Four days into the new year, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” kicked off the awards season on Sunday with wins for Best Picture and Director at the 31st Critics Choice Awards. Anderson also took the prize for Best Adapted Screenplay.
“I’d say this is the best time I ever had making a movie,” Anderson said during his Best Picture speech, as he paid tribute to his longtime assistant director Adam Somner, who died in 2024. “It’s really is about the people that you work with. That’s all that there is at the end of the day.”
While “One Battle After Another” scored three awards and positioned itself solidly as the 2025 awards-season favorite, two films racked up more wins during the evening.
Nominations leader “Sinners” won four: original screenplay, score, casting, and best young actor/actress (Miles Caton). “Frankenstein” also won four, in the categories of costumes, makeup/hairstyling, production design and a surprise win for Jacob Elordi as Best Supporting Actor.
“Hamnet” star Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for her role as a grieving mother in Chloé Zhao’s Elizabethan drama and Timothée Chalamet scored Best Actor for his performance as a table tennis champ in “Marty Supreme.” The awards represented the sole wins for their respective films.
A pair of horror icons dominated the supporting acting categories: Elordi beat a murderers row of competition (including Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn of “One Battle After Another”) to win for his performance as the Creature in “Frankenstein,” and Amy Madigan triumphed for her pop-art villainess Aunt Gladys, an ossified witch, in “Weapons.”
For “Sinners,” casting director Francine Maisler accepted the award on behalf of her department – a precursor to the casting category’s debut at this year’s Oscars. Delroy Lindo spoke for the ensemble cast, which was included in the casting award.
Chelsea Handler returned to host the ceremony for the fourth consecutive year. The comedian’s opening monologue poked fun at stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler and Amanda Seyfried, and concluded with a poignant tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner, who were killed in December.
Later in the telecast, Handler donned a mens suit. “This little outfit is my nod to Diane Keaton,” she said of the late actress who often adopted menswear as her personal style. “Another person I think we should be remembering tonight, somebody who made a big contribution to all of us and all the people in the room here.”
In a competitive field, Brazil’s “The Secret Agent” won the award for Best Foreign Language Film. Though the category was not televised, the film’s director Kleber Mendonça Filho and lead actor Wagner Moura appeared on stage at the night’s end to present the Best Picture award. “In Brazil we call it Best Foreign Film,” Moura quipped.
“K-Pop Demon Hunters” snagged the awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, while “F1” won for sound and film editing.
“Adolescence” led all TV programs with the four award wins, including for limited series and acting wins for Emmy victors Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty. Sarah Snook took the limited-series actress prize for “All Her Fault.”
In the TV comedy categories, “The Studio” repeated its Emmy win for best series, while acting winners included recent award magnets Jean Smart (“Hacks”) and Seth Rogen (“The Studio”), along with Ike Barinholtz (“The Studio”) and Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”) in the supporting categories.
In the drama lineup, Noah Wyle won for “The Pitt,” which also took the award for best series. Fellow Emmy winners Tramell Tillman (“Severance”) and Katherine LaNasa (“The Pitt”) took home supporting awards, while Rhea Seehorn scored the best actress prize for the dystopian saga “Pluribus,” which concluded its first season on Apple TV+ last month.
Jimmy Kimmel received a standing ovation upon accepting the award for Best Talk Show. Comedy Central’s “South Park,” which recently wrapped it’s timely and tumultuous 28th season, won the prize for Best Animated Series. “Squid Game” took the award for Best Foreign Language Series.
At last year’s Critics Choice Awards, which were delayed until February because of the Los Angeles wildfires, Sean Baker’s “Anora” triumphed with Best Picture. The win was unexpected at the time (the film hadn’t won a single award before top prize) but became the first step toward a big victory one month later at the Oscars.
Roughly 75% of Critics Choice nominees typically go on to receive Academy Award nominations, though the group’s predictive power is limited by its practice of fielding six or more nominees in most categories.
In the first 30 years of the Critics Choice Awards’ existence, its Best Picture winner went on to win the top Academy Award 18 times, including the last three years in a row and 10 times in the 16 years since the Oscars joined the CCA in having 10 Best Picture nominees.
The Critics Choice Association is the product of a 2019 merger between two organizations, the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association. With more than 570 members, is the largest association of film and television critics and journalists in North America.
Here is the full list of nominees. Winners are indicated by *WINNER.
