2:44 pm today

Critics Choice nominations 2025: Conclave and Wicked score 11 nods

2:44 pm today
Anna Sawai as the character of Mariko in Shōgun.

Anna Sawai as the character of Mariko in Shōgun. Photo: FX Networks

New Zealand-born actress Anna Sawai and Kiwi actor Antony Starr have scored nominations at the Critics Choice Awards 2025, while the What We Do in the Shadows spinoff is among the top contenders in the television category.

Director Edward Berger's mystery thriller Conclave and Jon Chu's star-studded musical Wicked led the film nominations with 11 each, followed by Dune: Part Two and Emilia Pérez with 10 each.

Critically acclaimed historical drama Shōgun led the television nominations with six, followed by Abbott Elementary, The Diplomat, Disclaimer, Hacks, The Penguin and What We Do in the Shadows, with each scoring four.

In September, Sawai made history by becoming the first Japanese actress to win an Emmy in her category for Shōgun.

The 32-year-old actress is now up for the best actress in a drama series award (Shōgun) and best supporting actress in a drama series award (Pachinko). She also earned a Golden Globes nomination earlier this week.

Antony Starr, best known for playing dual roles of Jethro and Van West in Outrageous Fortune, scored a nomination for best actor in a drama, for his role as Homelander in the satirical superhero The Boys.

The What We Do in the Shadows series, based on Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's 2014 film of the same name, is up for best comedy series, and three of its actors have received a nomination for their roles.

The 30th Critics' Choice Awards will be hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler, who is returning for the third consecutive year, on 13 January, 2025 (NZ time).

Check out the full list of nominees below.

Film categories

Best picture

  • A Complete Unknown
  • Anora
  • The Brutalist
  • Conclave
  • Dune: Part Two
  • Emilia Pérez
  • Nickel Boys
  • Sing Sing
  • The Substance
  • Wicked
Wicked Part 1 (2024) starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba aka The Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked Part 1 (2024) starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba aka The Wicked Witch of the West. Photo: Supplied / Universal

Best actor

  • Adrien Brody - The Brutalist
  • Timothée Chalamet - A Complete Unknown
  • Daniel Craig - Queer
  • Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
  • Ralph Fiennes - Conclave
  • Hugh Grant - Heretic

Best actress

  • Cynthia Erivo - Wicked
  • Karla Sofía Gascón - Emilia Pérez
  • Marianne Jean-Baptiste - Hard Truths
  • Angelina Jolie - Maria
  • Mikey Madison - Anora
  • Demi Moore - The Substance

Best supporting actor

  • Yura Borisov - Anora
  • Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain
  • Clarence Maclin - Sing Sing
  • Edward Norton - A Complete Unknown
  • Guy Pearce - The Brutalist
  • Denzel Washington - Gladiator II
Denzel Washington as Macrinus in Gladiator II (2024), directed by Ridley Scott.

Denzel Washington as Macrinus in Gladiator II (2024), directed by Ridley Scott. Photo: Paramount Pictures

Best supporting actress

  • Danielle Deadwyler - The Piano Lesson
  • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Nickel Boys
  • Ariana Grande - Wicked
  • Margaret Qualley - The Substance
  • Isabella Rossellini - Conclave
  • Zoe Saldaña - Emilia Pérez

Best young actor/actress

  • Alyla Browne - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
  • Elliott Heffernan - Blitz
  • Maisy Stella - My Old Ass
  • Izaac Wang - Didi
  • Alisha Weir - Abigail
  • Zoe Ziegler - Janet Planet

Best acting ensemble

  • Anora
  • Conclave
  • Emilia Pérez
  • Saturday Night
  • Sing Sing
  • Wicked

Best director

  • Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez
  • Sean Baker - Anora
  • Edward Berger - Conclave
  • Brady Corbet - The Brutalist
  • Jon M. Chu - Wicked
  • Coralie Fargeat - The Substance
  • RaMell Ross - Nickel Boys
  • Denis Villeneuve - Dune: Part Two
Conclave (2024), based on the novel by Robert Harris, directed by Edward Berger, starring Ralph Fiennes.

