One Battle After Another and Sinners Define the Critics Choice Awards as Awards Season Battle Lines Emerge
The 31st Critics Choice Awards unfolded last night, offering the clearest picture yet of how the 2026 awards season may take shape. The ceremony delivered decisive wins, notable snubs, and — most importantly — the emergence of two films setting the tone for the race ahead: One Battle After Another and Sinners.
Hosted for the fourth consecutive year by Chelsea Handler, the night balanced acerbic humor with genuine celebration. Handler’s monologue, equal parts biting and celebratory, framed an evening that highlighted ambition, risk-taking, and the growing diversity of prestige filmmaking.
Two Films, One Defining Night
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another led the evening with Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay wins. The film’s political urgency and formal confidence clearly resonated with critics, positioning it as an early heavyweight in the Best Picture race.
Just as crucially, Sinners matched that momentum in its own way. Arriving with the most nominations of the night, the genre-defying drama confirmed its status as a top-tier contender — both creatively and competitively. Its multiple wins, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Score, and Best Casting and Ensemble, underscored broad admiration for its vision, performances, and storytelling power.
Far from being relegated to technical categories, Sinners’ success reflects critics’ recognition of its overall cinematic achievement. Its strong showing across major creative fields reinforces its position as a serious Best Picture and screenplay contender, particularly as awards season moves from critics’ groups to industry voters.
Chalamet, Performances, and a Fluid Acting Race
Timothée Chalamet’s Best Actor win for Marty Supreme marked one of the night’s pivotal moments, instantly elevating him into the top tier of the season’s acting race. His victory, combined with consistent critical praise, positions him well heading into the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.
Jessie Buckley claimed Best Actress for Hamnet, while Amy Madigan (Weapons) and Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) secured supporting wins, further demonstrating the depth and unpredictability of this year’s performances.
Snubs That Signal Competition, Not Rejection
As with any early awards ceremony, the Critics Choice Awards also sparked conversation around snubs. Several anticipated contenders left without wins, but in a season this competitive, omission should not be mistaken for dismissal. With industry bodies still to vote, many films remain very much in contention as the narrative continues to evolve.
Looking Ahead: What Critics Choice Reveals About the Race
With Critics Choice now complete, the calendar moves swiftly to the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, both arriving before nominations are announced for BAFTA and the Academy Awards.
The signals from last night suggest:
Best Picture Outlook: One Battle After Another holds early frontrunner status, but Sinners stands close behind with the kind of passionate support that often sustains momentum across multiple voting bodies.
Screenplay Strength: Sinners emerges as a clear Original Screenplay leader, while One Battle After Another dominates Adapted.
Acting Trajectories: Chalamet’s win positions him as a SAG favorite, while ensemble recognition for Sinners hints at strong actor-branch support.
Industry Translation: Critics Choice results point to a season where bold, director-driven films — not safe consensus picks — will shape the conversation.
The Critics Choice Awards did not settle the race, but they clarified its contours. As the Golden Globes and SAG Awards loom, and BAFTA and Oscar nominations draw closer, One Battle After Another and Sinners now stand as defining forces — setting the stakes for one of the most competitive awards seasons in recent memory.
