Fez — The 2026 Critics Choice Awards, held on January 4 at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar and hosted by Chelsea Handler, delivered a night of critical acclaim and early awards-season momentum for both movies and television.
Presented by the Critics Choice Association, the ceremony spotlighted a blend of crowd-pleasing hits and artistic standouts across film and TV, with several key winners emerging as frontrunners for upcoming Oscar and Emmy buzz.
‘One Battle After Another’ tops film categories
The political thriller “One Battle After Another” was crowned Best Picture, while director Paul Thomas Anderson also secured Best Director and the film’s adapted screenplay won Best Adapted Screenplay, confirming its critical heft this season.
In the acting categories, Timothée Chalamet took home Best Actor for his performance in Marty Supreme, continuing his strong awards-season trajectory, and Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in “Hamnet.”
Other notable film winners included Jacob Elordi as Best Supporting Actor for “Frankenstein,” and Amy Madigan picking up Best Supporting Actress for “Weapons.” Young breakout talent Miles Caton was named Best Young Actor/Actress for “Sinners,” which also earned Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Score.
Television highlights and series winners
In television, Netflix’s limited series “Adolescence” dominated with the Best Limited Series award and several acting victories, including Stephen Graham for Best Actor in a Limited Series and Sarah Snook as Best Actress in a TV movie.
Drama series honors went to “The Pitt” with Best Drama Series and performances by Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa. “The Studio” was named Best Comedy Series, with Seth Rogen winning Best Actor in a Comedy Series and strong support from his ensemble.
Other television winners included “Squid Game” taking Best Foreign Language Series and “South Park” as Best Animated Series.
Creative excellence and emerging standouts
Beyond acting and top series honors, the Critics Choice Awards highlighted technical and creative excellence. Adolpho Veloso won Best Cinematography for “Train Dreams,” underscoring the range of craft achievements applauded by critics.
Setting the tone for awards season
The Critics Choice Awards are widely seen as an early indicator of industry and critical sentiment heading into the intensifying awards calendar. With strong showings for “One Battle After Another”, “Sinners”, and “Adolescence”, this year’s winners reflect both star-studded cinema and elevated television storytelling, offering a compelling snapshot of 2025’s creative highlights.
As the industry moves toward further honors later in the season, these wins position many of this year’s standouts as films and series to watch in both Oscar and Emmy conversations.
