Timothée's shoutout for Kylie and other moments from Critics' Choice Awards

Paul GlynnCulture reporter
News imageGetty Images Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet attend the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images

Timothée Chalamet thanked his girlfriend Kylie Jenner and told her he loved her from the stage, as he won best actor at the 2026 Critics' Choice Awards on Sunday.

The 30-year-old won the prize for his performance in Marty Supreme as an ambitious table-tennis player making his name in the 1950s.

Elsewhere, Irish Hamnet star Jessie Buckley was named best actress, and British drama Adolescence also won four prizes, including best limited series.

Hosted by comedian and actress Chelsea Handler, the ceremony honoured the year's best in film, streaming and TV, as voted for by critics and journalists.

The Critics' Choice Awards, held at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport in California, can give a boost of momentum for stars in the Oscars race, although they are seen as less influential than many other precursor ceremonies.

Here are seven takeaways from the night, including which film won best picture:

1. 'I love you', Timothée tells Kylie

Watch: Timothée Chalamet wins Best Actor Award at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards

Accepting his award for best actor, Chalamet noted: "I've got a lot of people to thank. I don't know if I'll be up here again, so give me a second."

Appearing somewhat shaken by the win and stumbling over his words a little, he added: "Damn, I'm more nervous than I thought I'd be."

The actor thanked his fellow nominees, especially Sinners star Michael B Jordan, before paying tribute to his own film's director, Josh Safdie, for "crafting a role and a story" for him.

"You made a story about the relatable dream and you didn't preach to the audience about what's right and wrong. I think you should all be telling stories like that, so thank you for this dream," he said.

But it was his tribute to his partner Jenner that grabbed the headlines.

"Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation," he said. "I love you. I couldn't do this without you."

The camera then panned to reality TV personality and businesswoman Jenner, who made her name on the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and she was seen mouthing the words "I love you" back at him.

2. Buckley bigs up Hamnet co-star Mescal

News imageGetty Images Jessie Buckley at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. Getty Images

Killarney-born actress Buckley collected the award for best actress for the historical drama Hamnet.

Adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's novel, the film explores the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes in the wake of their 11-year-old son's death.

Buckley thanked director Chloe Zhao and co-stars Paul Mescal and Emily Watson in her acceptance speech, calling Watson her "north star".

"Chloe Zhao, you have reminded me of the power of telling a story and the journey that you can go on to touch the deepest parts of what it is to be alive, thank you," she said.

"Paul, I bloody love you man. And I know loads of other women do in this room too, but tough [luck]!

"I could drink you like water working with you every single day. You're a giant of the heart and thank you so much for making me a little bit more human."

3. Adolescence star Owen Cooper's whirlwind success

News imageGetty Images Owen Cooper wins the Critics Choice Award for Best Limited Series Award for "Adolescence" at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images

Adolescence star Owen Cooper, 16, took home the prize for best supporting actor in a limited series.

The psychological crime drama, one of Netflix's most-watched titles of last year, follows a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of a classmate.

Young Warringtonian, Cooper, thanked his co-stars, collaborators and family in a heartwarming speech.

"The past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family. Honestly, it's changed our lives forever and we're forever grateful," he said.

"Receiving this award means more to me than I can put even into words, to be standing here with you all tonight is something that I'll never forget."

His co-stars Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty won best actor and supporting actress in a limited series, respectively.

4. Seth Rogen can now quit therapy after win

News imageGetty Images Seth Rogen, winner of the Best Comedy Series Award for "The Studio", poses during the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images

Canadian actor Seth Rogen joked about the importance of awards to his mental and emotional health while accepting the trophy for best actor in a comedy series for The Studio.

The comedy sees Rogen play Matt Remick, the newly appointed hapless head of Continental Studios, who is desperate for celebrity approval while also trying to achieve both critical acclaim and box office success.

"This is so nice as someone who deeply, deeply, deeply cares what critics think of them and their work," he joked from the stage.

"This is what I'm looking for. I can cancel therapy this week, this is like - I'm good. I'm fixed. I'm fine, I think."

5. Jimmy Kimmel pokes fun at Donald Trump (again)

News imageGetty Images Jimmy Kimmel at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel said he was surprised to win best talk series, before unravelling a comically long written acceptance speech.

Aiming a dig at Donald Trump, Kimmel said he would've preferred to win a "FIFA peace prize", with reference to the award the US President received at the now renamed Kennedy Center during the recent World Cup draw.

The US chat show host recently apologised for making light of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on his TV return, after initially being taken off air.

On Sunday, Kimmel went on to jokingly thank critics by name, including Jeffrey Howard from KCLV-TV in Las Vegas, with whom Kimmel revealed he actually went to high school.

6. One battle won for Leonardo DiCaprio film

News imageGetty Images Leonardo DiCaprio at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. Getty Images

Leonardo DiCaprio's breathless action thriller, One Battle After Another, clinched best picture, while Paul Thomas Anderson took home best director.

The movie is considered a frontrunner in both categories at the Oscars in March, up against the likes of Marty Supreme, Hamnet and Sinners.

News imageGetty Images Benicio del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cassandra Kulukundis, Paul Thomas Anderson and Chase Infiniti at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. Getty Images
(Left to right) Benicio del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cassandra Kulukundis, Paul Thomas Anderson and Chase Infiniti

US vampire thriller Sinners won four categories including best casting and best ensemble.

Elsewhere on the night, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy picked up the award for best movie made for television.

And the Netflix fantasy musical KPop Demon Hunters nabbed two wins for best animated feature and best song.

7. Stars dressed to impress

Awards season, of course, means it's time for the stars to dig out their best outfits.

One Battle After Another stars Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor certainly understood the brief.

Infiniti wore a sleeveless yellow Louis Vuitton number, while Taylor's menswear-inspired look by Saint Laurent included a wool double-breasted jacket adorned with feathers.

News imageGetty Images Teyana Taylor arrives at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images
Teyana Taylor
News imageGetty Images Chase Infiniti attends the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, CaliforniaGetty Images
Chase Infiniti

Sinners star Michael B Jordan made a statement with his burgundy suit, striped tie and boots.

And Mia Goth, one of the stars of The Frankenstein, went for a white silk floor-length dress by Dior.

Wicked: For Good actress/singer Ariana Grande also graced the "black carpet" in Alberta Ferretti with Bucherer Fine Jewellery and Jimmy Choo shoes.

News imageGetty Images Michael B. Jordan at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards held at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images
Michael B Jordan
News imageGetty Images Mia Goth attends FIJI Water At The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California.Getty Images
Mia Goth
News imageGetty Images Ariana Grande arrives at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, CaliforniaGetty Images
Ariana Grande

The film winners in full

  • 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 original screenplay - Ryan Coogler, Sinners
  • Best adapted screenplay - Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
  • Best animated feature - KPop Demon Hunters
  • Best foreign language film - The Secret Agent
  • Best comedy film - The Naked Gun
  • Best stunt design - Wade Eastwood, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
  • Best score - Ludwig Göransson, Sinners
  • Best song - Golden, KPop Demon Hunters
  • Best casting and ensemble - Francine Maisler, Sinners
  • Best young actor/actress - Miles Caton, Sinners
  • Best cinematography - Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams
  • Best production design - Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau, Frankenstein
  • Best editing - Stephen Mirrione, F1
  • Best costume design - Kate Hawley, Frankenstein
  • Best hair and make-up - Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Frankenstein
  • Best Visual Effects - Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett, Avatar: Fire and Ash
  • Best Sound - Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John, F1

Read the full list of winners overall, including TV and streaming awards, via the Hollywood Reporter website.