Critics Choice Awards 2026 winners: Timothee Chalamet declares love for Kylie Jenner as he BEATS Leonardo DiCaprio but One Battle After Another earns top prize

Timothee Chalamet had his crowning moment as he earned Best Actor at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards and publicly declared his love girlfriend Kylie Jenner, but it was One Battle After Another which took home the top prize of the night.

The 30-year-old actor was emotional as he beat out living legend Leonardo DiCaprio while was recognized for his work in ping-pong drama Marty Supreme at the gala held in Santa Monica, California on Sunday.

However, it was DiCaprio’s film One Battle After Another which earned Best Picture on a night that Jessie Buckley upset a star-studded field in the Best Actress category for her work in Hamnet.

On the television side, it was HBO drama The Pitt which took home the coveted Best Drama Series Award with leading man Noah Wyle being recognized for his work in the Best Actor in a Drama Series category.

Meanwhile, during Chalamet’s acceptance speech, he publicly recognized his 28-year-old mogul girlfriend Jenner as he said: ‘Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation.

‘I love you. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’

Kylie appeared to have tears in her eyes and she stared adoringly at the actor on stage and mouthed: ‘I love you, too.’ 

The New York native beat out an impressive field including the aforementioned DiCaprio – One Battle After Another, Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams, Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon , Michael B. Jordan – Sinners, and Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent.

He stumbled through his acceptance speech and admitted to being nervous as he individually recognized the actors he was nominated against.

Earlier in his speech, he recognized director Josh Safdie as he said: ‘Thanks for crafting a role and a story. 

‘You know, Josh, you made a story about a flawed man with a relatable dream, and you didn’t preach to the audience about what’s right and wrong. I think we should all be telling stories like that. Thank you for this dream.’

In the film he portrays Marty Mauser, who is a young man with a dream no one respects, as he goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.

A24’s Marty Supreme did lose the top honor to DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another – which was produced by Warner Bros. –  at the end of the night as the field also included: Bugonia (Focus Features), Frankenstein (Netflix), Hamnet (Focus Features), Jay Kelly (Netflix), Sentimental Value (Neon), Sinners (Warner Bros.), Train Dreams (Netflix), and Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures).

One Battle After Another is centered by a group of ex-revolutionaries who reunited to rescue the daughter of one of their own after their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years.

Paul Thomas Anderson earned Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for the action epic. 

Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley upset a star-studded field as she earned Best Actress for her stunning work in Hamnet.

The 36-year-old Irish actress  triumphed over Emma Stone – Bugonia, Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee, Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another, Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value in the hotly contested category.

As she stars in the film alongside heartthrob Paul Mescal, she gushed over the opportunity during her acceptance speech as she said with a laugh: ‘Paul, I bloody love you man.

‘And I know loads of other women do in this room too, but tough s***. I could drink you like water working with you every single day. You are a giant of the heart and thank you so much for making me a little bit more human.’

The Chloe Zhao directed and written film takes place after Agnes and William Shakespeare (Buckley and Mescal) lose their son Hamnet to the plague and grapple with grief in 16th-century England.

Agnes is a healer who must find strength to care for her surviving children while processing her devastating loss.

Noah Wyle led HBO drama The Pitt to top honors at the gala nearly two decades after the end of iconic series E.R.

The 54-year-old actor took home Best Actor in a Drama Series as the show also took home the most coveted television award Best Drama Series.

The talented actor won over: Sterling K. Brown – Paradise, Diego Luna – Andor, Mark Ruffalo – Task, Adam Scott – Severance, and Billy Bob Thornton – Landman.

During his acceptance speech, Wyle – who starred on iconic medical drama E.R. over 254 episodes from 1994 to 2009 – graciously gave credit to his field as he said: ‘Uh, it seems so presumptuous to prepare a speech when you’re nominated with the caliber of performer that I’m nominated with. 

‘All I ever wanted was to have my name mentioned caliber of performers I am tonight. I can’t tell you how moved I am. I owe everyone at this table everything.’

