The 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on February 7, celebrated outstanding achievements in film. Notable winners included Wicked, Emilia Pérez, and The Substance, each taking home three prestigious awards. However, the coveted Best Picture award was clinched by Anora, which surprisingly did not win any additional honors during the event.

Jon M. Chu, acclaimed for his direction of Wicked, was honored with the Best Director award, making him the third individual to receive this accolade for a musical. He joins the ranks of renowned directors such as Baz Luhrmann, known for Moulin Rouge!, and Damien Chazelle, who won for La La Land. Interestingly, neither Chazelle nor Luhrmann were nominated in their respective years. Alongside the directing award, Wicked also secured wins for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design, showcasing its artistic excellence.

Emilia Pérez triumphed in multiple categories, winning Best Foreign Language Film, Best Original Song for the captivating track “El Mal,” and Best Supporting Actress for the talented Zoe Salda?a, who delivered a powerful performance in singing “El Mal” within the film, further establishing its impact in cinema.

Another standout film, The Substance, garnered three awards, including Best Actress for Demi Moore, who delivered a standout performance. Additionally, it was recognized for Best Original Screenplay and Best Hair & Makeup, emphasizing the film’s strong narrative and visual storytelling.

Several films, including A Real Pain, Conclave, and Challengers, received two awards, highlighting a competitive year in the film industry and showcasing the diverse talents and storytelling approaches present in the nominated works.

The song “El Mal,” co-written by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard, not only won at the Critics Choice Awards but also snagged the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song earlier on January 5. This double victory positions “El Mal” as a significant contender for the upcoming Oscars, generating buzz and excitement among industry insiders and fans alike.

The acclaimed score for Challengers, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, won the Best Original Score award at the Critics Choice Awards, mirroring its success at the Golden Globes. Despite this recognition, the score was not nominated for an Oscar, making it only the third score in history to achieve such accolades while missing an Oscar nomination. The previous scores to do so were Howard Shore?s for The Aviator and Justin Hurwitz?s for First Man, illustrating the unpredictable nature of award seasons.

Chelsea Handler returned as the host of the Critics Choice Awards for the third consecutive year, bringing her unique flair to the event. Originally scheduled for January 12, the show faced delays due to severe wildfires in Los Angeles, ultimately airing on January 26. The three-hour broadcast featured a mix of film and television awards, captivating audiences with its celebration of artistic achievements. Viewers could also stream the event the following day on Peacock, expanding access to the highlights of the night.

Here?s the complete list of nominations for the film categories at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, with the winners clearly marked to celebrate their achievements.

Outstanding Achievement in Best Picture

A Complete Unknown

WINNER: Anora

The Brutalist

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

Nickel Boys

Sing Sing

The Substance

Wicked

Exceptional Original Song Winners

?Beautiful That Way? ? The Last Showgirl ? Music by: Andrew Wyatt
Lyrics by: Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Li

?Compress/Repress? ? Challengers ? Music by: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Lyrics by: Trent Reznor, Luca Guadagnino

WINNER: ?El Mal? ? Emilia Pérez ? Music by: Clément Ducol, Camille
Lyrics by: Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard

?Harper and Will Go West? ? Will & Harper ? Sean Douglas, Kristen Wiig

Best Actress Recognition

Cynthia Erivo ? Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón ? Emilia Pérez

Marianne Jean-Baptiste ? Hard Truths

Angelina Jolie ? Maria

Mikey Madison ? Anora

WINNER: Demi Moore ? The Substance

Best Supporting Actor Recognition

Yura Borisov ? Anora

WINNER: Kieran Culkin ? A Real Pain

Clarence Maclin ? Sing Sing

Edward Norton ? A Complete Unknown

Guy Pearce ? The Brutalist

Denzel Washington ? Gladiator II

Best Supporting Actress Recognition

Danielle Deadwyler ? The Piano Lesson

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor ? Nickel Boys

Ariana Grande ? Wicked

Margaret Qualley ? The Substance

Isabella Rossellini ? Conclave

WINNER: Zoe Salda?a ? Emilia Pérez

Outstanding Achievement in Young Actor/Actress

Alyla Browne ? Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Elliott Heffernan ? Blitz

WINNER: Maisy Stella ? My Old Ass

Izaac Wang ? Didi

Alisha Weir ? Abigail

Zoe Ziegler ? Janet Planet

Directorial Excellence in Film

Jacques Audiard ? Emilia Pérez

Sean Baker ? Anora

Edward Berger ? Conclave

Brady Corbet ? The Brutalist

WINNER: Jon M. Chu ? Wicked

Coralie Fargeat ? The Substance

RaMell Ross ? Nickel Boys

Denis Villeneuve ? Dune: Part Two

Best Original Screenplay Recognition

Sean Baker ? Anora

Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David ? September 5

Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold ? The Brutalist

Jesse Eisenberg ? A Real Pain

WINNER: Coralie Fargeat ? The Substance

Justin Kuritzkes ? Challengers

Best Adapted Screenplay Recognition

Jacques Audiard ? Emilia Pérez

Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox ? Wicked

Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley ? Sing Sing

RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes ? Nickel Boys

WINNER: Peter Straughan ? Conclave

Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts ? Dune: Part Two

Outstanding Cinematography Achievement

WINNER: Jarin Blaschke ? Nosferatu

Alice Brooks ? Wicked

Lol Crawley ? The Brutalist

Stéphane Fontaine ? Conclave

Greig Fraser ? Dune: Part Two

Jomo Fray ? Nickel Boys

Best Production Design Recognition

Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia ? The Brutalist

<p class="paragraph larva // lrv-u-margin-lr-auto lrv

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save