Critics’ Choice Awards 2026: Top Triumphs and Shocks
The Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 delivered big wins and surprising snubs. Discover which stars and films took home trophies—and which left empty-handed—at this year’s ceremony in Santa Monica.
The 31st Critics’ Choice Awards wrapped up at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, with Chelsea Handler returning as host for the fourth time. The night saw some clear standouts, but not everyone left with a trophy. Here’s a rundown of the five most notable wins and the five biggest letdowns from this year’s event.
Major Victories: Who Cleaned Up?
Timothée Chalamet’s win for Best Actor in Marty Supreme was hardly a shock to anyone. Playing table tennis legend Marty Reisman in Josh Safdie’s sports-comedy, Chalamet’s performance has been the talk of the season. After plenty of Oscar buzz and a Golden Globe nod, he finally snagged his first Critics’ Choice award. He also put to rest any gossip about his relationship with Kylie Jenner, bringing her along and thanking her in his speech:
“Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you.”
This marks his first win after previous nominations for Call Me by Your Name, Beautiful Boy, and A Complete Unknown.
One Battle After Another took out Best Picture, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s black comedy/action thriller earning heaps of praise. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, and Benicio del Toro, follows an ex-revolutionary dragged back into his old life. With nine Golden Globe nominations already, it’s tipped to make a splash at the Oscars too.
Breakthroughs and Firsts
Jacob Elordi picked up his first major acting award, winning Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Creature in Frankenstein. Up against some big names, Elordi’s win was well received. He’s also in the running for two Golden Globes this year.
Miles Caton scored Best Young Actor/Actress for his role as Samuel “Sammie” Moore in Sinners. At 20, he just made the cut for the category, beating out a strong field of young talent. Rhea Seehorn finally got her due, winning Best Actress in a Drama Series for Pluribus after several previous nominations. Fans were stoked, with one saying,
“So happy Rhea’s getting the recognition she’s long deserved.”
Surprising Losses and Snubs
Not every favourite had a good night. Sinners missed out on Best Cinematography, despite its striking visuals. Many punters were disappointed, but Train Dreams was a worthy winner in the end.
Pluribus was a strong contender for Best Drama Series, boasting a 98% approval rating, but the award went to The Pitt instead. Fans reckoned it deserved more, though Seehorn’s individual win softened the blow.
Wicked: For Good was nominated in seven categories, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress, but didn’t win a single one. The snub was especially glaring given Cynthia Erivo’s much-praised performance, which didn’t even get a Best Actress nomination.
Directorial Disappointments and Fan Favourites Miss Out
Ryan Coogler, who directed Sinners, missed out on Best Director, with the award going to Anderson for One Battle After Another. Still, Coogler’s film did pick up several other awards, tying with Frankenstein and Adolescence for most wins on the night.
Adam Scott, nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Severance, lost out to Noah Wyle from The Pitt. Fans took to social media to vent their frustration, with one posting,
“All I know is that Adam Scott going home empty handed for Severance all award season doesn’t sit right with me.”
That’s a wrap for this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards. Whether your favourites won or not, there’s no denying the impact these films and performances have had on the industry.