For the top television honor, The Pitt won over: Alien: Earth (FX), Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat (Netflix), Paradise (Hulu), Pluribus (Apple TV), Severance (Apple TV), and Task (HBO Max).

The Pitt is centered around the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling.

Rhea Seehorn earned Best Actress in a Drama Series for her work on AppleTV’s Pluribus.

The 53-year-old actress was recognized in the category alongside Kathy Bates – Matlock, Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age, Britt Lower – Severance, Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us, and Keri Russell – The Diplomat. 

In the ambitious project created by Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan, Seehorn’s character Carol Sturka is one of the immune few who lives in a world overtaken by a mysterious wave of forced happiness and must uncover what is really going on in order to save humanity from artificial bliss. 

Jean Smart made history as she earned her fourth straight Best Actress in a Comedy Series honor.

The 74-year-old acting icon has previously won the same category in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Last year Ayo Edebiri earned the honor for her work on The Bear, but Hacks was not eligible for any awards.

Unfortunately, Hacks did not win the top honor of Best Comedy series as they were bested by the Seth Rogen led The Studio after winning last year.

Regardless, Smart triumphed over an impressive field including: Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This, Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face, Rose McIver – Ghosts, Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones, and Carrie Preston – Elsbeth.

The talented actress highlighted the contentious relationship between talent and critics before concluding: ‘So I thank the Critics Association for your appreciation of our little show Hacks. 

‘And thank you all so much. And my fellow nominees, brilliant beyond brilliant.’

Hacks explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast comedy writer in their mid-20s (Hannah Einbinder). 

Meanwhile, the aforementioned The Studio beat out Hacks and a field including Abbott Elementary (ABC), Elsbeth (CBS), Ghosts (CBS), Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), and The Righteous Gemstones for Best Comedy Series.

It also earned individual honors for Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz in the Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series categories, respectively. 

Rogen,  43, joked during his acceptance speech: ‘This is so nice. As someone who deeply, deeply cares what critics think of them and their work, this is like what I’m looking for. 

‘I can cancel therapy this week. I’m good. I’m fixed. I’m fine, I think.’

The Studio follows a legacy Hollywood movie studio striving to survive in a world where it is increasingly difficult for art and business to live together.

Owen Cooper earned a massive win as Adolescence nearly swept the limited series categories.

The 16-year-old rising star became the youngest ever to earn Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television for his name-making role for Netflix.

It wasn’t the only big win for Adolescence as Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television and Stephen Graham took home Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television.

It also took home the top honor Best Limited Series All Her Fault (Peacock), Chief of War (Apple TV), Death by Lightning (Netflix), Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock), Dope Thief (Apple TV), Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu), and The Girlfriend (Prime Video).

Adolescence is centered around a 13-year-old named Jamie Miller (Cooper) who is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking what really happened. 

During his speech Cooper was earnest as he began it by saying: ‘Thank you to the critics and to everyone behind the scenes who made this night possible. 

‘This past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family, honestly. It’s changed our lives forever. We’re forever grateful. We cherish every single moment of it.’

Cooper triumphed over an impressive field including: Wagner Moura – Dope Thief, Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning, Michael Peña – All Her Fault, Ashley Walters – Adolescence, and Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead.

Adolescence did not sweep limited series or movie categories as the project did not earn a nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television which Sarah Snook won.

The 38-year-old Australian actress earned the honor for her work in Peacock limited Series All Her Fault. 

She beat out Jessica Biel – The Better Sister, Meghann Fahy – Sirens, Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex, Robin Wright – The Girlfriend, and Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Snook hilariously revealed that she did not prepare a speech leading up to the event as she said: ‘My husband was like, you seem a bit distant in the car on the way here. 

‘I was like, “yeah, I just had forgotten what we were doing and I didn’t write a speech or anything, and I’m just trying to go through things here.” Then I forgot when I got here again because it was nice to see everybody. Now I’m regretting everything.’

All Her Fault is centered around a mother named Marissa Irvine (played by Snook) whose son vanishes after a play date at the park and is thrust into a desperate search to uncover the truth behind is disappearance.

Jacob Elordi earned Best Supporting Actor for his work on Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein.

