The 31st Critics Choice Awards 2026 celebrated excellence across cinema and television, with One Battle After Another emerging as the most prominent film of the night. The Paul Thomas Anderson-directed project secured the prestigious Best Picture award, along with Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay honours.
Acting categories also witnessed strong competition, with Timothée Chalamet winning Best Actor for Marty Supreme. In television, Adolescence dominated the limited series categories, while The Pitt and The Studio recorded major wins. The ceremony reflected strong critical appreciation for diverse storytelling across formats.
Key Takeaways: Critics Choice Awards 2026
- One Battle After Another won Best Picture and multiple top film awards
- Timothée Chalamet received Best Actor for Marty Supreme
- Frankenstein and Sinners secured several technical and performance honours
- Adolescence led the television categories, especially limited series awards
- The Pitt and The Studio emerged as major TV winners
Critics Choice Awards 2026: Full Coverage
One Battle After Another Leads Film Honours
The 31st Critics Choice Awards were held on Sunday night at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. One Battle After Another emerged as the most celebrated film of the night. The film won the Best Picture award, establishing itself as the critics’ top choice of the year. Director Paul Thomas Anderson was recognised with the Best Director trophy, further strengthening the film’s standing. Anderson also won Best Adapted Screenplay for the same project, marking a significant achievement for the filmmaker and the film.
The film’s success reflected broad critical support across major categories, making it one of the most talked-about titles of the ceremony.
Timothée Chalamet Wins Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet continued his strong awards-season run by winning Best Actor for his performance in Marty Supreme. The win placed him ahead of strong competition and stood out as one of the evening’s key acting moments.
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In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley won for her role in Hamnet, adding another significant acting accolade to the night’s honours.
Supporting and Young Performer Awards
The supporting acting categories featured notable wins. Jacob Elordi received Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein, while Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons.
The Best Young Actor/Actress award went to Miles Caton for Sinners, highlighting emerging talent recognised by critics this year.
Frankenstein and Sinners Dominate Technical Categories
Frankenstein emerged as a major force in technical categories. The film won awards for:
- Best Production Design
- Best Costume Design (Kate Hawley)
- Best Hair and Makeup
Sinners also recorded a strong showing. Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay for the film, while Ludwig Göransson received the Best Score award. Sinners also won Best Casting and Ensemble, underlining its ensemble-driven storytelling.
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Editing, Sound, and Visual Excellence
In additional technical honours:
- Stephen Mirrione won Best Editing for F1
- F1 also won Best Sound
- Avatar: Fire and Ash secured Best Visual Effects
- Best Stunt Design went to Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
These awards highlighted achievements in cinematic craft across genres.
Comedy, Animation, and International Cinema
The Naked Gun won Best Comedy, while KPop Demon Hunters claimed Best Animated Feature. The same animated film also won Best Song for “Golden”.
In international cinema, The Secret Agent won Best Foreign Language Film, reflecting strong critical appreciation for global storytelling.
Television Awards: Adolescence Takes the Lead
Top Series Winners
In television categories, The Pitt won Best Drama Series, while The Studio claimed Best Comedy Series. Adolescence emerged as the biggest winner in the limited series category, taking home Best Limited Series.
Television Acting Awards
Major acting wins in television included:
- Noah Wyle – Best Actor in a Drama Series (The Pitt)
- Rhea Seehorn – Best Actress in a Drama Series (Pluribus)
- Seth Rogen – Best Actor in a Comedy Series (The Studio)
- Jean Smart – Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Hacks)
Limited Series and Supporting Roles
Adolescence dominated the limited series acting categories:
- Stephen Graham – Best Actor in a Limited Series / TV Movie
- Sarah Snook – Best Actress in a Limited Series / TV Movie (All Her Fault)
- Owen Cooper – Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series / TV Movie
- Erin Doherty – Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series / TV Movie
Supporting television awards also included:
- Tramell Tillman – Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Severance)
- Katherine LaNasa – Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (The Pitt)
- Ike Barinholtz – Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (The Studio)
- Janelle James – Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Abbott Elementary)
Additional Television Honours
- Best Movie Made for Television: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
- Best Foreign Language Series: Squid Game
- Best Animated Series: South Park
- Best Talk Show: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Best Variety Series: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Why Critics Choice Awards 2026 Matter
The Critics Choice Awards 2026 reflected strong critical consensus across film and television, recognising both large-scale productions and performance-driven storytelling. The dominance of One Battle After Another and Adolescence underscored the importance of narrative depth, direction, and ensemble strength. With honours spread across genres and formats, the awards highlighted a year marked by variety, craftsmanship, and critical engagement in global entertainment.
Cinema’s Influence and Inner Direction
Cinema has a powerful influence on society because actors and actresses often become role models, consciously or unconsciously shaping public behaviour. What is portrayed on screen is frequently absorbed, especially by young minds—habits, attitudes, and values tend to be copied from what is repeatedly seen. In contrast, spiritual discourse or Satsang guides individuals towards reflection, discipline, and purpose.
As explained by Tatvdarshi Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj, Satsang provides true Knowledge about who we are, where we come from, and where we ultimately go. While films may entertain or distract, spiritual understanding helps individuals align with their real goals and the true aim of human life, offering clarity rather than confusion.
FAQs on Critics Choice Awards 2026
Q1. Which film won Best Picture at Critics Choice Awards 2026?
One Battle After Another won the Best Picture award.
Q2. Who won Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards 2026?
Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for Marty Supreme.
Q3. Which television series won the most awards?
Adolescence dominated the limited series categories.
Q4. Who won Best Director at Critics Choice Awards 2026?
Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for One Battle After Another.
Q5. Which show won Best Drama Series?
The Pitt won Best Drama Series.
