Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.
No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good?
It’s awards season, which means the usual flood of nominations, top ten lists, and, for the early birds, a few winners already staking their claims.
Last week, the Critics Choice Association rolled out the nominees for the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards (a group Clarence, Joey, Meghan, and I are proud members of). Yesterday, the Golden Globes followed with their own slate, giving us a sharper look at what might stick as Oscar noms loom.
As always, there are hits, misses, eyebrow-raisers, and a few bits of satisfying consensus across categories. This week, I’m ranking my ten favorite nods from these two major precursors. Will they hold when the Academy weighs in? We’ll know soon enough.
The Critics Choice Awards take place on January 4, 2026 (I’ll be there). The Golden Globes follow a week later on January 11. The 98th Academy Award nominations arrive on January 22, with winners announced on March 15. Beware the ides of March, indeed.
Here are the ten CCA and Globe nominations I was most excited about:
10. Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) – Supporting Actress at CCA
9. Julia Roberts (After the Hunt) – Lead Actress (Drama) at Globes
8. Jay Kelly – Picture, Original Screenplay, and Casting at CCA
7. Hedda – Costume Design at CCA
6. F1: The Movie – Editing and Sound at CCA
5. Amy Madigan (Weapons) – Supporting Actress at CCA and Globes
4. The Ballad of Wallis Island – Comedy at CCA
3. The entire slate of nominees for Cinematography at CCA (F1: The Movie, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Train Dreams)
2. F1: The Movie and Sinners – Original Score CCA and Globes
1. Sinners leading CCA nominations with 17
Absolutely glad to see Ms Lindsay Pugh's CCA nomination.
Not from above groups but Spirit & Astra nominated Ms Hoss' Eileen in Hedda as an unforgettable character owning every second of her screen time.