Aussie Stars Dominate & 'One Battle After Another' Sweeps: The 2026 Critics Choice Awards Recap

The holiday dust has barely settled, but Hollywood is already in full swing. The 2026 awards season officially kicked into high gear on January 4 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, and for us watching from Down Under, it was an absolute cracker of a morning. While the Golden Globes might bring the chaos, the Critics Choice Awards (CCA) often bring the accuracy, serving as a reliable bellwether for who will be holding an Oscar come March.

Hosted by the always-sharp Chelsea Handler for the fourth consecutive year, the 31st annual ceremony was a mix of "sleek dark gowns," viral relationship reveals, and a massive sweep for Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest epic,. But let’s be honest—we’re mostly here to talk about the locals. It was a massive night for Australian talent, with Sarah Snook and Jacob Elordi proving once again that Aussies are batting well above their average on the world stage.

Whether you missed the livestream or just want the highlights without the filler, here is your comprehensive deep dive into the Critics Choice Awards 2026 winners, the viral moments, and the shows you need to add to your streaming queue immediately.

The Aussies Who Stole the Show

If there is one thing Australian actors are known for in Hollywood, it's being incredibly talented and delightfully humble. This year, two of our biggest exports took home hardware in major acting categories.

Sarah Snook's "Unprepared" Victory

We all know Sarah Snook is a powerhouse—her run on Succession proved that. But at the 2026 CCAs, she took home Best Actress in a Limited Series for her gripping performance in All Her Fault. The show, which sees Snook play a mother in the midst of a nightmare when her son goes missing on a playdate, required a heavy, intense performance.

However, her acceptance speech was purely relatable chaos. In classic Aussie fashion, Snook admitted on stage that she hadn't written a speech because she simply "forgot what we were doing." She jokingly confessed to her husband in the car on the way over that she felt distant, only to realise mid-ceremony she might actually win.

"I forgot when we got here again, 'cause it was so nice to see everybody, and now I've gotten up here, and I'm regretting all of it," she laughed, before thanking the crew for "playing pretend" with her,. It was a charming reminder that even the world's best actors can still get a case of stage fright.

Jacob Elordi's Monster Win

Brisbane’s own Jacob Elordi has officially shed his teen-drama skin. Elordi won Best Supporting Actor for his transformative role as The Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.

This wasn't an easy category. Elordi was up against absolute veterans like Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) and Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), making his win a significant "upset" in the best possible way,. Critics are calling it a "monster win," noting that the CCA voters are rewarding physical, transformative performances this year rather than just traditional dramatic arcs. If you haven't seen his take on the iconic monster yet, prepare to be shocked—it’s a far cry from Euphoria.

Honourable Mentions

We also have to shout out Rose Byrne, who snagged a nomination for Best Actress for the A24 film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. While she didn't take home the trophy (that honour went to Jessie Buckley), being nominated in a lead category alongside Emma Stone is a massive achievement for the Sydney-sider.

Best Picture and Film Winners

While the Aussies had their moments, the night really belonged to one film.

The Night's Champion: One Battle After Another

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) was the juggernaut of the evening. The film swept the major categories, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay,.

The film is described as a "sprawling tale of political revolution and father-daughter bonding," starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a revolutionary on the run and newcomer Chase Infiniti as his daughter. For film buffs, this win solidifies Anderson as the frontrunner for the Oscars. If you haven't caught it yet, keep an eye on your local cinema listings or HBO Max (likely BINGE/Foxtel here in Australia).

The Horror Hit: Sinners

It is rare for horror to get love at prestige award shows, but Ryan Coogler’s Sinners broke the curse. Leading the field with a whopping 17 nominations going into the night, it walked away with Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, and Best Score for Ludwig Göransson,.

The film features Michael B. Jordan in a dual role playing twins in the Jim Crow-era South, fighting off vampires. It also saw a win for Best Young Actor for Miles Caton, proving that genre films can have serious artistic merit.

Acting Heavyweights

The lead acting categories were fiercely contested:

Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet won for Marty Supreme, where he plays a professional ping pong player in the 1950s. It’s a quirky role that beat out DiCaprio, showing voters were looking for something different.
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley won for Hamnet, playing Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes. Her speech was a highlight, where she cheekily told her co-star Paul Mescal, "I could drink you like water".
Best Supporting Actress: In a surprise turn, veteran Amy Madigan won for the ensemble action-thriller Weapons, proving you should never count out a legacy actor.

Television Winners: What to Stream Next

If you are looking to update your watchlist for the rest of the summer, here are the shows that the critics loved.

Best Drama Series: The Pitt (HBO Max) took the top prize, a medical drama starring Noah Wyle, who also won Best Actor in a Drama,. It’s being hailed as a modernised procedural that blends high stakes with deep character work.
Best Comedy Series: Apple TV+ continues to dominate comedy with The Studio taking the win. Seth Rogen also picked up Best Actor in a Comedy for the show, which satirises the inner workings of Hollywood,.
The Limited Series Sweep: Netflix’s Adolescence was the undeniable king of the limited series categories. It won Best Limited Series and swept the acting awards with Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty all winning trophies,. If you love a gritty British crime drama, this is your next binge.
Jean Smart Reigns Supreme: It wouldn't be an awards show without Jean Smart winning. She took home Best Actress in a Comedy for Hacks, continuing her incredible run.

Viral Moments & Red Carpet Trends

The vibe at the Barker Hangar was noticeably different this year.

The "Black Carpet" Aesthetic Forget the bright reds; the organizers rolled out a black carpet, and the fashion followed suit. Critics noted a trend toward "sleek dark gowns" and a somber, sophisticated tone, though stars like the cast of KPop Demon Hunters broke the mould with voluminous, architectural looks.

Timothée & Kylie: It’s Official For the pop-culture vultures, the biggest moment wasn't an award at all. During his acceptance speech for Best Actor, Timothée Chalamet publicly declared his love for Kylie Jenner, referring to her as "my partner of 3 years". This confirmation sent social media into a meltdown. To cap off his chaotic night, actress Kathy Bates spanked him with a ping pong paddle (a prop from his film Marty Supreme)—a moment surely destined to be a meme for the rest of 2026.

Chelsea Handler's Sharp Tongue Handler didn't hold back in her monologue, roasting Leonardo DiCaprio about his recent yachting trip with Jeff Bezos. She joked that it was "like Titanic, but worse because Jeff Bezos was there". She also paid a touching tribute to the late Rob Reiner, balancing the roasting with a bit of heart.

FAQ – 2026 Critics Choice Awards

Q: Who won Best Picture at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards? A: One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, won Best Picture.

Q: Did any Australians win at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards? A: Yes! Sarah Snook won Best Actress in a Limited Series for All Her Fault, and Jacob Elordi won Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein,.

Q: Where can I watch the winning movies in Australia? A: Frankenstein and Adolescence are Netflix productions. The Studio is on Apple TV+. One Battle After Another and Sinners are Warner Bros. films, so check your local cinema listings or keep an eye on streaming services like BINGE or Foxtel which often carry HBO/WB content,,.

Full List of Major Winners

Here is the cheat sheet for your next trivia night:

Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan, Weapons
Best Drama Series: The Pitt
Best Comedy Series: The Studio
Best Limited Series: Adolescence
Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters

References

People Magazine, "Critics Choice Awards 2026 Winners: See the Full List" Source 156
Deadline, "Critics Choice Awards Nominations" Source 51
People Magazine, "Sarah Snook 'Regrets' Not Writing Speech" Source 482

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