Jacob Elordi and Timothée Chalamet’s Critics Alternative Wins Are Shaping The Awards Area

Welcome to Collider’s FYC hub, your finest useful resource for Oscars 2026 predictions. Right here, Senior Producer Perri Nemiroff retains you updated on the main contenders primarily based on her data of trade traits and whispers, and her personal private ideas and instincts. Keep in mind to return again usually for updates! The percentages are all the time altering.

Replace: January 6, 2026

The Critics Alternative Awards have formally set the tone for the season. Often, the Golden Globes are the primary awards ceremony of the New Yr, however in 2026, the CCAs and the Globes have swapped spots, permitting the critics to get first dibs on teasing and/or shaping the remainder of the season.

For essentially the most half, the Critics Alternative Awards put class frontrunners into focus. In Greatest Actor, it seems to be coming right down to Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After One other and Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme. Chalamet’s win on the CCAs solidifies his place as our #1 within the class. The identical is true for Jessie Buckley in Greatest Actress. It appeared as if Rose Byrne may need surpassed the Hamnet star because the almost definitely winner for her work in If I Had Legs I would Kick You, however Buckley’s CCA win for Hamnet paired with an particularly shifting acceptance speech offers her a firmer maintain on the highest spot in that class.

We even have two movies which have distanced themselves from the pack in Greatest Image. It is One Battle After One other and Sinners. Given One Battle took dwelling Greatest Image, Greatest Director, and Greatest Tailored Screenplay, it does look like the Greatest Image frontrunner on the Oscars. However, additionally it is value noting that the Critics Alternative Affiliation opted to unfold the love. Whereas Sinners did not win the large prize, it did take Greatest Authentic Screenplay and Greatest Casting/Appearing Ensemble. I believe the race between One Battle and Sinners is shut, and can stay shut.

All of the aforementioned classes skilled some slight shuffling. Nevertheless, the ends in one other one may need, one, bumped a contender out of their class, and two, made one other potential nominee a critical risk to win. For a lot of the season, Stellan Skarsgård seemed to be the clear #1 contender in Greatest Supporting Actor with a pair of One Battle stars coming in proper behind, Sean Penn and Benecio del Toro. Then there’s Paul Mescal for Hamnet, a really seemingly nominee since Hamnet celebrated its world premiere on the Telluride Movie Pageant in August. Jacob Elordi, nonetheless, has been enjoying the lengthy sport, and his inventory has been rising steadily every step of the best way. Final night time’s CCA win not solely makes him really feel like a sure-fire Oscar nominee, but it surely additionally makes him an actual risk to win. And sadly, for Jay Kelly, a quiet night time on the Critics Alternative Awards makes the movie a much less seemingly Oscar contender in a lot of classes, together with Greatest Supporting Actor.

We’ll see how issues evolve but once more after the Actor Awards nominations are unveiled on Wednesday, January 7 and the Golden Globes happen on Sunday, January 11.

BEST PICTURE

Present Frontrunner: One Battle After One other

Picture through Warner Bros.

Additionally in Competition: Depraved: For Good, Jay Kelly

BEST DIRECTOR

Present Frontrunner: Paul Thomas Anderson

Credit score: Carlos Tischler/EyePix

Additionally in Competition: Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme

BEST ACTRESS

Present Frontrunner: Jessie Buckley

Picture through Focus Options

Additionally in Competition: Chase Infiniti for One Battle After One other, Cynthia Erivo for Depraved: For Good

BEST ACTOR

Present Frontrunner: Timothée Chalamet

Picture through A24

Additionally in Competition: Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Present Frontrunner: Amy Madigan

Picture through Warner Bros

Additionally in Competition: Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Present Frontrunner: Stellan Skarsgård

Picture through Mubi

Additionally in Competition: Adam Sandler for Jay Kelly

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Present Frontrunner: KPop Demon Hunters

Picture through Netflix

Additionally in Competition: In Your Goals, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Film: Infinity Fort

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Present Frontrunner: Sinners

Picture through Warner Bros. Footage

Additionally in Competition: Weapons, Jay Kelly

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Present Frontrunner: One Battle After One other

Picture through Warner Bros. Footage

Additionally in Competition: Frankenstein

BEST CASTING

Present Frontrunner: Sinners

Picture through Warner Bros.

Additionally in Competition: Sentimental Worth, Frankenstein, Sirât