The 2025 Critics Choice Awards nominations have set the stage for a thrilling awards season, spotlighting a diverse array of cinematic achievements. From the period horror of “Sinners” to the long-awaited sequel “Wicked: For Good,” the ten most nominated films represent the height of last year’s storytelling, acting, and filmmaking craft. Here, the complete list.
Sinners (17 Nominations)
Source: IMDb
With a staggering 17 nominations, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is the most-nominated film of the year. This period drama horror is set in the 1932 Mississippi Delta and stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as criminal twin brothers who return to their hometown, only to be confronted by a terrifying supernatural evil. The picture’s critical success highlights its ambitious blend of genre elements with a potent exploration of historical setting and familial conflict, establishing it as a formidable presence across technical and major categories.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Ryan Coogler), Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
One Battle After Another (14 Nominations)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest epic, One Battle After Another, secured 14 nominations by captivating critics with its complex narrative and powerhouse performances. The film follows a washed-up revolutionary who is forced back into action after his daughter goes missing and his nemesis resurfaces. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, the movie delves into themes of paranoia, radicalism, and the enduring consequences of a fractured past, all delivered with Anderson’s characteristic directorial flair.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Score.
Frankenstein (11 Nominations)
Guillermo del Toro’s masterful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic, Frankenstein, tied for the third-highest total with 11 nominations. Starring Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature, the film is a gothic science fiction drama that follows the egotistical scientist as his experiment in creation leads to the tragic undoing of both himself and his creation. Del Toro’s signature visual style and deeply empathetic approach to the monstrous have clearly positioned this adaptation as a major technical and artistic achievement.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo del Toro), Best Supporting Actor (Jacob Elordi), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects.
Hamnet (11 Nominations)
Also netting 11 nominations is Chloé Zhao’s historical drama, Hamnet. Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, the film explores the largely fictionalized, yet deeply resonant, marriage of William Shakespeare and Agnes Hathaway (played by Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley). It focuses on the devastating impact of the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, and how that profound grief may have ultimately inspired Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Jessie Buckley), Best Actor (Paul Mescal), Best Director (Chloé Zhao), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Marty Supreme (8 Nominations)
Director Josh Safdie returns with the sports-comedy-drama Marty Supreme, which earned 8 nominations. Set largely in a meticulously recreated 1950s Brooklyn, the film stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a fast-talking, egotistical table tennis star whose journey from a shoe salesman to an international competitor is defined by his reckless ambition and self-sabotage. Critics have praised Safdie’s anxiety-inducing style and Chalamet’s nuanced performance as a flawed but charismatic anti-hero.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Josh Safdie), Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Score.
Sentimental Value (7 Nominations)
Source: IMDb
The Norwegian comedy-drama Sentimental Value from director Joachim Trier received 7 nominations. The film centers on a fractured relationship between an acclaimed film director and his two estranged daughters, which is further complicated when the director decides to make a personal film about their complicated family history. The movie is noted for its emotionally mature script and stellar performances, particularly from Renate Reinsve, as it explores the uneasy tension between artistic expression and genuine personal connection.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Joachim Trier), four different acting nominations (including Best Supporting Actress), and Best Original Screenplay.
Wicked: For Good (7 Nominations)
Wicked: For Good, directed by Jon M. Chu, also garnered 7 nominations. This musical fantasy continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda as they navigate the shifting landscape of Oz following the events of the first film. The sequel is celebrated for expanding the musical’s universe with the same visual spectacle and beloved songs, continuing to explore the themes of friendship, courage, and kindness.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Song (The Girl in the Bubble), Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.
F1 (7 Nominations)
Joseph Kosinski’s thrilling sports drama F1 raced to 7 nominations. The film stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, an aging former Formula One prodigy who comes out of retirement after a 30-year absence to save his former teammate’s struggling team, APXGP. With high-octane racing sequences and an emotional arc that focuses on mentorship and redemption, the movie successfully uses the backdrop of the Formula One world to deliver a compelling, high-stakes narrative.
Key Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and Best Score.
Train Dreams (5 Nominations)
Clint Bentley’s quiet, reflective drama Train Dreams secured 5 nominations. Adapted from the novella by Denis Johnson, the film is a sweeping character study that follows the life of Robert Grainier, a train laborer in the American West during the early 20th century, from birth to death. The film uses dreamlike visuals and introspective narration to meditate on the themes of progress, destruction, and the indelible marks of personal guilt and trauma on an ordinary life.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Joel Edgerton), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.
Jay Kelly (4 Nominations)
Noah Baumbach’s comedy-drama Jay Kelly received 4 nominations. The film follows famous movie star Jay Kelly (George Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as they embark on a journey of self-discovery through Europe. As they travel, they reflect on their life choices and legacies. The film is a gentle Hollywood satire that showcases disarming vulnerability from Clooney and an impressive dramatic turn from Sandler.
Key Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Adam Sandler), and Best Original Screenplay.
