Critics have named the thriller Battle by Battle the best film of the year

Warner Bros.' film emerged as the top winner at the Critics Choice Awards, with Timothée Chalamet outshining Leonardo DiCaprio in the acting categories.

On January 4, 2026, the 31st Critics Choice Awards ceremony celebrated the highlights of the past cinematic year. The standout victor of the night was the thriller Battle by Battle, honored by critics as the Best Picture of the Year.

Significant Victory for Battle by Battle

The Warner Bros. production secured more than just the top film accolade. Its director, Paul Thomas Anderson, achieved a double win, taking home awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. This cemented the film’s status as a defining work recognized by industry professionals.

Highlights in Acting Awards

In the Best Actor category, Timothée Chalamet triumphed for his role in the A24 sports drama Marty the Magnificent, surpassing notable contenders including Leonardo DiCaprio. The Best Actress award was claimed by Jessie Buckley for her leading performance in Focus Features’ historical melodrama Hamnet.

Supporting role honors went to Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein and Amy Madigan for Tools.

Additional Film Award Winners

Several major studios and streaming services also earned accolades. Netflix was celebrated for the animated feature Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: To the Hashira Training, which secured awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Song. Apple garnered recognition for the drama Formula 1, winning honors in sound and editing categories.

The Best Foreign Language Film award went to The Secret Agent, while the title of Best Comedy was awarded to The Naked Gun. The blockbuster Sinners took home four trophies, including Best Original Screenplay awarded to Ryan Coogler, as well as accolades for casting and ensemble performance.

Visual effects excellence was recognized with Best Visual Effects awarded to James Cameron’s fantasy Avatar 3: Fire and Ash. Additional honors were presented to the production designer of Train Dreams and the stunt coordinator of the action-packed Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two.

Television Category Winners at the Critics Choice Awards

In television, the top drama series was HBO Max’s medical drama Pitt Hospital, with its lead actor, Noah Wyle, receiving the Best Actor award. For comedy, Apple TV’s Studio was named Best Comedy Series, and Seth Rogen was honored for his performance.

Best Actress in a Series awards were given to Ree Sehorn for the drama From Many and Jean Smart for the comedy Hacks.

Netflix’s miniseries Transition Age stood out by earning four awards, including Best Limited Series and acting honors for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty.

Studio and Platform Award Tallies

Overall, Netflix dominated the evening with a total of 12 awards—seven from the film categories and five from television. Warner Bros. followed with