Timothée Chalamet Wins Best Actor at 2026 Critics Choice Awards

The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony, held on January 4, 2026, delivered a night of glamour, surprises, and heartfelt tributes. Hosted once again by the sharp-witted Chelsea Handler at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, the event honoured the finest achievements in film and television from the previous year.

Major Film Triumphs and Surprises

The evening's biggest winner was Paul Thomas Anderson's action thriller, 'One Battle After Another', which secured the top prize of Best Picture. Anderson also earned the Best Director award, edging out strong competition.

Despite entering the night with a commanding 17 nominations, Ryan Coogler's vampire epic 'Sinners' ultimately won four awards. The film's victories included the prestigious Best Original Screenplay for Coogler and Best Score for composer Ludwig Göransson.

Acting Awards: Celebrated Performances

In a highlight for many, Timothée Chalamet was named Best Actor for his role in 'Marty Supreme'. During his acceptance speech, he notably thanked his partner, Kylie Jenner.

The Best Actress honour went to Jessie Buckley for her performance in 'Hamnet'. Meanwhile, Jacob Elordi won Best Supporting Actor for 'Frankenstein', and Amy Madigan took home Best Supporting Actress for 'Weapons'.

Television Dominance and New Award Categories

Netflix proved to be the most successful network of the night, largely due to the limited series 'Adolescence'. The show swept four awards, including Best Limited Series and acting prizes for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty.

Other major TV winners included HBO Max's 'The Pitt' for Best Drama Series and Noah Wyle for Best Actor in a Drama. Apple TV's 'The Studio' won Best Comedy Series.

The 2026 ceremony introduced new categories. 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' won the inaugural Best Stunt Design award, while 'F1: The Movie' claimed victory in the new Best Sound category.