Critics’ Choice Awards 2026: Triumphs, Shocks and Snubs Unpacked
The Critics’ Choice Awards 2026 delivered both expected victories and surprising disappointments. Discover which stars and productions soared, and which left empty-handed, in our in-depth breakdown of the night’s most talked-about moments.
The curtain has fallen on the 31st annual Critics’ Choice Awards, with the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica once again playing host. Chelsea Handler returned to compère for a fourth consecutive year, overseeing a night that saw some clear frontrunners confirmed and a handful of upsets that left audiences murmuring.
Celebrated Victories: Who Walked Away Smiling?
Timothée Chalamet’s win for Best Actor in Marty Supreme was, if anything, a foregone conclusion. His portrayal of Marty Reisman, the American table tennis maverick, in Josh Safdie’s offbeat sports comedy, has been the talk of the season. Chalamet, already riding a wave of Oscar speculation and a Golden Globe nod, finally clinched his first Critics’ Choice trophy. The moment his name was called, the room erupted, and he made a point of publicly acknowledging Kylie Jenner, putting to rest any lingering speculation about their relationship. In his words:
“Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you.”
Chalamet’s previous nominations for Call Me by Your Name, Beautiful Boy, and A Complete Unknown had all ended in disappointment, making this win all the sweeter.
Best Picture went to One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s blackly comic action thriller. The film, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, and Benicio del Toro, follows an ex-revolutionary drawn back into the fray. With nine Golden Globe nominations already under its belt, the film’s momentum shows no sign of slowing.
Breakthroughs and Firsts
Jacob Elordi, divisive as ever, took home Best Supporting Actor for his turn as the Creature in Frankenstein. Up against heavyweights like del Toro and Penn, Elordi’s win marked his first major acting accolade. He’s also in the running for two Golden Globes this year, so this could be the start of a new chapter for him.
Miles Caton, meanwhile, was recognised as Best Young Actor/Actress for his role as Samuel “Sammie” Moore in Sinners. At 20, Caton just made the cut for the category, and his performance saw off competition from the likes of Everett Blunck and Nina Ye.
Rhea Seehorn finally broke her Critics’ Choice duck, winning Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Carol Sturka in the post-apocalyptic Pluribus. After several previous nominations, Seehorn’s win was met with delight from fans, one of whom wrote:
“So happy Rhea’s getting the recognition she’s long deserved,”
and another added,
“For me its the best moment of the night!!! She is the best!!!”
Disappointments and Near Misses
Not every favourite had their night. Sinners, lauded for its visual flair, missed out on Best Cinematography, with the award instead going to Train Dreams. The decision left some viewers baffled, though there was grudging respect for the eventual winner.
Pluribus, despite its 98% Rotten Tomatoes rating and Seehorn’s individual success, was pipped to Best Drama Series by The Pitt. The show’s fans were vocal in their disappointment, with one remarking:
“Well Pluribus should have won for one of the most gorgeously shot and thought-provoking plots of any show of the 21st century, but at least Rhea won so at least we finally got that.”
Perhaps the most surprising shutout was Wicked: For Good. Despite seven nominations, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress, the much-loved musical adaptation failed to secure a single win. The omission of Cynthia Erivo from the Best Actress category was particularly galling for many.
Snubs and Unlucky Contenders
Ryan Coogler, who poured his energy into directing Sinners, was overlooked for Best Director, with the honour going to Anderson for One Battle After Another. While Coogler’s film did pick up several other awards, the snub was keenly felt.
Adam Scott, nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Severance, was another high-profile casualty. The award went to Noah Wyle for The Pitt, prompting a flurry of online reactions:
“the critics choice awards having a secret vendetta towards adam scott is crazy bc wtf he do to yall???”
and
“All I know is that Adam Scott going home empty handed for Severance all award season doesn’t sit right with me.”
As the dust settles, the night’s winners and losers will no doubt be debated for weeks to come.