31st Critics Choice Awards: Timothée Chalamet and ‘The Pitt’ Dominate as Awards Season Heats Up

CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS 2026 WINNERS: Timothée Chalamet and Jessie Buckley win top acting honours, while The Pitt and The Studio sweep the TV categories. Read the full 2026 winners list, Chelsea Handler’s best monologue moments, and the historic win for 16-year-old Owen Cooper.

The 2026 awards season officially hit its stride on Sunday, January 4, as the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards took over the Barker Hangar. Hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, the night was a blend of high-fashion glamour, sharp political wit, and a clear signal of who the frontrunners will be heading toward the Oscars in March.

The evening was defined by a mix of veteran triumphs and breakout stars, with the Critics Choice Association (CCA) expanding its reach this year by introducing four new categories: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Sound.

Film Highlights: Chalamet’s Magic and PTA’s Direction

In the film categories, the race for Best Picture remained a tight contest between the surrealist Bugonia and the sweeping epic One Battle After Another. However, it was the individual performances and direction that stole the spotlight:

• Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet took home the trophy for his transformative role in Marty Supreme, solidifying his status as the season’s leading man.
• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley won for her haunting performance in Hamnet, edging out strong competition from Emma Stone and Amanda Seyfried.
• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson was honoured for One Battle After Another, a win that suggests he may finally be on the path to his first Academy Award for directing.
• Supporting Stars: Jacob Elordi continued his meteoric rise, winning Best Supporting Actor for his role as “The Creature” in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, while Amy Madigan pulled off a major win for Weapons.

Television: ‘The Pitt’ and ‘The Studio’ Rule the Night

The TV categories saw a changing of the guard, with several freshman series sweeping the major awards:

• Best Drama Series: The Pitt (HBO Max) emerged as the big winner. Its lead, Noah Wyle, also secured Best Actor in a Drama Series, proving the medical drama’s deep resonance with critics.
• Best Comedy Series: The Studio (Apple TV+) was crowned the year’s best comedy, with creator/star Seth Rogen winning Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
• Limited Series Dominance: Netflix’s Adolescence was the talk of the night, winning Best Limited Series. Stephen Graham took home the Lead Actor trophy for the series, while Owen Cooper, just 16 years old, made history as the youngest winner in the Supporting Actor category.

The Full Winners List (Major Categories)

Monologue Musings: Handler Roasts the A-List

Chelsea Handler didn’t hold back in her opening monologue, delivering a set that was “classic Handler”. The most talked-about moment involved her playful ribbing of Leonardo DiCaprio (nominated for One Battle After Another).

“Leo is here tonight,” she remarked to a laughing crowd. “He recently spent New Year’s on a yacht with Jeff Bezos. I guess when you’re done dating women under 25, you start dating billionaires over 60. It’s all about growth!”

A Night of “Firsts” and Emotional Speeches

One of the night’s most emotional moments came from Sara Snook, who won Best Actress in a Limited Series for All Her Fault. In a candid moment, she admitted she “regretted” not writing a speech, leading to a raw and heartfelt thank-you to the critics for supporting nuanced female-led storytelling.

The introduction of the Best Stunt Design award also received a standing ovation, with the inaugural trophy going to the team behind Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, a long-overdue recognition for the industry’s unsung heroes.