Film Categories
BEST PICTURE
“Bugonia”
“Frankenstein”
“Hamnet”
“Jay Kelly”
“Marty Supreme”
“One Battle After Another” *WINNER
“Sentimental Value”
“Sinners”
“Train Dreams”
“Wicked: For Good”
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” *WINNER
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”
Guillermo del Toro, “Frankenstein”
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”
Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”
Chloe Zhao, “Hamnet”
BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme” *WINNER
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
Joel Edgerton, “Train Dreams”
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”
BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” *WINNER
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another”
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
Amanda Seyfried, “The Testament of Ann Lee”
Emma Stone, “Bugonia”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Benicio del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein” *WINNER
Paul Mescal, “Hamnet”
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
Adam Sandler, “Jay Kelly”
Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ariana Grande, “Wicked: For Good”
Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value”
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass, “Sentimental Value”
Amy Madigan, “Weapons” *WINNER
Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
Everett Blunck, “The Plague” (Independent Film Company)
Miles Caton, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.) *WINNER
Cary Christopher, “Weapons” (Warner Bros.)
Shannon Mahina Gorman, “Rental Family” (Searchlight Pictures)
Jacobi Jupe, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Nina Ye, “Left-Handed Girl” (Netflix)
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) *WINNER
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Guillermo del Toro, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer, “Jay Kelly” (Netflix)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.) *WINNER
Zach Cregger, “Weapons” (Warner Bros.)
Eva Victor, “Sorry, Baby” (A24)
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) *WINNER
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, Jahye Lee, “No Other Choice” (Neon)
Guillermo del Toro, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Will Tracy, “Bugonia” (Focus Features)
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE
Nina Gold, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold, “Jay Kelly” (Netflix)
Jennifer Venditti, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Cassandra Kulukundis, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Francine Maisler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.) *WINNER
Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Claudio Miranda, “F1” (Apple Original Films)
Dan Laustsen, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Łukasz Żal, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Michael Bauman, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Adolpho Veloso, “Train Dreams” (Netflix) *WINNER
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios)
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau, “Frankenstein” (Netflix) *WINNER
Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
BEST EDITING
Kirk Baxter, “A House of Dynamite” (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione, “F1” (Apple Original Films) *WINNER
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Andy Jurgensen, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Viridiana Lieberman, “The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Michael P. Shawver, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Kate Hawley, “Frankenstein” (Netflix) *WINNER
Malgosia Turzanska, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Lindsay Pugh, “Hedda” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
Ruth E. Carter, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Paul Tazewell, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Flora Moody, John Nolan, “28 Years Later” (Sony Pictures)
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, “Frankenstein” (Netflix) *WINNER
Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal, “The Smashing Machine” (A24)
Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins, “Weapons” (Warner Bros.)
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios) *WINNER
Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson, “F1” (Apple Original Films)
Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall, “Mission: Impossible, The Final Reckoning” (Paramount Pictures)
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Stéphane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams, “Superman” (Warner Bros.)
BEST STUNT DESIGN
Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda, “Ballerina” (Lionsgate)
Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby, “F1” (Apple Original Films)
Wade Eastwood, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (Paramount Pictures) WINNER
Brian Machleit, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Andy Gill, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Giedrius Nagys, “Warfare” (A24)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Arco” (Neon)
“Elio” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
“In Your Dreams” (Netflix)
“KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix) *WINNER
“Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” (GKIDS)
“Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
BEST COMEDY
“The Ballad of Wallis Island” (Focus Features)
“Eternity” (A24)
“Friendship” (A24)
“The Naked Gun” (Paramount) *WINNER
“The Phoenician Scheme” (Focus Features)
“Splitsville” (Neon)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“It Was Just an Accident” (Neon)
“Left-Handed Girl” (Netflix)
“No Other Choice” (Neon)
“The Secret Agent” (Neon) *WINNER
“Sirāt” (Neon)
“Belén” (Amazon MGM Studios)
BEST SONG
“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin, “F1” (Apple Original Films)
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy, “KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix) *WINNERS
“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg, “The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner, “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
BEST SCORE
Hans Zimmer, “F1” (Apple Original Films)
