Awards season delivered another major moment tonight as the Critics Choice Awards crowned its champions at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, despite trailing Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” in total nominations.
More than 500 broadcast critics and journalists cast their votes, recognizing excellence across both film and television categories.
Chelsea Handler hosted the ceremony, which aired live on E! and USA Network.
“One Battle After Another” Dominates Major Categories
Anderson’s drama about leftist radicals and white nationalists proved unstoppable in the top categories. The film secured Best Picture, beating out the heavily-nominated “Sinners” for the evening’s most prestigious honor.
Anderson himself took home Best Director, further cementing the film’s status as an awards season front-runner. His dual victory extended to the screenplay category as well, where he won Best Adapted Screenplay.
The sweep represented a significant validation for Anderson’s bold artistic vision tackling America’s political extremes.
Acting Honors Spread Across Multiple Films
Timothée Chalamet claimed Best Actor for his performance in “Marty Supreme,” continuing his evolution as one of Hollywood’s most versatile young talents.
Jessie Buckley earned Best Actress recognition for “Hamnet,” delivering what critics called a transformative portrayal in the Shakespeare-adjacent drama.
Supporting Performances Shine
Jacob Elordi broke through with Best Supporting Actor for “Frankenstein,” marking another career milestone for the rising star who’s rapidly moved beyond his “Euphoria” origins.
Amy Madigan took home Best Supporting Actress for “Weapons,” proving that veteran performers still command critical respect when given compelling material.
“Sinners” Claims Key Victories Despite Best Picture Loss
Ryan Coogler’s supernatural exploration led all films with 17 nominations heading into the ceremony. While it didn’t capture Best Picture, “Sinners” secured several important wins.
Coogler himself won Best Original Screenplay, recognizing his ambitious fusion of genre filmmaking with serious historical and racial themes.
Miles Caton earned Best Young Actor or Actress for his work in the film, suggesting breakthrough potential for the emerging talent. The film also secured Best Casting and Ensemble through casting director Francine Maisler.
These victories demonstrated that critics recognized “Sinners” as a significant artistic achievement, even if it wasn’t the evening’s top winner.
Technical Excellence Recognized Across Multiple Films
“Frankenstein” captured Best Production Design, highlighting the visual ambition required to bring Mary Shelley’s classic to contemporary screens.
Adolpho Veloso won Best Cinematography for “Train Dreams,” proving that smaller films can compete with blockbusters when craft reaches exceptional levels.
Television Winners Reflect Netflix’s Continued Dominance
On the television side, Netflix continued its awards season momentum. “Adolescence,” the limited series about a young boy suspected of murder, led all TV nominees with six nominations.
“Nobody Wants This” followed with five nominations, demonstrating the streaming giant’s ability to generate critical buzz across multiple genres and formats.
What These Results Mean for Oscar Season
The Critics Choice Awards often serve as a significant predictor for Academy Award outcomes. “One Battle After Another” now enters the final stretch of awards season with considerable momentum.
Anderson’s triple win—Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay—creates a compelling narrative heading toward the Oscars. However, “Sinners” remains competitive, particularly in technical categories and Original Screenplay.
The acting races appear wide open, with winners spanning multiple films rather than concentrating in one or two projects.
Complete Film Winners List
- Best Picture: “One Battle After Another”
- Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
- Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
- Best Young Actor or Actress: Miles Caton, “Sinners”
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
- Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
- Best Casting and Ensemble: Francine Maisler, “Sinners”
- Best Cinematography: Adolpho Veloso, “Train Dreams”
- Best Production Design: “Frankenstein”
With multiple films claiming victories across different categories, this year’s awards season promises to remain competitive and unpredictable through Oscar night.