The newspaper drama Spotlight, badly in need of some Oscar momentum, has taken the top honour at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Best actor went to Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant, adding to the drum beat expected to culminate with the 41-year-old star's first Oscar.
Other favourites also cemented their frontrunner status.
Brie Larson, the star of the captive mother and son drama Room, won best actress.
Alicia Vikander took best supporting actress for The Danish Girl.
But supporting actor went to Idris Elba for Beasts of No Nation. Elba was one of the most notable black actors overlooked by the Academy Awards, which instead fielded all-white acting nominees.
The SAG Awards, conversely, crowded its Shrine Auditorium stage in Los Angeles with a diverse group of winners including Queen Latifah and Viola Davis.
While Aussies Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Miranda Otto missed out on awards, Ruby Rose, who has recently developed the ambition to become a credible actor, said she was "speechless in Prague" after learning she had won the TV Comedy ensemble award along with her castmates for her brief appearance in Orange is the New Black.
Australian stunt veteran Guy Norris and his team from Mad Max: Fury Road were also winners at Saturday's ceremony.
FULL LIST OF SAG WINNERS:
Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture - Spotlight
Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role - Brie Larson (Home)
Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role - Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)
Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation)
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture - Mad Max: Fury Road
Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black)
Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series - Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Orange Is the New Black
Outstanding Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries - Queen Latifah (Bessie)
Outstanding Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries - Idris Elba (Luther)
Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series - Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder)
Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series - Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series - Downton Abbey
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series - Game of Thrones
Life Achievement Award - Carol Burnett
