The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards, held on January 4, 2026, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, kicked off awards season in high style. Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the ceremony delivered sharp humor, viral moments, and major wins that set the tone for the months ahead.
One of the night’s biggest stories was Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners. The film entered the ceremony with a leading 17 nominations and left with four major awards, tying Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein for the most film wins of the night.
Sinners earned Best Original Screenplay for Coogler, Best Young Actor/Actress for breakout star Miles Caton, Best Score for Ludwig Göransson, and Best Casting and Ensemble. The latter marked a historic moment, as casting director Francine Maisler brought the full cast onstage, including Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, and Omar Benson Miller, for an emotional acceptance.
Although Sinners missed out on Best Picture, the film’s strong performance reinforced its reputation as a critical favorite and a serious Oscars contender. Many critics also praised Jordan’s dual role as the Smokestack Twins, calling it one of the year’s most impressive performances.
The night’s most talked-about moment came during the Best Actor announcement. Timothée Chalamet won for his role as table-tennis prodigy Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme, beating nominees including Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan. In his speech, Chalamet praised his fellow actors and gave Jordan a shout-out that quickly went viral.
Chalamet also thanked his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, adding a personal touch to the win. The award marked his first Critics Choice acting victory and strengthened his awards-season momentum.
Other winners included Jessie Buckley, who took Best Actress for Hamnet, while Frankenstein dominated several technical categories.
Overall, the 2026 Critics Choice Awards celebrated a standout year in film, with Sinners and Marty Supreme emerging as major conversation drivers as awards season continues.
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