Critics Choice 2026: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ Wins Best Picture

The 31st Critics Choice Awards have officially kicked off the awards season, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest feature claiming the night’s highest honors. “One Battle After Another” was named Best Picture, solidifying its status as a frontrunner in the race for the Oscars.

Anderson also took home the award for Best Director for the film, which has been praised as a modern adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland.” The movie features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro, navigating a chaotic political landscape.

In the lead acting categories, Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor for his role in “Marty Supreme.” He was joined by Jessie Buckley, who secured the Best Actress trophy for her performance in “Hamnet.”

The supporting acting awards highlighted standout performances from other major releases. Jacob Elordi won Best Supporting Actor for his work in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” while Amy Madigan received the Best Supporting Actress award for “Weapons.”

On the television side, “Alien: Earth” was recognized as the Best Drama Series. Meanwhile, comedy veterans continued their reign, with Jean Smart winning Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “Hacks.”

Tell us in the comments if you think Paul Thomas Anderson’s film deserved to take home the top prize this year.