The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards nominations were announced, with Ryan Coogler's Sinners topping the list with 17 nods across film categories. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another followed closely with 14 nominations, while notable snubs included Cynthia Erivo for Wicked: For Good. The awards ceremony is set to air live on E! on January 4, 2026, hosted by Chelsea Handler.
Overview of Nominations
The Critics Choice Association unveiled nominations for the 31st Critics Choice Awards, honoring achievements in film and television from 2025. Selected by approximately 575 voting members, the list highlights a mix of studio blockbusters and auteur-driven projects. Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, dominated with 17 nominations, including best picture, director, actor, supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and technical categories like cinematography, production design, and visual effects. One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson earned 14 nods, featuring four acting mentions for Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn.
Key Film Contenders
Frankenstein from Netflix and Hamnet from Focus Features each secured 11 nominations, blending genre innovation with literary adaptation. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein was recognized in best director, production design, and cinematography, while Chloé Zhao's Hamnet shone in adapted screenplay and acting for Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Wicked: For Good received seven nominations, including best picture and supporting actress for Ariana Grande, but faced backlash over the omission of Cynthia Erivo in the best actress category. Other surprises included no nod for Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue and limited recognition for Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident beyond foreign-language film.
Television Highlights and New Categories
On the TV side, drama series like Severance and The Diplomat competed alongside comedies such as Hacks and Abbott Elementary. Limited series nominations featured Adolescence and Death by Lightning. The awards introduced four new film categories: sound, stunt design, casting and ensemble, plus variety series for TV. Chelsea Handler returns as host for her fourth year. The event reflects industry trends, with past winners often predicting Oscar success, as seen with Anora last season.
The full list spans best picture contenders like Bugonia, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams, emphasizing diverse storytelling in 2025 cinema.