The 30th Critics’ Choice Awards delivered a night of thrilling victories and unexpected outcomes on February 7, 2025, as Hollywood’s best in film and television gathered at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Hosted by the ever-witty Chelsea Handler, the ceremony, initially postponed due to the devastating wildfires in Southern California, finally took center stage, proving to be worth the wait.
‘Anora’ Creates History with a Singular Win
In what may go down as one of the most unconventional victories in Critics’ Choice history, Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ clinched Best Picture, despite not winning in any other category. The indie drama, which follows the turbulent life of a Brooklyn-based dancer, made headlines for breaking the usual pattern where Best Picture winners often sweep multiple awards. While films like ‘Emilia Pérez’, ‘Wicked’, and ‘The Substance’ walked away with multiple trophies, ‘Anora’ secured the industry’s top honor with a single, decisive victory.
This unexpected result underscores the power of storytelling over numbers. While other nominees such as ‘Dune: Part Two’, ‘Conclave’, and ‘Sing Sing’ dominated the technical categories, ‘Anora’ resonated with critics in a way that transcended traditional award metrics.
‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked’ Lead the Night in Film Categories
While ‘Anora’ may have stolen the final spotlight, ‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked’ emerged as the biggest victors in sheer numbers, each securing three awards.
Directed by Jacques Audiard, ‘Emilia Pérez’ – a genre-blending French musical crime drama – won Best Foreign Language Film, while Zoe Saldaña took home Best Supporting Actress for her performance. Additionally, the film’s original song “El Mal” won Best Song, marking a milestone for international productions at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Meanwhile, ‘Wicked’, the highly anticipated adaptation of the Broadway sensation, saw its director Jon M. Chu take home Best Director, with Ariana Grande securing Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Glinda. The film also won Best Costume Design, adding to its impressive accolades.
Demi Moore’s Comeback Moment with ‘The Substance’
One of the most talked-about wins of the night was Demi Moore’s victory for Best Actress for her role in ‘The Substance’. The film, which explores themes of beauty, obsession, and transformation, has been widely regarded as a career-defining moment for Moore, marking her first major awards win in years.
Meanwhile, Adrien Brody earned Best Actor for his leading role in ‘The Brutalist’, a historical drama exploring the life of a Hungarian architect in post-war America.
Surprises and Snubs in Acting Categories
The Best Supporting Actor category saw Kieran Culkin (‘A Real Pain’) edge out heavyweights like Denzel Washington (‘Gladiator II’) and Edward Norton (‘A Complete Unknown’). Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning turn in ‘Succession’, continued to prove his versatility across genres.
Notably, ‘Dune: Part Two’, despite garnering ten nominations, walked away with just one win for Best Visual Effects, a surprising underperformance for a film expected to dominate the technical categories.
Television: ‘Shōgun’ Reigns Supreme
Over in the television arena, FX’s historical epic ‘Shōgun’ emerged as the undisputed leader, sweeping four major awards, including Best Drama Series. The adaptation of James Clavell’s novel impressed both critics and audiences, with its star Hiroyuki Sanada winning Best Actor in a Drama Series, while Moeka Hoshi took home Best Supporting Actress.
This year’s Best Comedy Series award went to HBO’s ‘Hacks’, marking another major win for Jean Smart’s critically acclaimed show. Smart herself, however, faced stiff competition in the Best Actress in a Comedy Series category, where she ultimately prevailed over Kristen Bell (‘Nobody Wants This’) and Quinta Brunson (‘Abbott Elementary’).
The Best Limited Series category saw Netflix’s ‘Baby Reindeer’ take the top prize, capping off an impressive run for the psychological drama.
‘The Penguin’ Scores Big in the Limited Series Categories
The much-anticipated ‘The Penguin’, starring Colin Farrell, earned Best Actor in a Limited Series, while Cristin Milioti won Best Actress in a Limited Series for her role as Sofia Falcone.
Final Thoughts: What the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards Say About Hollywood’s Direction
This year’s ceremony sent a strong message about the evolving landscape of film and television. The industry is shifting toward bold storytelling, international representation, and the recognition of genre-defying projects.
With an indie film like ‘Anora’ making history, ‘Emilia Pérez’ proving the global strength of foreign language cinema, and ‘Shōgun’ demonstrating that historical epics can still capture modern audiences, the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards reflected a year of innovation, risk-taking, and boundary-pushing narratives.
As the awards season continues toward the Oscars, the industry will now turn its eyes to see whether these Critics’ Choice wins will signal similar trends at the Academy Awards.
For now, one thing is clear: Hollywood is no longer playing it safe.
Key Winners at the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards
Film
- Best Picture: Anora
- Best Director: Jon M. Chu – Wicked
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
- Best Actress: Demi Moore – The Substance
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
- Best Foreign Language Film: Emilia Pérez
- Best Comedy: Deadpool & Wolverine / A Real Pain (Tie)
Television
- Best Drama Series: Shōgun
- Best Actor in a Drama Series: Hiroyuki Sanada – 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 Limited Series: Baby Reindeer
- Best Actor in a Limited Series: Colin Farrell – The Penguin
- Best Actress in a Limited Series: Cristin Milioti – The Penguin
For a comprehensive list of winners and more details, visit the official Critics’ Choice Awards website.