The 31st Critics' Choice Awards on January 4, 2026, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica honored the best 2025 films and television. Hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, the ceremony saw wins for Warner Bros.' Sinners and Netflix's Adolescence, a tribute to the late Rob Reiner, and debuts for new categories like Best Casting and Ensemble.
Handler opened the show with her signature humor before an emotional tribute to filmmaker Rob Reiner, who died on December 14, 2025, at age 78, alongside his wife Michele Singer. "Everyone in this room knows that the nicest guy in Hollywood was Rob Reiner," she said, highlighting his warmth, political engagement, and advocacy for decency. Reiner's son Nick was arrested in connection with the deaths; tributes from Billy Crystal and Larry David lauded him as a masterful storyteller in comedy and drama.
Warner Bros.' Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler with 17 nominations, won Best Young Actor or Actress for Miles Caton and the new Best Casting and Ensemble for Francine Maisler. Netflix's Adolescence led TV with four wins from six nominations: Best Limited Series, Best Actor for Stephen Graham, Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper, and Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty. Sarah Snook took Best Actress in a Limited Series for Peacock's All Her Fault.
Film highlights included Paramount's The Naked Gun (Best Comedy), Neon's The Secret Agent (Best Foreign Language Film), and Netflix's Train Dreams (Best Cinematography, Adolpho Veloso). TV winners featured Comedy Central's South Park (Best Animated Series), Netflix's Squid Game (Best Foreign Language Series), ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Best Talk Show), and NBC's SNL50 (Best Comedy Special).
New categories—Best Sound, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble (film), and Best Variety Series (TV)—highlighted craft excellence. Netflix topped distributors with six wins, Warner Bros. with two. Miley Cyrus captured the night's spirit, echoing Palm Springs remarks: “We’re meant to be a community, not opponents."
