The 2025 Critics Choice Awards honored the year’s best in film and television, with “Anora” taking a surprise Best Picture win and “Shōgun” dominating the TV categories.

 

 

After a turbulent start to the awards season, the 2025 Critics Choice Awards finally took place on Friday, February 7, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The ceremony, which had been postponed twice due to the Los Angeles wildfires, celebrated the best in film and television.

Comedian Chelsea Handler returned as the host, bringing her signature wit and humor to the evening’s festivities. The event saw some expected victories and shocking upsets, with acclaimed films “Wicked” and “Conclave” leading the nominations at 11 each. However, the New York-set drama “Anora” surprised many by taking home the Best Picture award.

On the television side, Hulu’s historical epic “Shōgun” continued its awards dominance, securing four wins out of six nominations. Other major winners included Demi Moore, who won Best Actress for “The Substance,” and Adrien Brody, who took home Best Actor for “The Brutalist.”

Below is a complete breakdown of the winners.

FILM WINNERS

Best Picture

🏆 “Anora”
Other nominees: “A Complete Unknown,” “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Nickel Boys,” “Sing Sing,” “The Substance,” “Wicked.”

Best Actor

🏆 Adrien Brody – “The Brutalist”
Other nominees: Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Daniel Craig (“Queer”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Hugh Grant (“Heretic”).

Best Actress

🏆 Demi Moore – “The Substance”
Other nominees: Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), Angelina Jolie (“Maria”), Mikey Madison (“Anora”).

Best Supporting Actor

🏆 Kieran Culkin – “A Real Pain”
Other nominees: Yura Borisov (“Anora”), Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”), Edward Norton (“A Complete Unknown”), Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”), Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II”).

Best Supporting Actress

🏆 Zoe Saldaña – “Emilia Pérez”
Other nominees: Danielle Deadwyler (“The Piano Lesson”), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“Nickel Boys”), Ariana Grande (“Wicked”), Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”), Isabella Rossellini (“Conclave”).

Best Director

🏆 Jon M. Chu – “Wicked”
Other nominees: Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”), Sean Baker (“Anora”), Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”), RaMell Ross (“Nickel Boys”), Denis Villeneuve (“Dune: Part Two”).

Best Acting Ensemble

🏆 “Conclave”
Other nominees: “Anora,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Saturday Night,” “Sing Sing,” “Wicked.”

Best Original Screenplay

🏆 Coralie Fargeat – “The Substance”
Other nominees: Sean Baker (“Anora”), Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David (“September 5”), Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold (“The Brutalist”), Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”), Justin Kuritzkes (“Challengers”).

Best Adapted Screenplay

🏆 Peter Straughan – “Conclave”
Other nominees: Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”), Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox (“Wicked”), Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley (“Sing Sing”), RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes (“Nickel Boys”), Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts (“Dune: Part Two”).

Best Cinematography

🏆 Jarin Blaschke – “Nosferatu”

Best Production Design

🏆 Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – “Wicked”

Best Editing

🏆 Marco Costa – “Challengers”

Best Costume Design

🏆 Paul Tazewell – “Wicked”

Best Hair and Makeup

🏆 “The Substance”

Best Visual Effects

🏆 “Dune: Part Two”

Best Animated Feature

🏆 “The Wild Robot”

Best Comedy

🏆 “A Real Pain” & “Deadpool & Wolverine” (tie)

Best Foreign Language Film

🏆 “Emilia Pérez”

Best Song

🏆 “El Mal” – “Emilia Pérez”

Best Score

🏆 Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – “Challengers”

TELEVISION WINNERS

Best Drama Series

🏆 “Shōgun”

Best Actor in a Drama Series

🏆 Hiroyuki Sanada – “Shōgun”

Best Actress in a Drama Series

🏆 Kathy Bates – “Matlock”

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

🏆 Tadanobu Asano – “Shōgun”

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

🏆 Moeka Hoshi – “Shōgun”

Best Comedy Series

🏆 “Hacks”

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

🏆 Adam Brody – “Nobody Wants This”

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

🏆 Jean Smart – “Hacks”

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

🏆 Michael Urie – “Shrinking”

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

🏆 Hannah Einbinder – “Hacks”

Best Limited Series

🏆 “Baby Reindeer”

Best Movie Made for Television

🏆 “Rebel Ridge”

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

🏆 Colin Farrell – “The Penguin”

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

🏆 Cristin Milioti – “The Penguin”

Best Foreign Language Series

🏆 “Squid Game”

Best Animated Series

🏆 “X-Men ’97”

Best Talk Show

🏆 “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.”

Best Comedy Special

🏆 “Ali Wong: Single Lady”

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Critics Choice Awards brought a night of triumph, surprises, and emotional moments. With “Anora” emerging as the unexpected Best Picture winner and “Shōgun” asserting dominance in television, this year’s awards celebrated a diverse range of storytelling.

As the awards season continues, all eyes now turn to the upcoming Academy Awards, where many of these winners are expected to compete for Oscar glory.