Critics Choice Awards 2026: winners, surprises, and what’s next

TL;DR:

“One Battle After Another” won Best Picture and Best Director.
Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley took top acting prizes.
“Adolescence,” “The Pitt,” and “The Studio” led TV wins.
New awards debuted for Casting and Ensemble, Stunt Design, and more.
Ceremony aired Jan 4, 2026, hosted by Chelsea Handler.

The 31st Critics Choice Awards wrapped in Santa Monica on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Chelsea Handler hosted the show, which aired live on E! and USA. The night split attention between bold studio films and buzzy TV hits.

What happened and when

The ceremony took place at the Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, on January 4, 2026. Film and TV awards covered work released in 2025. The Critics Choice Association also rolled out new categories, including Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Sound.

The big film winners

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” won Best Picture. Anderson also won Best Director. The film’s run capped a strong season and set it up as a prime Oscar contender later this winter. Entertainment Weekly and People reported matching results during and after the broadcast.

Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for “Marty Supreme.” Jessie Buckley took Best Actress for “Hamnet.” Both performances have dominated critics groups since December.

“Sinners” translated a high nomination count into craft and writing wins. It took Best Original Screenplay and Best Score. “Frankenstein” swept key crafts, including Production Design, Costume Design, and Hair and Makeup.

Music races went to “Golden” from Kpop Demon Hunters and the score from “Sinners,” continuing the show’s trend of honoring both blockbuster sounds and prestige compositions.

Jacob Elordi earned Best Supporting Actor for “Frankenstein,” his first major acting prize. His win adds momentum ahead of the Globes on January 11, 2026.

TV highlights

On the TV side, “The Pitt” was named Best Drama Series, while “The Studio” won Best Comedy Series. The limited series “Adolescence” led its field with multiple acting wins and Best Limited Series. These shows reflect a year dominated by character-first writing and ensemble depth.

“Squid Game” took Best Foreign Language Series, and “South Park” won Best Animated Series. Variety and EW listed the same winners, which suggests consensus across outlets tracking the ceremony in real time.

New categories and what they signal

The added awards for Casting and Ensemble, Stunt Design, and Sound give below-the-line teams more room to shine. Casting has shaped the year’s standout titles, from the precise pairing in “Marty Supreme” to the ensemble richness in “Sinners.” Recognizing stunt design also brings attention to safety, planning, and storytelling in action, which big films and prestige TV increasingly rely on.

Top winners at a glance

Field	Winner	Category
Film	“One Battle After Another”	Best Picture
Film	Paul Thomas Anderson	Best Director
Film	Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”	Best Actor
Film	Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”	Best Actress
Film	“Sinners”	Best Original Screenplay, Best Score
Film	“Frankenstein”	Production Design, Costume, Hair and Makeup
TV	“The Pitt”	Best Drama Series
TV	“The Studio”	Best Comedy Series
TV	“Adolescence”	Best Limited Series
TV	“Squid Game”	Best Foreign Language Series

Cross-checks show alignment on winners across People, Entertainment Weekly, and Variety. For a full ballot, see Rotten Tomatoes’ roundup

Key moments in the room

Chelsea Handler kept the pace brisk, cutting through long acceptance runs with sharp tags. Jacob Elordi’s “Bloody hell” reaction to his Supporting Actor win landed as a genuine surprise and a viral clip candidate. Backstage chatter focused on the new Casting and Ensemble prize and how it could reshape awards campaigning

What it means for the season

Critics Choice often mirrors later guild sentiment. Best Picture wins here tend to correlate with strong showings at the Producers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America. With “One Battle After Another” winning Picture and Director, expect it to headline the PGA and DGA shortlists when they land later in January. That puts pressure on rivals to find oxygen in screenplay or acting categories.

Chalamet’s Best Actor win positions him as a front-runner heading into the Globes on January 11, 2026, and SAG nominations later this month. Buckley’s win boosts “Hamnet” in a tight Best Actress race. Craft sweeps for “Frankenstein” signal strength with below-the-line guilds, a common path to a Best Picture slot even without a top prize sweep.

On TV, the split between “The Pitt,” “The Studio,” and “Adolescence” suggests a wide open Emmys field. Limited series momentum often holds. Expect “Adolescence” to remain a favorite with casting and writing branches.

Why it matters

Viewers get a quick gauge on likely Oscar and guild contenders. Studios learn which campaigns to push. TV networks see where audience buzz aligns with critical acclaim. For fans, the winners offer an easy watchlist for the next few weeks.

What happens next

Golden Globes air on January 11, 2026. Expect overlap and a few curveballs.
PGA and DGA milestones follow later in January, which will test “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.”
Oscar nomination voting windows drive fresh screenings and Q&As for late-breaking titles.