Conclave (2024) directed by Edward Berger, starring Ralph Fiennes. Photo: Access Entertainment - FilmNatio / Collection ChristopheL via AFP

Best original screenplay

  • Sean Baker - Anora
  • Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David - September 5
  • Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold - The Brutalist
  • Jesse Eisenberg - A Real Pain
  • Coralie Fargeat - The Substance
  • Justin Kuritzkes - Challengers

Best adapted screenplay

  • Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez
  • Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox - Wicked
  • Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley - Sing Sing
  • RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes - Nickel Boys
  • Peter Straughan - Conclave
  • Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts - Dune: Part Two

Best cinematography

  • Jarin Blaschke - Nosferatu
  • Alice Brooks - Wicked
  • Lol Crawley - The Brutalist
  • Stéphane Fontaine - Conclave
  • Greig Fraser - Dune: Part Two
  • Jomo Fray - Nickel Boys
DUNE: DEUXIEME PARTIE
DUNE : PART TWO
2023
de Denis Villeneuve
d'apres le roman de Frank Herbert
based on a novel by Frank Herbert
COLLECTION CHRISTOPHEL © Warner Bros. - Legendary Entertainment - Warner Bros. Entertainment - Villeneuve Films
science fiction; sci-fi
visuel d'affiche (Photo by Warner Bros. - Legendary Enterta / Collection ChristopheL via AFP)

A scene from Dune: Part Two, which is among the top contenders in the film category. Photo: WARNER BROS. - LEGENDARY ENTERTA

Best production design

  • Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia - The Brutalist
  • Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales - Wicked
  • Suzie Davies - Conclave
  • Craig Lathrop - Nosferatu
  • Arthur Max, Jille Azis, Elli Griff - Gladiator II
  • Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau - Dune: Part Two

Best editing

  • Sean Baker - Anora
  • Marco Costa - Challengers
  • Nick Emerson - Conclave
  • David Jancso - The Brutalist
  • Joe Walker - Dune: Part Two
  • Hansjörg Weißbrich - September 5

Best costume design

  • Lisy Christl - Conclave
  • Linda Muir - Nosferatu
  • Massimo Cantini Parrini - Maria
  • Paul Tazewell - Wicked
  • Jacqueline West - Dune: Part Two
  • Janty Yates, Dave Crossman - Gladiator II
Imagery from the new film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Photo: Warner Bros.

Best hair and makeup

  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
  • Dune: Part Two
  • The Substance
  • Wicked
  • Nosferatu
  • A Different Man

Best visual effects

  • Gladiator II
  • Wicked
  • Dune: Part Two
  • Better Man
  • The Substance
  • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Best comedy

  • A Real Pain
  • Deadpool & Wolverine
  • Hit Man
  • My Old Ass
  • Saturday Night
  • Thelma
(L-R): Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in a scene from 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. Photo: Jay Maidment

Best animated feature

  • Flow
  • Inside Out 2
  • Memoir of a Snail
  • Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
  • The Wild Robot

Best foreign language film

  • All We Imagine as Light
  • Emilia Pérez
  • Flow
  • I'm Still Here
  • Kneecap
  • The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Best score

  • Volker Bertelmann - Conclave
  • Daniel Blumberg - The Brutalist
  • Kris Bowers - The Wild Robot
  • Clément Ducol & Camille - Emilia Pérez
  • Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - Challengers
  • Hans Zimmer - Dune: Part Two
A scene from The Wild Robot, Dreamworks

A scene from The Wild Robot, which received a nod in the best score category. Photo: Dreamworks

Television

Best drama series

  • The Day of the Jackal
  • The Diplomat
  • Evil
  • Industry
  • Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire
  • The Old Man
  • Shōgun
  • Slow Horses

Best actor in a drama series

  • Jeff Bridges - The Old Man
  • Ncuti Gatwa - Doctor Who
  • Eddie Redmayne - The Day of the Jackal
  • Hiroyuki Sanada - Shōgun
  • Rufus Sewell - The Diplomat
  • Antony Starr - The Boys

Best actress in a drama series

  • Caitriona Balfe - Outlander
  • Kathy Bates - Matlock
  • Shanola Hampton - Found
  • Keira Knightley - Black Doves
  • Keri Russell - The Diplomat
  • Anna Sawai - Shōgun
Keri Russell as US ambassador to the UK Kate Wyler in Neflix's The Diplomat.

Keri Russell was nominated for a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance as US ambassador to the UK Kate Wyler in The Diplomat. Photo: Netflix / Alex Bailey

Best supporting actor in a drama series

  • Tadanobu Asano - Shōgun
  • Michael Emerson - Evil
  • Mark-Paul Gosselaar - Found
  • Takehiro Hira - Shōgun
  • John Lithgow - The Old Man
  • Sam Reid - Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire

Best supporting actress in a drama series

  • Moeka Hoshi - Shōgun
  • Allison Janney - The Diplomat
  • Nicole Kidman - Lioness
  • Skye P. Marshall - Matlock
  • Anna Sawai - Pachinko
  • Fiona Shaw - Bad Sisters

Best comedy series

  • Abbott Elementary
  • English Teacher
  • Hacks
  • Nobody Wants This
  • Only Murders in the Building
  • Somebody Somewhere
  • St. Denis Medical
  • What We Do in the Shadows
Kayvan Novak as Nandor in What We Do In The Shadows.

