The 31st annual Critics’ Choice Awards officially kicked off awards season on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Hollywood’s biggest and brightest across film and television were honored for their work in 2025. Comedian and talk show host Chelsea Handler reprised her role as host for the fourth consecutive year.
While the film-only categories included in the annual Oscars (Academy Awards) nominations are voted on by thousands of industry professionals, the CCA recognizes excellence in both film and television through voting by critics and journalists. This distinction has long positioned the CCA as a reliable indicator of which projects and performances may dominate the remainder of award season.
Among the night’s top honors, One Battle After Another took home Best Picture, while Paul Thomas Anderson secured wins for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
However, it was Ryan Coogler’s Sinners that emerged as one of the evening’s most celebrated films.
The supernatural thriller entered the ceremony with a leading 17 nominations and ultimately walked away with four major wins, cementing its critical acclaim and industry-wide impact. Most notably, Sinners captured the newly introduced Critics Choice Award for Best Casting, a category designed to honor the often-unsung artistry behind assembling and cultivating an ensemble capable of elevating a script into a fully realized cinematic experience.
Ranked as one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time, Sinners spotlighted the power of intentional casting and collaborative chemistry. The film’s pairing of established performers with emerging talent resulted in a collective performance that resonated with audiences, helping the film remain at No. 1 at the U.S. box office for three consecutive weekends in early May 2025.
Veteran actor Delroy Lindo, who portrayed wayward musician Delta Slim in the hit film, accepted the Best Casting award alongside his castmates. During his remarks, Lindo acknowledged Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan for their expansive creative vision and leadership.
“What they’ve shared with us is quite extraordinary,” Lindo said, noting the success that both men have amassed by the age of 40 and emphasizing the impact of their collaboration and influence within the industry.
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Sinners set the tone early in the evening when 20-year-old Miles Caton launched the film’s winning streak by taking home the first award of the night. Caton won the Critics Choice Award for Best Young Actor/Actress for his breakout role as Sammie, marking a major milestone in his rising career.
See below for the full list of winners from the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
BEST PICTURE
One Battle After Another (Warner Brothers)
BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)
BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
BEST COMEDY
The Naked Gun (Paramount)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Secret Agent (Neon)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST EDITING
Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)
BEST SOUND
Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix)
BEST SONG
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
BEST SCORE
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST STUNT DESIGN
Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST DRAMA SERIES
The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
BEST TALK SHOW
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE
Francine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
South Park (Comedy Central)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
Squid Game (Netflix)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
BEST VARIETY SERIES
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)