The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards, held on January 4, 2026, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, celebrated the best in film and television, with some surprising wins and emotional moments. The ceremony, hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, is often seen as a reliable indicator of potential Oscar winners.
Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," a sprawling tale of political revolution and father-daughter bonding starring Leonardo DiCaprio, emerged as the big winner in the film categories, taking home the coveted Best Picture award. Anderson also secured wins for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. In his acceptance speech, Anderson expressed his joy in making the film, attributing it to the people he worked with.
While "One Battle After Another" took the top prize, Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," which led the film nominations with 17 nods, also had a successful night, earning accolades for Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Score, and Best Young Actor/Actress for Miles Caton.
In the acting categories, Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for "Marty Supreme," while Jessie Buckley was awarded Best Actress for her performance in "Hamnet". Jacob Elordi received the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Frankenstein," and Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for "Weapons".
Netflix's limited series "Adolescence" dominated the television categories, winning Best Limited Series and sweeping the limited series acting awards. Stephen Graham won Best Actor, while Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty took home Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively. Cooper, at 16 years old, became the youngest male actor to ever win a Critics Choice Award. During his acceptance speech, Cooper described the past year as a "whirlwind". Graham shared his mother's advice about staying grounded: "You're never above anyone and you're never below anyone,".
Other notable winners in the television categories included "The Pitt" for Best Drama Series and "The Studio" for Best Comedy Series. Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa won acting awards for "The Pitt," while Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz were recognized for their work on "The Studio".
The Critics Choice Awards also recognized achievements in other areas of filmmaking, with "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" winning Best Stunt Design, "F1" winning Best Sound, and Kate Hawley winning Best Costume Design for "Frankenstein".
The event was broadcast live on E! and USA Network, showcasing a star-studded red carpet and memorable moments from the winners.