Kayvan Novak as Nandor in What We Do In The Shadows. Photo: Supplied / FX Networks

Best actor in a comedy series

  • Brian Jordan Alvarez - English Teacher
  • Adam Brody - Nobody Wants This
  • David Alan Grier - St. Denis Medical
  • Steve Martin - Only Murders in the Building
  • Kayvan Novak - What We Do in the Shadows
  • Martin Short - Only Murders in the Building

Best actress in a comedy series

  • Kristen Bell - Nobody Wants This
  • Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary
  • Natasia Demetriou - What We Do in the Shadows
  • Bridget Everett - Somebody Somewhere
  • Jean Smart - Hacks
  • Kristen Wiig - Palm Royale

Best supporting actor in a comedy series

  • Paul W. Downs - Hacks
  • Asher Grodman - Ghosts
  • Harvey Guillén - What We Do in the Shadows
  • Brandon Scott Jones - Ghosts
  • Michael Urie - Shrinking
  • Tyler James Williams - Abbott Elementary

Best supporting actress in a comedy series

  • Liza Colón-Zayas - The Bear
  • Hannah Einbinder - Hacks
  • Janelle James - Abbott Elementary
  • Stephanie Koenig - English Teacher
  • Patti LuPone - Agatha All Along
  • Annie Potts - Young Sheldon
Martha and Donny Dunn in Baby Reindeer.

Martha and Donny Dunn in Baby Reindeer. Photo: Netflix, Supplied

Best limited series

  • Baby Reindeer
  • Disclaimer
  • Masters of the Air
  • Mr Bates vs the Post Office
  • The Penguin
  • Ripley
  • True Detective: Night Country
  • We Were the Lucky Ones

Best movie made for television

  • The Great Lillian Hall
  • It's What's Inside
  • Música
  • Out of My Mind
  • Rebel Ridge
  • V/H/S/Beyond

Best actor in a limited series or movie made for television

  • Colin Farrell - The Penguin
  • Richard Gadd - Baby Reindeer
  • Tom Hollander - FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans
  • Kevin Kline - Disclaimer
  • Ewan McGregor - A Gentleman in Moscow
  • Andrew Scott - Ripley

Best actress in a limited series or movie made for television

  • Cate Blanchett - Disclaimer
  • Jodie Foster - True Detective: Night Country
  • Jessica Lange - The Great Lillian Hall
  • Cristin Milioti - The Penguin
  • Phoebe-Rae Taylor - Out of My Mind
  • Naomi Watts - FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans
Cristin Milioti in The Penguin.

Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin. Photo: Supplied / Warner Bros.

Best supporting actor in a limited series or movie made for television

  • Robert Downey Jr. - The Sympathizer
  • Hugh Grant - The Regime
  • Ron Cephas Jones - Genius: MLK/X
  • Logan Lerman - We Were the Lucky Ones
  • Liev Schreiber - The Perfect Couple
  • Treat Williams - FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans

Best supporting actress in a limited series or movie made for television

  • Dakota Fanning - Ripley
  • Leila George - Disclaimer
  • Betty Gilpin - Three Women
  • Jessica Gunning - Baby Reindeer
  • Deirdre O'Connell - The Penguin
  • Kali Reis - True Detective: Night Country

Best foreign language series

  • Acapulco
  • Citadel: Honey Bunny
  • La Máquina
  • The Law According to Lidia Poët
  • My Brilliant Friend
  • Pachinko
  • Senna
  • Squid Game
Anna Sawai as Naomi in 'Pachinko' season two.

Anna Sawai as Naomi in 'Pachinko' season two. Photo: Supplied / Apple TV+

Best animated series

  • Batman: Caped Crusader
  • Bluey
  • Bob's Burgers
  • Invincible
  • The Simpsons
  • X-Men '97

Best talk show

  • Hot Ones
  • The Daily Show
  • The Graham Norton Show
  • John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A
  • The Kelly Clarkson Show
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best comedy special

  • Ali Wong: Single Lady
  • Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny
  • Kevin James: Irregardless
  • Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die
  • Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special
  • Ramy Youssef: More Feelings

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