2026 Critics Choice Awards Winners – Essence

The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards kicked off Saturday night (January 4) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, bringing together film and television’s biggest contenders as awards season continues to take shape. 

Going into the night, Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s supernatural meditation on American history and race, led the film nominations with a commanding 17 nods, including best picture, director, and multiple acting mentions. Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged drama One Battle After Another (featuring an ensemble cast that includes Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, and Chase Infiniti) followed closely behind with 14 nominations, while Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet trailed with 11 apiece. On the television side, Netflix’s Adolescence entered the evening as the most-nominated series.

Hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, the show opened on a high note. The very first award of the night—Best Young Actor/Actress—went to Miles Caton for his breakout role as Sammie in Sinners, immediately setting the tone for the film’s strong showing. That momentum continued when casting director Francine Maisler won Best Casting and Ensemble for Sinners, prompting the full cast to join her onstage. Delroy Lindo delivered an emotional, harrowing acceptance speech as director Ryan Coogler and Proximity Media co-founder Zinzi Coogler looked on from the crowd.

Television honors soon followed. Abbott Elementary star Janelle James picked up Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, while Tramell Tillman won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his effort as Seth Milchick on Apple TV+’s Severance.

As the night progressed the 2026 Critics Choice Awards highlighted emerging talent and reaffirmed several favorites across film and TV.

Take a look at the full list of winners below.

BEST PICTUREOne Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST ACTORTimothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)

BEST ACTRESS  Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)

BEST DIRECTORPaul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY  Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY  Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE  KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

BEST COMEDY  The Naked Gun (Paramount)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMThe Secret Agent (Neon)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNTamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST EDITINGStephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)

BEST COSTUME DESIGNKate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUPMike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTSJoe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)

BEST SOUND  Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHYAdolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix)

BEST SONG  “Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

BEST SCORE  Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST STUNT DESIGN  Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESSMiles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST DRAMA SERIESThe Pitt (HBO Max)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIESRhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIESNoah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIESTramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIESKatherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSAmy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTORJacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST COMEDY SERIESThe Studio (Apple TV)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIESJean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIESSeth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIESIke Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIESJanelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

BEST TALK SHOWJimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)

BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLEFrancine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST LIMITED SERIESAdolescence (Netflix)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONSarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock)

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONStephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONOwen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONErin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)

BEST ANIMATED SERIESSouth Park (Comedy Central)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIESSquid Game (Netflix)

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISIONBridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)

BEST VARIETY SERIESLast Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)

BEST COMEDY SPECIALSNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)