Critics Choice Awards 2025 winners: ‘Anora’ takes top prize, ‘Wicked’, ‘The Substance’, and ‘Emilia Perez’ also shine
The Hindu
2025 Critics Choice Awards celebrate Anora, Wicked, and The Substance with star-studded ceremony and unexpected wins.
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards crowned Anora as the best picture winner in a star-studded ceremony filled with surprising wins. Hosted by Chelsea Handler at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, the event saw Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and The Substance each securing three trophies, making them among the night’s biggest winners.
Adrien Brody took home the award for best actor for his performance in The Brutalist, while Demi Moore won best actress for her role in The Substance. Zoe Saldaña received best supporting actress for Emilia Pérez, and A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin, though absent, was honored with best supporting actor.
Despite controversy surrounding resurfaced tweets from its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez triumphed in three categories, winning best foreign language film, best song, and Saldaña’s supporting actress award. The film’s wins were met with a relatively subdued response in the room.
Meanwhile, Wicked received some of the loudest applause of the evening when director Jon M. Chu won best director in a surprising victory. Notably left out of the Oscar nominations, Chu quipped on stage, “I’m gonna win that Oscar.” The film also won for best production design and costume design.
The Substance continued its awards season success with wins for best original screenplay and best hair and makeup, in addition to Moore’s acting triumph. Conclave secured two major wins — best adapted screenplay and best acting ensemble.
Comedy had its moment as well, with A Real Pain and Deadpool & Wolverine tying for best comedy. The night also provided some recognition for Challengers, which had been notably overlooked by the Oscars but walked away with two Critics Choice Awards.
Chelsea Handler set the tone for the night with a mix of tributes and sharp humor. She opened the show by addressing the recent devastating Los Angeles wildfires, thanking first responders and encouraging donations through an on-screen QR code.
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