The Critics Choice Awards 2026 delivered a night that felt purposeful rather than performative. Hosted by Chelsea Handler at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, the ceremony’s winners gave us something rare at this stage of the season: a clear sense of what work is actually moving culture and conversation as Oscar voting approaches.
Film Winners That Mattered
At the top of the film slate, One Battle After Another emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking Best Picture along with Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson. It was a decisive showing that moved the film from respected contender to full fledged frontrunner.
Sinners and Frankenstein also had strong nights. Frankenstein picked up four awards including Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Elordi as well as Costume Design and Production Design, reinforcing its craft forward appeal. Sinners matched that haul with wins for Best Original Screenplay, Best Score, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Young Actor or Actress for Miles Caton, marking it as a critic’s favorite with genuine range.
The acting races delivered clarity. Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for Marty Supreme, a performance that has been steadily building momentum all season. Jessie Buckley took Best Actress for Hamnet, a win that confirmed her as a serious threat going forward. Amy Madigan’s victory for Best Supporting Actress in Weapons stood out as one of the night’s most warmly received moments and a reminder that veteran performances still resonate when the work lands.
Television Highlights
On the television side, Adolescence dominated the limited series categories, while The Pitt and The Studio anchored the drama and comedy wins. The throughline across the TV winners mirrored the film side: ambition paired with accessibility, and execution that critics clearly responded to.
What This Means Now
The Critics Choice Awards did not try to rewrite the awards season narrative. What they did was sharpen it. Films like One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Frankenstein, along with performances from Chalamet and Buckley, now have tangible momentum behind them. These are no longer speculative contenders. They are defining the conversation.