Alexandre Desplat, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Max Richter, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Daniel Lopatin, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Jonny Greenwood, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Ludwig Göransson, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.) *WINNER
BEST SOUND
Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John, “F1” (Apple Original Films) *WINNER
Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Laia Casanovas, “Sirāt” (Neon)
Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner, “Warfare” (A24)
Television Categories
BEST DRAMA SERIES
“Alien: Earth” (FX)
“Andor” (Disney+)
“The Diplomat” (Netflix)
“Paradise” (Hulu)
“The Pitt” (HBO Max) *WINNER
“Pluribus” (Apple TV)
“Severance” (Apple TV)
“Task” (HBO Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise” (Hulu)
Diego Luna, “Andor” (Disney+)
Mark Ruffalo, “Task” (HBO Max)
Adam Scott, “Severance” (Apple TV)
Billy Bob Thornton, “Landman” (Paramount+)
Noah Wyle, “The Pitt” (HBO Max) *WINNER
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kathy Bates, “Matlock” (CBS)
Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age” (HBO Max)
Britt Lower, “Severance” (Apple TV)
Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us” (HBO Max)
Keri Russell, “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn, “Pluribus” (Apple TV) *WINNER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patrick Ball, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
Ato Essandoh, “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
Wood Harris, “Forever” (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey, “Task” (HBO Max)
Tramell Tillman, “Severance” (Apple TV) *WINNER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicole Beharie, “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
Denée Benton, “The Gilded Age” (HBO Max)
Allison Janney, “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
Katherine LaNasa, “The Pitt” (HBO Max) *WINNER
Greta Lee, “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
Skye P. Marshall, “Matlock” (CBS)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“Elsbeth” (CBS)
“Ghosts” (CBS)
“Hacks” (HBO Max)
“Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
“The Righteous Gemstones” (HBO Max)
“The Studio” (Apple TV) *WINNER
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
Ted Danson, “A Man on the Inside” (Netflix)
David Alan Grier, “St. Denis Medical” (NBC)
Danny McBride, “The Righteous Gemstones” (HBO Max)
Seth Rogen, “The Studio” (Apple TV) *WINNER
Alexander Skarsgård, “Murderbot” (Apple TV)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
Natasha Lyonne, “Poker Face” (Peacock)
Rose McIver, “Ghosts” (CBS)
Edi Patterson, “The Righteous Gemstones” (HBO Max)
Carrie Preston, “Elsbeth” (CBS)
Jean Smart, “Hacks” (HBO Max) *WINNER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ike Barinholtz, “The Studio” (Apple TV) *WINNER
Paul W. Downs, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Asher Grodman, “Ghosts” (CBS)
Oscar Nuñez, “The Paper” (Peacock)
Chris Perfetti, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Timothy Simons, “Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Danielle Brooks, “Peacemaker” (HBO Max)
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) *WINNER
Justine Lupe, “Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
Ego Nwodim, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Rebecca Wisocky, “Ghosts” (CBS)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
“Adolescence” (Netflix) *WINNER
“All Her Fault” (Peacock)
“Chief of War” (Apple TV)
“Death by Lightning” (Netflix)
“Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” (Peacock)
“Dope Thief” (Apple TV)
“Dying for Sex” (FX on Hulu)
“The Girlfriend” (Prime Video)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” (Peacock) *WINNER
“Deep Cover” (Prime Video)
“The Gorge” (Apple TV)
“Mountainhead” (HBO Max)
“Nonnas” (Netflix)
“Summer of ’69” (Hulu)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Chernus, “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” (Peacock)
Stephen Graham, “Adolescence” (Netflix) *WINNER
Brian Tyree Henry, “Dope Thief” (Apple TV)
Charlie Hunnam, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (Netflix)
Matthew Rhys, “The Beast in Me” (Netflix)
Michael Shannon, “Death by Lightning” (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jessica Biel, “The Better Sister” (Prime Video)
Meghann Fahy, “Sirens” (Netflix)
Sarah Snook, “All Her Fault” (Peacock) *WINNER
Michelle Williams, “Dying for Sex” (FX on Hulu)
Robin Wright, “The Girlfriend” (Prime Video)
Renée Zellweger, “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” (Peacock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Owen Cooper, “Adolescence” (Netflix) *WINNER
Wagner Moura, “Dope Thief” (Apple TV)
Nick Offerman, “Death by Lightning” (Netflix)
Michael Peña, “All Her Fault” (Peacock)
Ashley Walters, “Adolescence” (Netflix)
Ramy Youssef, “Mountainhead” (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Erin Doherty, “Adolescence” (Netflix) *WINNER
Betty Gilpin, “Death by Lightning” (Netflix)
Marin Ireland, “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” (Peacock)
Sophia Lillis, “All Her Fault” (Peacock)
Julianne Moore, “Sirens” (Netflix)
Christine Tremarco, “Adolescence” (Netflix)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
“Acapulco” (Apple TV)
“Last Samurai Standing” (Netflix)
“Mussolini: Son of the Century” (MUBI)
“Red Alert” (Paramount+)
“Squid Game” (Netflix) *WINNER
“When No One Sees Us” (HBO Max)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox)
“Harley Quinn” (HBO Max)
“Long Story Short” (Netflix)
“Marvel Zombies” (Disney+)
“South Park” (Comedy Central) *WINNER
“Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” (Disney+)
BEST TALK SHOW
“The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
“Hot Ones” (YouTube)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC) *WINNER
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC)
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
“Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” (Bravo)
BEST VARIETY SERIES
“Conan O’Brien Must Go” (HBO Max)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO Max) *WINNER
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
“Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life” (HBO Max)
“Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian” (HBO Max)
“Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things” (Netflix)
“Marc Maron: Panicked” (HBO Max)
“Sarah Silverman: PostMortem” (Netflix)
“SNL50: The Anniversary Special” (NBC) *WINNER