Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery – but Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet were unmistakably the butt of the joke at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Hacks co-stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs stole the spotlight in Santa Monica on Sunday when they hit the red carpet dressed as pitch-perfect copies of the couple’s buzzworthy Chrome Hearts looks from the Marty Supreme premiere just weeks earlier.
This wasn’t a casual nod – it was a full-blown send-up.
Downs, 43, went all in as Chalamet, stepping out in a blazing orange leather suit with a matching silk shirt and boots.
Stalter, 35, fully embodied Jenner in a floor-length orange gown complete with daring cutouts below the bust and across the waist.
The pair hilariously recreated Jenner and Chalamet’s now-iconic Marty Supreme premiere poses, copying everything from the couple’s body language to their red carpet choreography.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were unmistakably the butt of the joke at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Hacks co-stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs stole the spotlight in Santa Monica on Sunday when they hit the red carpet dressed as Chalamet and Jenner
Like Jenner, Stalter took the lead – pouting for cameras, adjusting Downs’ hand placement, and layering her hands over his in a pitch-perfect mimic of Jenner’s signature gestures.
At one point, she even turned on cue, flicked her hair, and leaned back into Downs’ chest, delivering a sultry over-the-shoulder glance that echoed Jenner’s viral red carpet smolder.
The look was finished with a cross embellishment, coordinating necklace, and orange pumps – a clear nod to Jenner’s original ensemble.
While designer Erica D. Schwartz crafted their spot-on outfits, it was the duo’s hilarious performance that truly stole the spotlight.
Hacks, HBO’s Emmy-winning comedy, stars Jean Smart as a legendary Las Vegas stand-up navigating a fraught mentorship with a young writer, played by Hannah Einbinder.
Stalter shines as Kayla Schaefer, the wildly inappropriate, delusionally confident assistant whose chaotic antics frequently steal the scene.
Downs, who also serves as co-creator and executive producer, plays Jimmy LuSaque Jr., a fast-talking manager constantly scrambling to keep both his clients and career afloat.
As the night went on, Smart and Einbinder joined Downs and Stalter on the red carpet, adding to the star-studded energy.
Downs, 43, went all in as Chalamet, stepping out in a blazing orange leather suit with a matching silk shirt and boots
Stalter fully embodied Jenner in a floor-length orange gown complete with daring cutouts below the bust and across the waist
The pair hilariously recreated Jenner and Chalamet’s now-iconic Marty Supreme premiere poses, copying everything from the couple’s body language to their red carpet choreography
While designer Erica D. Schwartz crafted their spot-on outfits, it was the duo’s hilarious performance that truly stole the spotlight
Meanwhile, Chalamet, 30, and Jenner, 28, first turned heads with their coordinated looks at the Marty Supreme premiere on Dec. 8, marking their second red carpet appearance together.
The couple made their official debut earlier this year in Rome at the David Di Donatello Awards, where Chalamet was honored with the David for Cinematic Excellence.
Chalamet is up for Best Actor for his work in Marty Supreme, competing in a stacked field against Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
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.
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).
Jean Smart, who stars in Hacks alongside Downs and Stalter, stunned on the red carpet
As the night went on, Stalter and Downs’ Hacks costar Hannah Einbinder joined them
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).
Also on the TV side, Adolescence leads with six nominations, followed closely by Nobody Wants This with five.
Heavy hitters like The Diplomat, Hacks, The Pitt, All Her Fault and Ghosts also made strong showings.
Studio powerhouses are equally competitive, with Warner Bros. leading film nominations and Netflix dominating the television field.
This year’s ceremony also introduces four new categories – including best variety series, casting, stunt design and sound.
On the red carpet, expect a parade of A-listers.
Chalamet was nominated for his role in Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another followed closely behind Sinners, earning 14 nominations; Leonardo DiCaprio is pictured
Adolescence leads this year’s television nominees with six nominations including a nod for Best Limited Series; (Owen Cooper is pictured)
Cynthia Erivo was snubbed for her role as Elphaba, while Ariana Grande scored a Supporting Actress nod as Glinda
Nominees like Chalamet, Stone, Grande and more are expected to attend, alongside presenters including Colman Domingo, Regina Hall, Diego Luna, Allison Janney, Kaley Cuoco, Ava DuVernay, Bradley Whitford and Billy Bob Thornton.
The Critics Choice Awards were launched in 1995 by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, originally a small group of around 60 film journalists dedicated to honoring cinematic excellence.
Over time, the organization expanded to include television and streaming categories, with past winners like La La Land, Nomadland and Everything Everywhere All at Once frequently continuing on to Oscar glory.
What began as a modest industry gathering has since evolved into a major red-carpet event at the Barker Hangar, drawing hundreds of stars and live audiences eager for the season’s first big wins.
The 31st Critics Choice Awards also mark Handler’s return to E!, the network that was home to her talk show for eight years.
In recent years, the ceremony has seen a rotating roster of hosts, including Taye Diggs, who helmed the show from 2019 to 2021, and co-hosted the 2022 ceremony alongside Nicole Byer.
Past hosts have also included Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Michael Strahan, Aisha Tyler, Kristin Chenoweth and D.L. Hughley.
Actor Eric McCormack served as the ceremony’s first-ever host in 2005.
The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards will air live on USA Network and E! on Sunday, January 4, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.