The Critics’ Choice Awards returned to Santa Monica this weekend at a moment when the awards season already feels compressed and unusually charged. With Oscar voting looming and studios sharpening campaign messages, the ceremony served less as a coronation and more as a stress test for which films and performances can carry momentum through mounting scrutiny and shifting critical moods.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s political satire One Battle After Another took the night’s top prize and helped set the tone for the awards season at the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards, held Jan. 4 in Santa Monica. The film won Best Picture while Anderson received Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay; Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for Marty Supreme and Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet. Television honors were split across high-profile series, with Adolescence, The Pitt and The Studio among the night’s winners.
The ceremony produced several memorable onstage moments. Chalamet paused to thank his partner and said, “I love you. I couldn’t do this without you,” drawing a visible reaction in the crowd. Jacob Elordi, accepting Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein, opened with, “Bloody hell. I really didn’t plan for it,” then thanked Guillermo del Toro. Buckley, accepting for Hamnet, praised co-star Paul Mescal with a line that turned the room’s attention to their chemistry: “I could drink you like water.”
Behind the applause, the most awarded film of the season has not been free of debate. One Battle After Another drew criticism from commentators who argued its portrayal of Black women veered into fetishization; cast members responded that the film intended to provoke uncomfortable discussion and reflect lived realities. Those opposing and supportive voices have pushed the film into a wider cultural conversation that awards cannot erase.
Statistically the night also reinforced earlier forecasts: Sinners led the nominations with 17 bids and secured multiple craft prizes, while Frankenstein and several ensemble pieces collected technical awards, underscoring the split between critic acclaim and industry campaigning. Observers noted the Critics’ Choice results will influence voters and media narratives leading to the Academy Awards in March, though history shows critics’ awards rarely determine the final Oscar map.
The Critics’ Choice ceremony balanced spectacle and strategy — a platform for high emotion, industry signaling and, for a controversial film, renewed public debate. The wins consolidate momentum for some campaigns and sharpen questions others will need to answer as the season moves forward.
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Full Nominees and Winners: Critics’ Choice Awards 2026; Complete List
Best Picture
Bugonia (Focus Features)
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Hamnet (Focus Features)
Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Marty Supreme (A24)
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Sentimental Value (Neon)
Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Train Dreams (Netflix)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Best Actress
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
Emma Stone – Bugonia (Focus Features)
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent (Neon)
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)
Best Director
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Amy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Best Supporting Actor
Paul Mescal – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Best Young Actor / Actress
Everett Blunck – The Plague (Independent Film Company)
Cary Christopher – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family (Searchlight Pictures)
Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Best Casting and Ensemble
Nina Gold – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme (A24)
Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Francine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Best Original Screenplay
Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Zach Cregger – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (A24)
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice (Neon)
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Will Tracy – Bugonia (Focus Features)
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Best Cinematography
Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Łukasz Żal – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Claudio Miranda – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Best Editing
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Michael P. Shawver – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Kirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Best Production Design
Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios)
Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme (A24)
Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Best Costume Design
Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
Ruth E. Carter – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Best Hair and Makeup
Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine (A24)
Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Flora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel & Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Best Sound
Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Laia Casanovas – Sirat (Neon)
Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare (A24)
Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Best Visual Effects
Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman (Warner Bros.)
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)
Best Stunt Design
Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Andy Gill – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Giedrius Nagys – Warfare (A24)
Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina (Lionsgate)
Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Best Song
“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1 (Apple Original Films)
“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams (Netflix)
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Best Score
Hans Zimmer – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Max Richter – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme (A24)
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Best Animated Feature
Arco (Neon)
Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
In Your Dreams (Netflix)
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (GKIDS)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Best Comedy
Eternity (A24)
Friendship (A24)
The Naked Gun (Paramount)
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Focus Features)
The Phoenician Scheme (Focus Features)
Splitsville (Neon)
Best Foreign Language Film
Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
No Other Choice (Neon)
Sirat (Neon)
Belén (Amazon MGM Studios)
It Was Just an Accident (Neon)
The Secret Agent (Neon)
Best Drama Series
Andor (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Paradise (Hulu)
Pluribus (Apple TV)
Severance (Apple TV)
Task (HBO Max)
Alien: Earth (FX)
The Pitt (HBO Max)
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO Max)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)
Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)
Mark Ruffalo – Task (HBO Max)
Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV)
Billy Bob Thornton – Landman (Paramount+)
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Denée Benton – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Allison Janney – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Greta Lee – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Skye P. Marshall – Matlock (CBS)
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Wood Harris – Forever (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey – Task (HBO Max)
Patrick Ball – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)
Best Comedy Series
Elsbeth (CBS)
Ghosts (CBS)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
The Studio (Apple TV)
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
Rose McIver – Ghosts (CBS)
Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Carrie Preston – Elsbeth (CBS)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside (Netflix)
David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical (NBC)
Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot (Apple TV)
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker (HBO Max)
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO Max)
Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts (CBS)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Best Movie Made for Television
Deep Cover (Prime Video)
The Gorge (Apple TV)
Mountainhead (HBO Max)
Nonnas (Netflix)
Summer of ’69 (Hulu)
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Paul W. Downs – Hacks (HBO Max)
Asher Grodman – Ghosts (CBS)
Oscar Nuñez – The Paper (Peacock)
Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV)
Best Limited Series
All Her Fault (Peacock)
Chief of War (Apple TV)
Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
The Girlfriend (Prime Video)
Adolescence (Netflix)
Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Jessica Biel – The Better Sister (Prime Video)
Meghann Fahy – Sirens (Netflix)
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend (Prime Video)
Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me (Netflix)
Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Julianne Moore – Sirens (Netflix)
Christine Tremarco – Adolescence (Netflix)
Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television
Wagner Moura – Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Michael Peña – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Ashley Walters – Adolescence (Netflix)
Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead (HBO Max)
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)
Best Animated Series
Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Long Story Short (Netflix)
Marvel Zombies (Disney+)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Best Comedy Special
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO Max)
Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian (HBO Max)
Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things (Netflix)
Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Max)
Sarah Silverman: PostMortem (Netflix)
SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
Best Foreign Language Series
Acapulco (Apple TV)
Last Samurai Standing (Netflix)
Mussolini: Son of the Century (Mubi)
Red Alert (Paramount+)
When No One Sees Us (HBO Max)
Squid Game (Netflix)
Best Variety Series
Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO Max)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO Max)
Best Talk Show
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Hot Ones (YouTube)
Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen (Bravo)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
