Avatar: Fire and Ash, Pluribus and Frankenstein were among the night’s biggest winners at the 53rd Saturn Awards, celebrating the best in genre entertainment during a star-studded gala on Sunday.
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films presented special honors throughout the four-hour-plus ceremony hosted by Joel McHale. “We finished in record time, just under 11 hours,” McHale joked at the end of the evening.
Avatar: Fire and Ash took home the night’s most awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Younger Performer in a Film (Jack Champion), Best Film Screenwriting, Best Visual/Special Effects, and Best Film Direction.
During the ceremony, James Cameron and producer Gale Anne Hurd accepted the George Pal Memorial Award, honoring the 40th anniversary of Aliens. Guillermo del Toro, who said he and Cameron had been friends for more than three decades, was on hand to present the award.
Guillermo del Toro at the 53rd Annual Saturn AwardsJC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
“Jim is a unique filmmaker. No one else shoots like him. Gale and he had a partnership that made the impossible possible. For those of us that know Jim, he is incredibly loyal to the things that need to be done for the film. There is no ego. He is serving the film. For 40 years that movie has not aged a single minute,” del Toro said.
While accepting the honor, Cameron spoke of the film’s lasting legacy, crediting many factors but highlighting the film’s star. “I think it’s Sigourney [Weaver] holding the center and creating an iconic character that’s lasted for 40 years well through our second generation of women who’ve been inspired by her role.”
When Cameron accepted the night’s award for Best Directing, he pointed out that all the nominees in the category were “all men and it shouldn’t be. When Kathryn Bigelow won for best director, the first woman to win, the rate of female directors in Hollywood was 17 percent, it’s now 13 percent. It’s going the wrong direction.”
Tom Cruise presented the Visionary Award to his longtime Mission: Impossible collaborator, Oscar-winning writer, director, and producer Christopher McQuarrie. “Our visionary is a person of strong and creative imaginative power, a dreamer. Everyone in this room has experienced the moments that came from your powerful imagination,” he said, calling McQuarrie, “a human being who understands that the true joy in life is in creating. And I thank you, my friend, for creating with me and for all that you do.”
Later in the evening Cruise won the Best Actor in a Film award for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning and spoke of his early childhood dreams. “I was always creating characters to make my family laugh. I was that kid in school that was constantly looking outside and dreaming. I had dreams that I wanted to make movies, travel the world, meet people and I wanted adventure. I think it’s pretty obvious I love movies and I love making them even more.”
Frankenstein won the Best Horror Film award and when accepting the honor, del Toro told the crowd, “I pledged allegiance to the creature and Mary Shelley when I was 11. And this tells me that maybe I accomplished that promise from when I was a young, thin and pale little boy in Mexico.”
George Lucas received the Dr. Donald A. Reed Founder’s Award, presented by Mark Hamill. “It’s impossible to overstate George’s contribution to the industry,” Hamill said on stage. “The movie redefined the term blockbuster and had a huge effect on Hollywood and on the world.”
Mark Hamill and George LucasJC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
Pluribus also took home three awards: Best New Genre Television Series accepted by creator Vince Gilligan; Best Actress in a Television Series for Rhea Seehorn and Best Supporting Actress for Karolina Wydra. “It has been incredible being part of something that makes people think,” Wydra said when accepting her award.
Bob Odenkirk and Rhea SeehornJC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
Other honorees included Terry Matalas, who received the Robert Forster Artist’s Award presented by Paul Bettany, and Prime Video’s The Boys, which was honored with the Spotlight Award. Titus Welliver received the Lance Reddick Legacy Award presented by Laurence Fishburne.
William Shatner was on hand to accept the Saturn Hall of Fame Award, honoring one of the most enduring franchises in genre history, Star Trek, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The ceremony also marked the 30th anniversary of The Long Kiss Goodnight, commemorated on stage by Geena Davis, Shane Black, and Yvonne Zima. The trio then presented the award for Best Film Screenwriting to Avatar: Fire and Ash, accepted by Cameron, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
Here’s the full list of the 2026 Saturn Award winners:
FILM
Best Science Fiction Film
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Bugonia
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Predator: Badlands
The Running Man
Tron: Ares
Best Horror Film
28 Years Later
The Conjuring: Last Rites
Final Destination Bloodlines
Frankenstein
The Monkey
Weapons
Best Cinematic Film Adaptation (From Another Medium)
Black Phone 2
Captain America: Brave New World
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
A Minecraft Movie
Superman
Thunderbolts: The New Avengers
Best Thriller Film
Highest 2 Lowest
The Housemaid
The Long Walk
Marty Supreme
Sinners
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Best Action/Adventure Film
Ballerina
F1: The Movie
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Novocaine
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
One Battle After Another
Best Actor in a Film
David Corenswet, Superman
Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Tom Hiddleston, The Life of Chuck
Oscar Isaac, Frankenstein
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Pedro Pascal, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Sam Worthington, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Actress in a Film
Rachel Brosnahan, Superman
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good
Elle Fanning, Predator: Badlands
Julia Garner, Weapons
Vanessa Kirby, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Zoe Saldaña, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Best Supporting Actor in a Film
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Edi Gathegi, Superman
Jeff Goldblum, Wicked: For Good
Stephan Lang, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Mads Mikkelsen, Dust Bunny
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Oona Chaplin, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Mia Goth, Frankenstein
Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
Amy Madigan, Weapons
Hailee Steinfeld, Sinners
Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts: The New Avengers
Sigourney Weaver, Dust Bunny
Best Younger Performer in a Film
Miles Caton, Sinners
Jack Champion, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Maia Kealoha, Lilo & Stitch
Madeleine McGraw, Black Phone 2
Sophie Sloan, Dust Bunny
