfe – Outlander as Claire Fraser (Starz) Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger Things as Eleven (Netflix) Sydney Chandler – Alien: Earth as Wendy (FX) Britt Lower – Severance as Helena Eagan / Helly R. (Apple) Melissa McBride – The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon as Carol Peletier (AMC) Jenna Ortega – Wednesday as Wednesday Addams (Netflix) Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus as Carol Sturka (Apple)
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series	Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series
Jack Alcott – Dexter: Resurrection as Harrison Morgan (Paramount+) Babou Ceesay – Alien: Earth as Morrow (FX) William Fichtner – Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order as Jasper (AMC) Jude Law – Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as Jod Na Nawood (Disney+) James Marsden – Paradise as President Cal Bradford (Hulu) Ethan Peck – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Spock (Paramount+) Stellan Skarsgård – Andor as Luthen Rael (Disney+)	Christina Chong – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as La'an Noonien Singh (Paramount+) Denise Gough – Andor as Dedra Meero (Disney+) Jennifer Holland – Peacemaker as Emilia Harcourt (HBO Max) Julianne Nicholson – Paradise as Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond (Hulu) Genevieve O'Reilly – Andor as Mon Mothma (Disney+) Uma Thurman – Dexter: Resurrection as Charley Brown (Paramount+) Karolina Wydra – Pluribus as Zosia (Apple)
Best Young Performer in a Television Series	Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Ravi Cabot-Conyers – Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as Wim (Disney+) Arian Cartaya – It: Welcome to Derry as Rich Santos (HBO) Joe Freeman – The Institute as Luke Ellis (MGM+) Noah Schnapp – Stranger Things as Will Byers (Netflix) Jaz Sinclair – Gen V as Marie Moreau (Prime Video) Sadie Sink – Stranger Things as Max Mayfield (Netflix) Clara Stack – It: Welcome to Derry as Lilly Bainbridge (HBO)	David Dastmalchian – Dexter: Resurrection as Gareth Pike (Paramount+) Peter Dinklage – Dexter: Resurrection as Leon Prater (Paramount+) Linda Hamilton – Stranger Things as Major General Dr. Kay (Netflix) James Remar – It: Welcome to Derry as Francis Shaw (HBO) Samba Schutte – Pluribus as Koumba Diabaté (Apple) Bill Skarsgård – It: Welcome to Derry as Pennywise (HBO) Paul Wesley – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as James T. Kirk (Paramount+)

Home Entertainment

Best 4K Home Media Release	Best Classic Film Home Media Release
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Disney / Marvel) Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount) Nightmare Alley (Criterion) Thunderbolts* (Disney / Marvel) When Evil Lurks (Second Sight Films) Wicked (Universal)	Dead of Night (Kino Lorber) Frailty (Lionsgate Home Video) Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut (20th Century / Disney) Night of the Juggler (Kino Lorber) Night of the Living Dead 1990 (Sony) Re-Animator: 40th Anniversary (Ignite Films) Tombstone (Disney)
Best Film Home Media Collection Release	Best Television Home Media Release
007: James Bond – Sean Connery 6 Film Collection (Warner Bros.) The Abbott and Costello Horror Film Collection (Kino Lorber) A Nightmare on Elm Street 7 Film Collection (Warner Bros.) The Pink Panther Peter Sellers Comedy Collection (Kino Lorber) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy (Arrow) Terror in the Fog: The Wallace Krimi at CCC (Eureka)	Chucky: The Complete Series (Universal) Creepshow: Complete Series (Shudder) The Huckleberry Hound Show: The Complete Original Series (Warner Archives) Knight Rider: The Complete Series (Universal) Peanuts: 75th Anniversary Ultimate TV Specials Collection (Warner Bros.) The Penguin: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros.)

Special Achievement Awards

• Spotlight Award – TBA
• Dan Curtis Legacy Award – TBA
• George Pal Memorial Award – TBA
• Lifetime Achievement Award – TBA
• Robert Forster Artist's Award – TBA
• Lance Reddick Legacy Award – TBA

Multiple nominations

Film Nominations Film Genre Distributor(s) 12 Avatar: Fire and Ash Science Fiction 20th Century Studios / Lightstorm Entertainment The Fantastic Four: First Steps Cinematic Adaptation Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Sinners Thriller Warner Bros. Pictures 11 Frankenstein Horror Netflix 9 Wicked: For Good Fantasy Universal Pictures 8 Superman Cinematic Adaptation DC Studios / Warner Bros. Pictures 7 Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Action / Adventure Paramount Pictures 5 Dust Bunny Fantasy Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions Predator: Badlands Science Fiction 20th Century Studios Weapons Horror New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Pictures 3 How to Train Your Dragon Fantasy DreamWorks / Universal Pictures Thunderbolts* Cinematic Adaptation Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Tron: Ares Science Fiction Walt Disney Studios 2 28 Years Later Horror Sony Pictures Black Phone 2 Cinematic Adaptation Blumhouse / Universal Pictures Bugonia Science Fiction Focus Features The Life of Chuck Fantasy Neon Lilo & Stitch Walt Disney Studios

Television Nominations Series Genre Network 6 Dexter: Resurrection Thriller Paramount+ 5 Andor Science Fiction Disney+ It: Welcome to Derry Horror HBO Stranger Things Fantasy Netflix 4 Paradise Action / Adventure Hulu Pluribus Science Fiction Apple Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Paramount+ 3 Alien: Earth FX Outlander Fantasy Starz Peacemaker Superhero HBO Max Severance Science Fiction Apple Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Disney+ The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Horror AMC 2 Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order Gen V Superhero Prime Video The Institute Horror MGM+ Wednesday Fantasy Netflix

References

1. Sullivan, Kevin P. (January 7, 2026). "Joel McHale set to return as host for 2026 Saturn Awards". Gold Derby. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
2. Patta, Gig (January 8, 2026). "53rd Annual Saturn Awards to be Held on March 8 in Los Angeles". LRM Online. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
3. Hipes, Patrick (January 27, 2026). "'Sinners', 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', 'Fantastic Four', and 'Dexter: Resurrection' Lead Saturn Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
4. arnewsteam (January 27, 2026). "Nominations for the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards Led by 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' and 'Sinners'". Awards Radar. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
5. Templeton, Molly (January 28, 2026). "Here Are the Nominees for the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards". Reactor . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
6. Williams, Jordan (January 28, 2026). "'Dexter: Resurrection' Just Officially Revived a 19-Year-Old Franchise Tradition with Massive New Milestone". Screen Rant . Retrieved January 30, 2026.

External links

• Official Saturn Awards website