The cast of dark existential comedy "Birdman" led the Screen Actors Guild film award nominations, earning four nods from its peers in the kick-off to the Hollywood awards season.

The film, about a has-been Hollywood star bent on reviving his career on the stage, netted nominations for Michael Keaton for best actor, Emma Stone for best supporting actress, and Edward Norton for best supporting actor. It also earned a nod for the SAGs top prize: best ensemble cast.

Rounding out that top category are the coming-of-age chronicle "Boyhood," which also earned nods for Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke; biographical drama "The Theory of Everything" which picked up nominations for Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones; historical World War Two drama "The Imitation Game" which also got nods for Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley; and the Wes Anderson comedy "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

The SAG awards will be handed out on January 25.