Mason Thames, How to Train Your Dragon
Best Film Direction
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
Best Film Screenwriting
Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver; story by Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno
Dust Bunny, Bryan Fuller
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer
Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen
Sinners, Ryan Coogler
Weapons, Zach Cregger
Best Visual/Special Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Scott Stokdyk, Daniele Bigi, Lisa Marra
How to Train Your Dragon, Christian Manz, Andy Kind, François Lambert, Glenn Melenhorst, Glen McIntosh
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Alex Wuttke, Jeff Sutherland, Ian Lowe, Kristin Hall, Dave Newton
Superman, Stephane Ceretti, Guy Williams, Enrico Damm, Stephane Nazé
Wicked: For Good, Pablo Helman, Dale Newton
Best Film Music
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Simon Franglen
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Michael Giacchino
Frankenstein, Alexandre Desplat
Sinners, Ludwig Göransson
Tron: Ares, Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)
Wicked: For Good, John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
Best Film Production Design
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Dylan Cole & Ben Procter
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis
Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau
Sinners, Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne
Superman, Beth Mickle
Wicked: For Good, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales
Best Film Make-up
28 Years Later, John Nolan
Frankenstein, Mike Hill, Megan Many
Sinners, Mike Fontaine, Siân Richards
Tron: Ares, Donald Mowat, Zabrina Matiru
Weapons, Jason Collins, Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat
Wicked: For Good, Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier
Best Film Editing
Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron, John Refoua, Steve Rivkin, Nicolas De Toth, Jason Gaudio
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Jeffrey Ford
Frankenstein, Cam McLauchlin
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Eddie Hamilton
Predator: Badlands, Stefan Grube, Dave Trachtenberg
Sinners, Michael P. Shawyer
Best Film Costume
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
Best Independent Film
Adulthood
Eden
Dust Bunny
Good Boy
The Rule of Jenny Pen
The Plague
The Toxic Avenger
Best International Film
40 Acres
Bring Her Back
Dead of Winter
Night Call
The Ugly Stepsister
Sisu 2: Road to Revenge
Best Animated Film
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
The Bad Guys 2
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
The SpongeBob Movie: Search For Squarepants
Zootopia 2
Best International Animated Film
Attack on Titan the Movie: The Last Attack
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
The Colors Within
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinite Castle
Ne Zha 2
Stitch Head
TELEVISION
Best Science Fiction Television Series
Andor
The Ark
Foundation
Severance
Silo
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Best Fantasy Television Series
Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches
Ghosts
The Librarians: The Next Chapter
Outlander
Stranger Things
Wednesday
Best Horror Television Series
Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
The Institute
It: Welcome to Derry
The Last of Us
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Yellowjackets
Best New Genre Television Series
Alien: Earth
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Pluribus
Robin Hood
Spartacus: House of Ashur
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Best Action/Adventure Television Series
Cobra Kai
Duster
Paradise
Reacher
Squid Game
Twisted Metal
Best Thriller Television Series
Dark Winds
Dexter: Resurrection
The Lowdown
MobLand
The Rainmaker
Your Friends and Neighbors
Best Superhero Television Series
Daredevil: Born Again
Gen V
Invincible
Iron Heart
Peacemaker
The Sandman
Best Television Presentation or Limited Series
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Murderbot
Nautilus
The Pitt
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Best Animated Television Series or Event
Creature Commandos
Harley Quinn
Marvel Zombies
Predator: Killer of Killers
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow
Best Actor in a Television Series
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
John Cena, Peacemaker
Michael C. Hall, Dexter: Resurrection
Sam Heughan, Outlander
Diego Luna, Andor
Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Adam Scott, Severance
Best Actress in a Television Series
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things
Sydney Chandler, Alien: Earth
Britt Lower, Severance
Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Jenna Ortega, Wednesday
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Jack Alcott, Dexter: Resurrection
William Fichtner, Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
Jude Law, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
James Marsden, Paradise
Babou Ceesay, Alien: Earth
Ethan Peck, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Stellan Skarsgård, Andor
Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series
Christina Chong, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Denise Gough, Andor
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Jennifer Holland, Peacemaker
Genevieve O’Reilly, Andor
Uma Thurman, Dexter: Resurrection
Karolina Wydra, Pluribus
Best Guest Star in a Television Series
Dave Dastmalchian, Dexter: Resurrection
Peter Dinklage, Dexter: Resurrection
Linda Hamilton, Stranger Things
James Remar, It: Welcome to Derry
Bill Skarsgård, It: Welcome to Derry
Samba Schutte, Pluribus
Paul Wesley, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Best Younger Performer in a Television Series
Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Arian S. Cartaya, It: Welcome to Derry
Joe Freeman, The Institute
Noah Schnapp, Stranger Things
Jaz Sinclair, Gen V
Sadie Sink, Stranger Things
Clara Stack, It: Welcome to Derry
HOME VIDEO
Best 4K Home Media Release
Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Nightmare Alley
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Thunderbolts – The New Avengers
When Evil Lurks
Wicked
Best Home Media Collection Release
007: James Bond – Sean Connery 6 Film Collection
A Nightmare on Elm Street 7 Film Collection
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy
Terror in the Fog: The Wallace Krimi at CCC
The Abbott and Costello Horror Film Collection
The Pink Panther Peter Sellers Comedy Collection
Best Television Home Media Release
Chucky: The Complete Series
Creepshow Complete Series
Knight Rider: The Complete Series
Peanuts 75th Ultimate TV Specials
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Penguin Season 1
Best Classic Film Home Media Release
Dead of Night
Frailty
Kingdom of Heaven (Director’s Cut)
Night of the Juggler
Night of the Living Dead 1990
The Re-Animator 40th Anniversary
Tombstone
