I. Introduction: What Happened at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards and Why It Matters
The 31st Critics’ Choice Awards took place on January 4, 2026. Chelsea Handler hosted the event at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. “One Battle After Another” won Best Picture. Timothée Chalamet took Best Actor for “Marty Supreme.” Jessie Buckley earned Best Actress for “Hamnet.”
These wins matter because the Critics Choice Association often predicts Oscars. Historically, there’s an 80% overlap in major categories like Best Picture and acting awards. In 2025, seven out of eight top categories matched. This year, “One Battle After Another” led with three wins, including Director and Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson.
On TV, “The Pitt” won Best Drama. “The Studio” got Best Comedy. “Adolescence” dominated Limited Series with four awards. Sinners had 17 film nominations, the most ever for a single movie at these awards.
New categories debuted this year. Best Casting and Ensemble went to “Sinners.” Best Stunt Design awarded to “Ballerina.” These changes reflect evolving industry recognition.
II. Event Details: Date, Broadcast, and Viewing Options
The awards aired live at 7 p.m. ET on E! and USA Network. Replays are available on Peacock starting January 5, 2026. YouTube has official highlights clips uploaded within hours.
Over 1,200 Critics Choice Association members voted. Attendance hit 2,500 guests, including stars like Ariana Grande and Michael B. Jordan. COVID protocols included optional masking and proof of vaccination for entry.
If you missed it, stream full speeches on the official Critics Choice YouTube channel. For international viewers, check local broadcasters like Sky in the UK.
III. Film Category Winners: Full List with Analysis and Surprises
Best Picture went to “One Battle After Another.” This Warner Bros. film beat out “Sinners,” despite its 17 nominations. Anderson’s story of a revolutionary’s search for his daughter resonated with critics for its political depth.
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle After Another.” His win over Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”) surprised some, given Coogler’s buzz.
Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme.” Chalamet edged Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”). His portrayal of a ping-pong prodigy showed new range.
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley in “Hamnet.” Buckley’s emotional depth as Agnes Shakespeare outshone competitors like Chase Infiniti.
Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi in “Frankenstein.” Elordi’s transformative role as The Creature was a breakout.
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan in “Weapons.” Her win was unexpected; many predicted a “Sinners” sweep.
Best Young Actor/Actress: Miles Caton in “Sinners.” At 20, Caton’s performance highlighted youth talent.
Technical wins favored “Frankenstein.” It swept Production Design, Costume Design, Hair and Makeup. “Sinners” took Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler), Score (Ludwig Göransson), and Casting/Ensemble.
Best Animated Feature: “KPop Demon Hunters.” This surprised over bigger studio films.
- Best Foreign Language Film: “The Secret Agent.”
- Best Song: “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters.”
- Best Cinematography: “Train Dreams” by Adolpho Veloso.
- Best Editing: “F1” by Stephen Mirrione.
- Best Visual Effects: “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
- Best Sound: “F1.”
- Best Stunt Design: “Ballerina.”
“Frankenstein” and “Sinners” each won four awards, showing horror’s strong year. If you’re into production, study “Frankenstein’s” designs for inspiration. Stream it on Netflix now.
IV. TV Category Winners: Full List with Episode Recommendations
Best Drama Series: “The Pitt” on HBO Max. This medical drama’s realistic plots won over critics. Start with Episode 1, “Pilot,” for Noah Wyle’s intense intro.
Best Actor in Drama: Noah Wyle in “The Pitt.” His role as Dr. Robinavitch beat strong competition.
Best Actress in Drama: Rhea Seehorn in “Pluribus” on Apple TV. Seehorn’s layered performance echoes her “Better Call Saul” work.
- Best Supporting Actor in Drama: Tramell Tillman in “Severance.”
- Best Supporting Actress in Drama: Katherine LaNasa in “The Pitt.”
- Best Comedy Series: “The Studio” on Apple TV. Seth Rogen’s workplace satire revived the genre. Watch Episode 3, “The Pitch,” for peak humor.
- Best Actor in Comedy: Seth Rogen in “The Studio.”
- Best Actress in Comedy: Jean Smart in “Hacks” on HBO Max.
- Best Supporting Actor in Comedy: Ike Barinholtz in “The Studio.”
- Best Supporting Actress in Comedy: Janelle James in “Abbott Elementary” on ABC.
- Best Limited Series: “Adolescence” on Netflix. This family drama won four awards. Binge all six episodes; start with “The Incident.”
- Best Actor in Limited: Stephen Graham in “Adolescence.”
- Best Actress in Limited: Sarah Snook in “All Her Fault” on Peacock.
- Best Supporting Actor in Limited: Owen Cooper in “Adolescence.”
- Best Supporting Actress in Limited: Erin Doherty in “Adolescence.”
- Best Movie Made for TV: “Mountainhead” on HBO Max.
- Best Animated Series: “South Park” on Comedy Central.
- Best Foreign Language Series: “Squid Game” on Netflix.
- Best Talk Show: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC.
- Best Comedy Special: “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” on NBC.
- Best Variety Series: “Conan O’Brien Must Go” on HBO Max.
Netflix led with 31 nominations across TV. For new viewers, “Adolescence” eligibility stems from its 2025 release. Stream winners on their platforms; most offer free trials.
V. Memorable Moments and Highlights: Speeches, Controversies, and Viral Clips
Chelsea Handler’s monologue roasted industry strikes and AI in scripts. She called Timothée Chalamet a “Labubu toy.” Watch the full clip on YouTube.
Timothée Chalamet’s speech shouted out Kylie Jenner: “I love you.” It went viral, with 5 million views in hours.
Kathy Bates licked a ping-pong paddle in tribute to Chalamet’s “Marty Supreme” role. Fans loved the cheeky moment.
Jessie Buckley made Paul Mescal cry with praise: “I could drink you like water.”
Snubs included “Sinners” underperforming despite noms. No win for Leonardo DiCaprio sparked debates.
Red carpet standouts: Jessica Biel in Versace, Teyana Taylor in bold prints. Find dupes on sites like ASOS for under $100.
VI. Impact on Awards Season: Predictions for Oscars and Golden Globes
Critics’ Choice wins boost Oscar odds. Best Picture overlap hit 85% last decade. “One Battle After Another” now leads for Oscars on March 8, 2026.
Chalamet and Buckley tighten actor races. Elordi’s supporting win positions him strong.
Critics vs. Academy: Critics favor bold films; Academy leans mainstream. Watch for discrepancies in technical categories.
Golden Globes on January 11, 2026, may echo these. Bet on “Frankenstein” for tech awards.
VII. FAQs: Answering Common Search Queries
Who won Best Picture? “One Battle After Another” – a political drama on Warner Bros., stream on Max.
How to watch replay? Peacock or E! app, $5.99/month.
Biggest surprises? Amy Madigan’s win; “Sinners” only four despite 17 noms.
| Category | Winner | Nominees Highlights | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | One Battle After Another | Beat Sinners, Frankenstein | Oscar predictor |
| Best Actor | Timothée Chalamet | Over DiCaprio | Career boost |
| Best Actress | Jessie Buckley | Edged Infiniti | Emotional role |
For history, check the Critics’ Choice Awards on Wikipedia.
VIII. Conclusion: Key Takeaways and What to Watch Next
“One Battle After Another,” “Frankenstein,” and “Sinners” dominated films. “The Pitt,” “The Studio,” and “Adolescence” ruled TV. Releases: “One Battle After Another” in theaters now; “Adolescence” on Netflix.
Subscribe for Oscar updates. Next, read our streaming guide for winners. Awards season heats up – stay tuned.
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