On January 4, 2026, the Critics Choice Association will announce winners for both film and television awards, so here are our 2026 Critics Choice Award Predictions. Even if we think that the awards races have clear frontrunners, there can always be surprises when it comes to the award season. Can Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another extend its dominance? Will the critics anoint a new Best Actress frontrunner? Will Netflix’s Adolescence remain top dog?
The Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler, will air on E! and USA on January 4, 2026.
BEST PICTURE
Bugonia (Focus Features)
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Hamnet (Focus Features)
Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Marty Supreme (A24)
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Joey, Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, David
Sentimental Value (Neon)
Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Train Dreams (Netflix)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24) – Clarence, Joey, David
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Megan, Frank, Ben
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent (Neon)
BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
Emma Stone – Bugonia (Focus Features)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Paul Mescal – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value (Neon) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value (Neon) – Frank
Amy Madigan – Weapons (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Megan, Ben, Joey
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – David
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
Everett Blunck – The Plague (Independent Film Company) – Joey
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Frank
Cary Christopher – Weapons (Warner Bros.) – David
Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family (Searchlight Pictures)
Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Clarence, Megan, Ben
Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Megan
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24)
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet (Focus Features)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24) – Megan, Frank
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Ben, Joey, David
Zach Cregger – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (A24)
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Megan, Frank, Ben, David
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams (Netflix)
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice (Neon)
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Will Tracy – Bugonia (Focus Features)
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Clarence, Joey
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE
Nina Gold – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Frank, Joey
Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme (A24) – Megan
Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)-Ben
Francine Maisler – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, David
Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Claudio Miranda – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Łukasz Żal – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)-Ben
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Frank, Joey, David
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams (Netflix) – Megan
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios)
Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix) – Ben
Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme (A24)
Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Frank, Joey, David
Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST EDITING
Kirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite (Netflix)
Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme (A24) – David
Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix) – Megan
Michael P. Shawver – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey
Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
Ruth E. Carter – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Megan, David
Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
Flora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey
Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Megan, David
Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine (A24)
Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey
Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Megan, David
Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman (Warner Bros.)
BEST STUNT DESIGN
Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina (Lionsgate)
Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1 (Apple Original Films) – Ben
Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Joey, David
Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Andy Gill – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Giedrius Nagys – Warfare (A24)
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Arco (Neon)
Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
In Your Dreams (Netflix)
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (GKIDS)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
BEST COMEDY
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Focus Features)
Eternity (A24) – Joey, David
Friendship (A24) – Megan
The Naked Gun (Paramount) – Clarence, Frank, Ben
The Phoenician Scheme (Focus Features)
Splitsville (Neon)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
It Was Just an Accident (Neon) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey
Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
No Other Choice (Neon)
The Secret Agent (Neon) – David
Sirāt (Neon)
Belén (Amazon MGM Studios)
BEST SONG
“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1 (Apple Original Films)
“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey
“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – David
“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee (Searchlight Pictures)
“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams (Netflix)
“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
BEST SCORE
Hans Zimmer – F1 (Apple Original Films)
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Max Richter – Hamnet (Focus Features) – Frank
Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme (A24)
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Megan, Ben
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Clarence, Joey, David
BEST SOUND
Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films) – Clarence, Joey
Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein (Netflix)
Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) – Frank
Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners (Warner Bros.) – Megan, Ben, David
Laia Casanovas – Sirāt (Neon)
Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare (A24)
TELEVISION
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Alien: Earth (FX)
Andor (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Paradise (Hulu)
The Pitt (HBO Max) – Clarence, Megan, Ben, Joey, David
Pluribus (Apple TV)
Severance (Apple TV) – Frank
Task (HBO Max)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)
Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)
Mark Ruffalo – Task (HBO Max)
Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV)
Billy Bob Thornton – Landman (Paramount+)
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age (HBO Max) – Frank
Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO Max)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV) – Clarence, Megan, Ben, Joey, David
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patrick Ball – The Pitt (HBO Max) – Megan
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV) – Frank
Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Wood Harris – Forever (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey – Task (HBO Max)
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV) – Clarence, Ben, Joey, David
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Denée Benton – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Allison Janney – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Greta Lee – The Morning Show (Apple TV) – Megan
Skye P. Marshall – Matlock (CBS)
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Elsbeth (CBS)
Ghosts (CBS)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
The Studio (Apple TV) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside (Netflix)
David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical (NBC)
Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot (Apple TV)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
Rose McIver – Ghosts (CBS)
Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
Carrie Preston – Elsbeth (CBS)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Paul W. Downs – Hacks (HBO Max)
Asher Grodman – Ghosts (CBS)
Oscar Nuñez – The Paper (Peacock)
Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker (HBO Max)
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO Max) – Clarence, Ben, Joey, David
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC) – Megan
Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This (Netflix) – Frank
Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts (CBS)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Adolescence (Netflix) – Clarence, Megan, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
All Her Fault (Peacock)
Chief of War (Apple TV)
Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
The Girlfriend (Prime Video)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock) – Megan, Joey, David
Deep Cover (Prime Video)
The Gorge (Apple TV)
Mountainhead (HBO Max) – Frank
Nonnas (Netflix) – Clarence, Ben
Summer of ’69 (Hulu)
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix) – Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix) – Clarence, Megan
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me (Netflix)
Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jessica Biel – The Better Sister (Prime Video)
Meghann Fahy – Sirens (Netflix)
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock) – Clarence, Frank, Joey
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu) – Megan, Ben, David
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend (Prime Video)
Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Wagner Moura – Dope Thief (Apple TV)
Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning (Netflix) – Megan
Michael Peña – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Ashley Walters – Adolescence (Netflix)
Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead (HBO Max)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey, David
Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault (Peacock)
Julianne Moore – Sirens (Netflix)
Christine Tremarco – Adolescence (Netflix)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
Acapulco (Apple TV)
Last Samurai Standing (Netflix)
Mussolini: Son of the Century (MUBI) – Frank, Joey
Red Alert (Paramount+)
Squid Game (Netflix) – Megan
When No One Sees Us (HBO Max) – Clarence, Ben, David
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Long Story Short (Netflix) – Megan, Ben, Joey
Marvel Zombies (Disney+) – Clarence
South Park (Comedy Central) – Frank, David
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)
BEST TALK SHOW
The Daily Show (Comedy Central) – Megan
Hot Ones (YouTube)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) – Frank
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) – Clarence, Ben, Joey, David
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo)
BEST VARIETY SERIES
Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO Max) – Megan
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max) – Clarence, Frank, Ben, Joey
, DavidSaturday Night Live (NBC)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO Max) – Clarence, Frank
Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian (HBO Max) – Megan
Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things (Netflix) – Joey
Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Max)- Ben, David
Sarah Silverman: PostMortem (Netflix)
SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
