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Adolescence cleaned up once again as awards season kicked off at the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
After already bagging eight Emmy‘s in 2025, the Netflix hit took home four more awards, including Best Limited Series – with teenage star Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty triumphing in their categories.
Adolescence, the story of a boy accused of murder after he discovers ‘incel’ culture online, has averaged around 45 million views per month and become a must-watch for parents and teenagers around the world.
At 16, Owen has already made history as the youngest male Emmy winner and has made it once again with his Critics Choice victory.
Owen – who stars in the new Wuthering Heights movie – took home the gong for the Best Supporting Actor, beating his co-star Ashley Walters, 43.
His co-stars Stephen won in the Best Actor category, while Best Supporting Actress went to Erin.
Adolescence cleaned up once again – with four gongs – as awards season kicked off at the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (pictured Owen Cooper)
The Netflix hit took home four awards, including Best Limited Series – with teenage star Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty (pictured) triumphing in their categories
His co-stars Stephen (pictured centre) won in the Best Actor category, while Best Supporting Actress went to Erin
Owen was prepared for his acceptance speech as he brought out a handwritten letter on stage.
Accepting his gong, Owen said: ‘Thank you to the critics and to everyone behind the scenes who made this night possible.
‘This past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family, honestly. It’s changed our lives forever. We’re forever grateful. We cherish every single moment of it.’
Owen triumphed over an impressive field including: Wagner Moura – Dope Thief, Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning, Michael Peña – All Her Fault, Ashley Walters – Adolescence, and Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead.
When Stephen collected his award, he began: ‘I’d like to thank all the cast and crew, because without any one of them, none of this is possible.
‘We’re all exactly the same. When I was a kid, my mum told me, “You’re never above anyone and you’re never below anyone”. So we’re all equal. And I think the ethos that we carried into this piece, that paid off in this production.’
He added: ‘It was a unique experience. And I’d just like to say, if you’ve got any kids at home, give them a massive cuddle and tell them you love them.’
In September 2025, Owen made history after becoming the youngest-ever male Emmy winner as the show cleaned up at the glittering ceremony in LA.
At 16, Owen has already made history as the youngest male Emmy winner and has made it once again with his Critics Choice victory
Owen – who stars in the new Wuthering Heights movie – took home the gong for the Best Supporting Actor
The star was prepared for his acceptance speech as he brought out a handwritten letter on stage
Stephen looked to be in for a good night as he proudly lifted up his trophy after winning Best Actor
Stephen appeared tearful as he thanked his cast members in his speech
Best Supporting Actress Erin beamed with her Critics Choice Awards gong in the winners room
She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after scooping an award once again on the first night of the 2026 awards season
After an already successful 2025 for the Netflix show, 2026 is looking to be even better
Stephen proudly posed with his Best Actor gong
Owen was handed his gong by Landman actresses Ali Larter (R) and Michelle Randolph (L)
The onscreen mother and daughter duo both awarded Erin her award for Best Supporting actress
Ashley Walters, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Christine Tremarco and Erin Doherty (L-R) pictured at the ceremony
The four-part series sees a 13-year-old schoolboy called Jamie Miller, played by breakout star Owen, accused of brutally murdering a female classmate
The 15-year-old actor was just 13 when he landed the role, and so convincing is his chilling portrayal that he has since bagged himself a role in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights
The Warrington-born teenager won Best Supporting Actor for his breathtaking performance as Jamie Miller in the four-part Netflix show. It was filmed when he was just 14.
Owen was given a standing ovation as he took to the stage to receive his award from Sydney Sweeney, who gave him a hug after beating stars such as Javier Bardem to the award at the 2025 ceremony.
Chelsea Handler returns as host for the fourth consecutive year as the star-studded ceremony lights up the Barker Hangar – a glitzy night that regularly signals who’s about to dominate awards season.
Long considered one of the most accurate crystal balls in Hollywood, the Critics Choice Awards have a strong track record of forecasting Oscar glory.
That predictive power was on full display last season, when Anora used its Critics Choice Best Picture win to reassert itself after being shut out at the Golden Globe and SAG Awards, momentum it ultimately carried all the way to the Academy Awards.
Three acting winners, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña, also repeated their Critics Choice victories at the Oscars.
With the Golden Globe Awards not airing until January 11 this year, the Critics Choice Awards step into the spotlight as the first major televised ceremony of 2026, giving studios and contenders a crucial early boost.
Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin called the awards ‘a celebration of the very best in film and television,’ adding that the group’s voters help guide audiences toward standout storytelling each year.
Host Chelsea Handler
Sinners leads the Critics Choice Awards film contenders with an impressive 17 nominations. Michael B Jordan and Omar Benson Miller in a scene from Sinners
Leading the pack this year is Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which scored a jaw-dropping 17 nominations across film and television categories – just one shy of Barbie’s record-breaking 18 nods in 2024.
Close behind are One Battle After Another with 14 nominations, and Hamnet and Frankenstein, which each earned 11.
Other major contenders include Marty Supreme, Wicked: For Good, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, Jay Kelly and Bugonia.
The Best Actor race in film is stacked, with Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) battling it out.
Best Actress nominees include Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee) and Emma Stone (Bugonia).
In the supporting categories, Best Supporting Actor contenders feature Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly) and Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value).
Best Supporting Actress nominees include Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Amy Madigan (Weapons), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).
On the television side, the acting races are just as competitive.
One Battle After Another followed closely behind Sinners, earning 14 nominations; Leonardo DiCaprio is pictured
Timothee Chalamet was nominated for his role in Marty Supreme
Cynthia Erivo was snubbed for her role as Elphaba, while Ariana Grande scored a Supporting Actress nod as Glinda
Drama Series contenders include Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Adam Scott (Severance), Diego Luna (Andor), Billy Bob Thornton (Landman) and Keri Russell (The Diplomat), alongside performances from Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) and Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age).
Comedy categories bring familiar favorites and breakout turns, with nominees such as Adam Brody and Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside), Jean Smart (Hacks), Danny McBride (The Righteous Gemstones) and Seth Rogen (The Studio).
Limited series and TV movie races are led by Stephen Graham (Adolescence), Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief), Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story), Sarah Snook (All Her Fault), Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex) and Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy).
Supporting categories feature standout work from Tramell Tillman (Severance), Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Allison Janney (The Diplomat), Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary), Julianne Moore (Sirens) and Nick Offerman (Death by Lightning).