The 31st Critics Choice Awards, held on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar, served as a pivotal event in the awards season, offering crucial insights into the evolving Oscar race. Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the ceremony both mirrored and challenged industry expectations, with several key films and television shows taking home top honors.

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" emerged as a dominant force in the film categories, sweeping Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. This resounding victory sends a clear message to the industry: the film is a formidable contender, combining a filmmaker-driven vision with broad, cross-branch support. Historically, such a combination is often seen as "Oscar catnip," capable of surviving the preferential-ballot system. While critics' votes don't directly determine Oscars, the film's ability to satisfy critics while delivering craft-forward storytelling is expected to build significant momentum, particularly in craft categories, and potentially for its acting contenders Chase Infiniti and Regina Hall. With Variety projecting a high number of Oscar nominations, the question remains whether it can complete Anderson's trifecta without also securing an acting or craft award, a path historically rare, seen only with "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952) and "Spotlight" (2015). The film received 14 nominations overall.

Warner Bros. celebrated a strong night, largely due to Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," which tied for the most film wins with four awards: Best Original Screenplay for Coogler, Best Young Actor for Miles Caton, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Score for Ludwig Göransson. This impressive haul suggests a potential coalition forming around the film, positioning it as a late-breaking spoiler if its momentum carries through the Golden Globes and major guilds. The Best Original Screenplay win is particularly noteworthy, as the Academy often diverges from critics in this category, favoring dialogue-driven work. Coogler's win indicates the film has broken through in ways that could directly influence Oscar ballots, especially within the influential writers' branch. "Sinners" led all films with 17 nominations.

Guillermo del Toro's gothic epic "Frankenstein" also secured four prizes, a significant achievement that included Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Elordi's portrayal of the Creature. This win was a surprise, as Elordi had previously only garnered two critics' prizes. However, it strongly positions him for an Oscar nomination, given that no Critics Choice winner for Best Supporting Actor has ever subsequently missed an Oscar nod. The film's other wins included Best Production Design, Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Costume Design, further solidifying its presence in the Best Picture conversation.

In the acting categories, Timothée Chalamet took home the Best Actor award for his role as aspiring ping-pong champion Marty Mauser in Josh Safdie's "Marty Supreme." During his acceptance speech, Chalamet honored his longtime girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, thanking her for three years of support. "Marty Supreme," a 1950s-set film about a man's quest to become a ping-pong champion, premiered on Christmas Day to strong box office results. Chalamet's win, making him the youngest ever Critics Choice Best Actor recipient at 30, strengthens his frontrunner status for the Globes. However, Oscar history, such as Leonardo DiCaprio waiting until 41 for his first acting Oscar, serves as a cautionary tale for young perceived "no-brainers." Jessie Buckley was recognized with Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao's "Hamnet," offering a clear way to honor the film. Amy Madigan received Best Supporting Actress for her chilling performance as a witch in the horror hit "Weapons," though questions remain about the Academy's willingness to reward a genre performance, especially if it stands as the film's sole nomination.

Beyond the major film categories, "KPop Demon Hunters" was named Best Animated Feature and also won for its song "Golden." "The Secret Agent," a drama set during Brazil’s military junta, won Best Foreign Language Film. Other notable film awards included "The Naked Gun" for Best Comedy, "F1" for Editing and Sound, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" for Visual Effects, and "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" for Stunt Design.

On the television front, Netflix's "Adolescence" dominated the limited series category, earning Best Limited Series and multiple acting awards for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty. Sarah Snook won Best Actress in a Limited Series for "All Her Fault." HBO Max's "The Pitt" was crowned Best Drama Series, with stars Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa also winning. Apple TV's "The Studio" secured Best Comedy Series, with Seth Rogen winning Best Actor in a Comedy and Ike Barinholtz Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Jean Smart won Best Actress in a Comedy for "Hacks," and Janelle James for Supporting Actress in a Comedy for "Abbott Elementary." Rhea Seehorn and Tramell Tillman won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for "Pluribus" and "Severance," respectively. Other television winners included "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for Best Talk Show, "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" for Best Variety Series, "South Park" for Best Animated Series, "Squid Game" for Best Foreign Language Series, and "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" for Movie Made for Television.

The ceremony was filled with memorable moments. Host Chelsea Handler delivered a sharp opening monologue, playfully roasting Leonardo DiCaprio about being trapped on a yacht in St. Barts with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, and humorously targeting Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav with a vampire analogy related to "Sinners." She also paid a heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker Rob Reiner, remembering him as "the nicest guy in Hollywood." Jimmy Kimmel, accepting the Best Talk Show award, used his platform to roast Donald Trump and advocate for free speech, recalling how public support helped his show return to air after ABC briefly pulled it following a controversial monologue. His renewed contract with Disney ensures "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will continue through 2027. On the red carpet, "Hacks" stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs garnered attention with their bright orange vinyl outfits, a humorous spoof of Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner's coordinated looks at the "Marty Supreme" premiere, complete with a ping pong paddle and large cross necklace.

As Oscar nomination voting commenced the day after the Critics Choice Awards, the ceremony's outcomes provided significant, albeit not definitive, indicators for the Academy Awards. With races still fluid in several categories, the coming weeks will be crucial in solidifying contenders.