The Critics’ Choice Awards will unfurl this Sunday, and I’m guessing they won’t be all that surprising, given how the critics have responded to THE FRONTRUNNER. We make the Oscar race, folks, we don’t predict it. Do the Critics’ Choice have much impact on the Oscars? They do so by helping build consensus around various contenders. People tend to vote more as a group than individually. They want to be part of something, not left out. There are the contrarians and original thinkers here and there, but, in general, I have found most people want to go with the crowd.
We don’t yet know what the industry consensus is. The critics have made their voices loud and clear with One Battle After Another winning everything under the sun. Some of the categories have wiggle room, like Leonardo DiCaprio vs. Timothée Chalamet. Supporting Actress seems a bit up in the air. Once the wins start being handed down, their appearances and their speeches are like trial runs for voters. Does the win feel good, or should someone else have won?
I myself would feel not so great watching Ryan Coogler come so close to winning and just sit there and watch someone else win, but that’s just me. How many other voters will feel that way? Probably not many. They will likely feel more strongly about the movie that best reflects them and their worldview.
I’ve heard some people say they think Sinners might win the Critics’ Choice, but yeah, no. There is no group more primed and ready to anoint One Battle than this one. If it doesn’t win here, that could signal that the race for Best Picture is still competitive.
Here are our predictions.
Best Picture
One Battle After Another – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, One Battle – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan, Weapons – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Original Screenplay
Ryan Coogler, Sinners – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Adapted Screenplay
One Battle After Another – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Casting and Ensemble
Sinners – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Foreign Language
It Was Just an Accident – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Animated Feature
Kpop Demon Hunters – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Cinematography
Sinners – Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
One Battle After Another – Sasha Stone
Editing
One Battle After Another – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Best Young Actor
Miles Caton, Sinners – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Comedy Film
Naked Gun – Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
The Ballad of Wallis Island – Sasha Stone
Production Design
Frankenstein – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Costume Design
Frankenstein – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Hair & Makeup
Frankenstein – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Visual FX
Avatar: Fire & Ash – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Stunt Design
MI: Final Reckoning – Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
F1 – Sasha Stone
Sound
F1 – Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
Original Score
Sinners – Scott Kernen, Jeremy Jentzen
One Battle – Sasha Stone
Original Song
I Lied to You, Sinners – Sasha Stone, Jeremy Jentzen
Golden – Scott Kernen
Either these will be the easiest Critics Choice predictions ever or we’re all gonna be wrong about a lot of things. Stay tuned on Sunday.
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By: Sasha Stone
Title: Critics Choice Awards Preview and Predictions
Sourced From: www.awardsdaily.com/2026/01/01/critics-choice-awards-preview-and-predictions/
Published Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:02:04 +0000
