Critics have named the thriller Battle by Battle the best film of the year
Warner Bros. Dominates Critics Choice Awards, While Timothée Chalamet Outshines Leonardo DiCaprio in Acting Categories
The 31st Critics Choice Awards, held on January 4, 2026, served as a comprehensive recap of the year’s cinematic achievements. The standout winner of the night was the thriller Battle by Battle, which critics honored as the Best Film of the Year.
Battle by Battle Achieves Major Success
Warner Bros.’s acclaimed film went beyond just one accolade. Its director, Paul Thomas Anderson, earned a remarkable double win, taking home awards for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. This solidified the film’s status as a defining highlight for the professional film community this year.
Highlights in Acting Awards
In the Best Actor category, Timothée Chalamet emerged victorious for his role in the A24 sports drama Marty the Magnificent, surpassing notable contenders including Leonardo DiCaprio. The Best Actress award was claimed by Jessie Buckley for her leading performance in the Focus Features historical melodrama Hamnet.
Best Supporting Actor and Actress honors were awarded to Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein and Amy Madigan for Tools, respectively.
Additional Film Award Winners
Several major studios and streaming services were also recognized during the ceremony. Netflix earned accolades for the animated feature Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: To the Hashira Training, securing wins for both Best Animated Feature and Best Song. Meanwhile, Apple received awards for its drama Formula 1, particularly recognized for outstanding sound and editing.
The film The Secret Agent was celebrated as the Best Foreign Language Film, while the title of Best Comedy was awarded to The Naked Gun. The blockbuster Sinners stood out by winning four awards, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, as well as honors for casting and ensemble performance.
Visual and technical achievements were also acknowledged: Best Visual Effects went to James Cameron’s fantasy epic Avatar 3: Fire and Ash. Additionally, the production designer of the drama Train Dreams and the stunt coordinator of the action-packed Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two received special recognition.
Television Winners at the Critics Choice Awards
In television categories, HBO Max’s medical drama Pitt Hospital was honored as the Best Drama Series, with its lead actor Noah Wyle winning Best Actor. The top comedy series award went to Apple TV’s Studio, with Seth Rogen receiving acting accolades.
Best Actress in a Series honors were given to Ree Sehorn for her role in the drama From Many and to Jean Smart for the comedy Hacks.
Netflix’s miniseries Transition Age was a standout winner in the television segment, securing four awards including Best Limited Series and acting awards for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty.
Overall Studio and Platform Achievements
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