My Critics Choice 2026 Voter Ballot & Predictions

The 31st annual Critics' Choice Awards tonight. yay

The LA-located awards ceremony is the first televised of the season and the first to truly kick off the Oscar race. Could’ve at least picked the week after winter holiday ends but I digress. Any reason to get on top of the Golden Globes, I presume. I am one of *insert large number here* voters there and wanted to give you a look into my voter ballot versus what I predict how the show is going to play out tonight. I wish I were there in person to bask into the festivities (gush to Coogler about Sinners, meet the OBAA te—wait that already happened—) but alas I am *broke* and I am tired. 

Full disclosure as a voter, I love to spread the wealth as much as I can. Again these are MY votes. Take it as a grain of salt and not an indicator as to how the night will play out. Or I guess a little bit since they do literally contribute to the overall tallies. At the end of the day these are the areas, I am passionate about in this race and a reflection of what I loved this year in various departments. So without further ado, here’s my Critics Choice ballot and predictions. 

BEST PICTURE

Vote: One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST ACTOR

Vote: Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme (A24)

Prediction: Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)

BEST ACTRESS

Vote: Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)

Prediction: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (Focus Features)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Vote: Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Prediction: Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Vote: Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS

Vote: Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST DIRECTOR

Vote: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY  

Vote: Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value (Neon)

Prediction: Ryan Coogler – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY  

Vote: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE

Vote: Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Vote: Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Vote: Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Prediction: Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST EDITING

Vote: Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Stephen Mirrione – F1 (Apple Original Films)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Vote: Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)

Prediction: Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP

Vote: Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Prediction: Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein (Netflix)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Vote: Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)

Prediction: Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)

BEST STUNT DESIGN  

Vote: Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)

Prediction: Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1 (Apple Original Films)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE  

Vote: KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

Prediction: KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

BEST COMEDY  

Vote: Friendship (A24)

Prediction: The Naked Gun (Paramount)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Vote: It Was Just an Accident (Neon)

Prediction: The Secret Agent (Neon)

BEST SONG  

Vote: “Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

Prediction: “I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST SCORE  

Vote: Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Prediction: Ludwig Göransson – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST SOUND  

Vote: Laia Casanovas – Sirāt (Neon)

Prediction: Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 (Apple Original Films)