Critics Choice Awards 2026: Big Wins for One Battle After Another, Frankenstein and Adolescence
The 31st Critics Choice Awards took place on 5 January 2026 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, bringing the Hollywood awards season to life with a star-studded ceremony and excitement across film and television categories. The event honoured the best of 2025, recognising distinguished performances, storytelling and technical achievements in movies and TV.
At the heart of the night, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another was crowned Best Picture, while Anderson also won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for the same film. This triple achievement established the movie as a standout success at the Critics Choice Awards.
In the acting categories, Timothée Chalamet secured Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme, and Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet. Other acting honours included Jacob Elordi winning Best Supporting Actor for his memorable role in Frankenstein, and Amy Madigan earning Best Supporting Actress for Weapons.
Several films earned multiple awards, with Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners each walking away with four prizes. Frankenstein achieved success in creative and technical categories, including production design, costume design and hair and makeup, while Sinners was recognised for its original screenplay, casting and musical score. Sinners also saw young actor Miles Caton win Best Young Actor/Actress.
In addition to film accolades, the television side of the awards was equally competitive. Adolescence, a limited series, dominated with four wins, including Best Limited Series and multiple acting awards, highlighting its standout impact in TV storytelling.
Other television honours included The Pitt being named Best Drama Series, with actors Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa winning in their categories, and The Studio taking Best Comedy Series, with Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz recognised for performances on the show.
Animated and international projects also made an impression. K-Pop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature, and its song “Golden” was awarded Best Song, while The Secret Agent was celebrated as Best Foreign Language Film.
The Critics Choice Awards also added new categories this year, expanding recognition across a wider range of creative and technical crafts. The ceremony, hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler for the fourth year running, blended humour with heartfelt moments, marking another memorable night in the awards calendar.
Overall, the 2026 Critics Choice Awards highlighted a mix of familiar faces and fresh talent, with industry favourites and rising stars alike earning applause from critics and audiences across the globe.