The 28-year-old actor beat out Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another, Paul Mescal – Hamnet, Sean Penn – One Battle After Another, Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly, and Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value.

Elordi played The Creature in a retelling of the classic tale centered around Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

When it came to the Best Supporting Actress category it was Amy Madigan who earned the big win for horror flick Weapons.

The 75-year-old actress was honored over Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value, Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value, Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners, and Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another.

The synopsis of the film reads: ‘When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.’ 

Meanwhile, Miles Caton took home the first award of the night.

The 20-year-old actor earned Best Young Actor/Actress for their work in the blockbuster Sinners at the gala.

Caton made his acting debut as musician and sone of a preacher, Sammie Moore, in the vampire thriller.

He beat out an impressive field including: Everett Blunck – The Plague, Cary Christopher – Weapons, Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family, Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet and, Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl. 

The star thanked the producers and director/writer Ryan Coogler as he joked:  ‘Thank you for seeing whatever it is you could see in that poorly lit audition video that I sent you guys.’

Jimmy Kimmel roasted President Donald Trump and praised the importance of free speech as he received the award for Best Talk Show.

The late night host’s show was controversially suspended last year following comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin in a monologue – a hiatus that was praised by Trump, a frequent butt of the comedian’s jokes.

The suspension was lifted less than a week later but raised concerns about the future of free speech in the United States – a topic Kimmel made sure to bring up while accepting his award on Sunday.

‘Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members. Many of you were in this room who supported us, who really stepped forward with us, and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,’ Kimmel, 58, said. ‘Your actions are important, and we appreciate them.’

He then proceeded to mock Trump, 79, and thanked him for ‘all the many ridiculous thins you do.’  

‘And most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump,’ he continued. ‘Without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight.

‘So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day. It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them. Thank you, everyone.’

Chelsea Handler returned as host for the fourth consecutive year as the star-studded ceremony lit up the Barker Hangar – a glitzy night that regularly signals who’s about to dominate awards season.

She started out the show with a hilarious monologue taking aim at filmmaker Quentin Tarantino,  Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Costner, and Nicki Minaj.

Long considered one of the most accurate crystal balls in Hollywood, the Critics Choice Awards have a strong track record of forecasting Oscar glory.

The 31st Critics Choice Awards also marked Handler’s return to E!, the network that was home to her talk show for eight years. 

In recent years, the ceremony has seen a rotating roster of hosts, including Taye Diggs, who helmed the show from 2019 to 2021, and co-hosted the 2022 ceremony alongside Nicole Byer. 

Past hosts have also included Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Michael Strahan, Aisha Tyler, Kristin Chenoweth and D.L. Hughley. 

Actor Eric McCormack served as the ceremony’s first-ever host in 2005. 

Before the gala event, the red carpet brought serious star power as Hollywood’s biggest names stepped out in force for the annual ceremony celebrating the best in film and television.

Ariana Grande, 32, cut an ethereal figure in a delicate blush pink Alberta Ferretti gown, teamed with a sheer lace cape, as she arrived at the glitzy event, held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

The gown was adorned with shimmering silver floral embellishments throughout. The beauty styled her brunette locks into a sleek ponytail, softly curled for an elegant finish.

The Wicked: For Good star was up for Best Actress at the show, but ultimately lost out to Jessie Buckley.

Meanwhile Elle Fanning, 27, took the plunge in a vintage 2003 Ralph Lauren gold gown, with a dramatic neckline.

Her sultry liquid gold dress clung to her figure and featured a daring backless design. She styled her hair in loose, flowing waves and finished the look with Cartier jewels.

The Sentimental Value star is nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Host Chelsea Handler, 50, kicked off the red carpet in a dark off-shoulder green gown paired with a delicate diamond necklace.

She wore her blonde tresses parted in the middle, and further sparkled up her look with two diamond bracelets. 

Other A-listers arriving early on the red carpet included Frankenstein star Mia Goth, 32, who wowed in a bridal Dior white slip dress with an off-the-shoulder shawl.

She wore her raven tresses swept up into an elegant updo. 

Meanwhile, Chalamet was joined by girlfriend Jenner, though they did not pose on the red carpet together.