The Critics Choice Awards 2026 Winners have given a strong early signal about which films and shows are leading the race this year. The 31st edition of the awards took place on Sunday night and brought together some of the most talked-about names in film and television. The ceremony celebrated big studio projects, powerful performances, creative storytelling, animation, and popular TV shows, while also introducing fresh award categories that reflect how the industry is changing.

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This year’s event showed a healthy mix of serious cinema and crowd-pleasing entertainment, proving that both critics and audiences are embracing variety more than ever.

One Battle After Another Steals the Film Spotlight

The biggest winner of the night was One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film won Best Picture, while Anderson himself took home Best Director, making it the clear standout among movies this year. These wins placed the film firmly at the front of the awards conversation.

In acting categories, Timothée Chalamet earned Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme, a performance praised for its depth and charm. Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet, delivering one of the most emotional performances of the year. Supporting acting honours went to Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein and Amy Madigan for Weapons, showing that both fresh faces and seasoned actors had their moment on stage.

Sinners Shines Across Creative and Technical Awards

Another major highlight among the Critics Choice Awards 2026 Winners was Sinners. The film walked away with four awards, making it one of the most successful titles of the night. It won the newly added Best Casting and Ensemble award, recognising the work of casting director Francine Maisler.

Director Ryan Coogler received Best Original Screenplay, while composer Ludwig Göransson won Best Score, underlining the film’s strong storytelling and music. Young performer Miles Caton also stood out, winning Best Young Actor or Actress, which brought extra applause and attention to the film.

In other behind-the-scenes categories, F1 won Best Editing and Best Sound, while Avatar: Fire and Ash impressed voters with its scale and visuals, taking Best Visual Effects.

Television Winners Bring Drama and Comedy Together

Television had its own big moments at the ceremony. The limited series Adolescence won Best Limited Series, along with acting awards for Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Owen Cooper, marking it as one of the strongest small-screen stories of the year.

In drama, The Pitt won Best Drama Series, while Rhea Seehorn earned Best Actress in a Drama Series for Pluribus. Tramell Tillman took Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Severance, continuing the show’s strong awards run.

Comedy fans had plenty to celebrate as well. The Studio won Best Comedy Series, with Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz winning acting awards. Jean Smart added another trophy to her collection with Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks. Late-night favourite Jimmy Kimmel Live! won Best Talk Show.

Animation, Global Stories, and Comedy Films Make Their Mark

Animation and international titles played an important role among the Critics Choice Awards 2026 Winners. KPop Demon Hunters continued its success by winning Best Animated Feature and Best Song for Golden. On the global stage, The Secret Agent won Best Foreign Language Film, while Squid Game took *Best Foreign Language Series.

Rounding out the night, The Naked Gun won Best Comedy Film, proving that humour still has a strong place alongside serious storytelling.

Overall, the Critics Choice Awards 2026 offered a clear picture of the year’s creative highs, celebrating stories that entertained, moved, and surprised audiences across screens big and small.