Los Angeles, USA: One Battle After Another, a subversive comedy rooted in radical politics, won Best Picture at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards, according to the Critics Choice Association.
Released in 2025, the American black comedy action-thriller was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and co-produced by Vincent, with a story inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s work. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. Anderson also won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, marking a strong night for the film.
In other major film categories, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein dominated the honours with four wins. Among them was Best Supporting Actor for Jacob Elordi, recognised for his portrayal of the Creature.
Thank you to the Critics Choice Association for honoring “One Battle After Another” writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson with the Best Director Award at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards!@CriticsChoice | #CriticsChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/AbZZ5jUo8H
— One Battle After Another (@onebattlemovie) January 5, 2026Television awards also delivered notable results. The Pit was named Best Drama Series, with acting honours going to Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa. The Studio earned Best Comedy Series, while co-star Brian Holz won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Read: 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Full Details, Host, Streaming Info, and Top Nominations
In individual TV acting categories, Judith won Best Actress in a Comedy for Hacks. Jean Smart’s performance continued to receive critical acclaim this awards season. Janelle James took Best Actress in a Drama for Plurbus, while Tramell Tillman won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for Severance, according to Variety.
Congratulations to One Battle After Another, winner of the Critics Choice Award for Best Picture.#criticschoice #criticschoiceawards #OneBattleAfterAnother pic.twitter.com/ULal3SdfOY
— Critics Choice Awards (@CriticsChoice) January 5, 2026In film acting categories, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamlet. Timothée Chalamet earned Best Actor for Marty Supreme, while Amy Madigan claimed Best Supporting Actress.
Music and animation were also recognised. The award for Best Song went to “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, which also won Best Animated Feature, further expanding its awards-season momentum.
The Critics’ Choice Association introduced four new categories, including casting ensemble, variety series, stunt design, and sound. The additions reflect the organisation’s effort to recognise a broader range of creative and technical contributions across film and television.
