The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards, held at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar on Sunday night, proved to be a social media goldmine. Hosted for the fourth consecutive year by comedian Chelsea Handler, the three-hour ceremony celebrating film and television's finest was packed with viral-worthy moments that had viewers buzzing.
Emotional Tributes and Sharp-Tongued Roasts
The evening began on a poignant note as Handler dedicated her opening monologue to the late director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, who were tragically murdered in December 2025. Declaring Reiner the 'nicest guy in Hollywood', Handler shared a touching personal anecdote and praised the couple's tireless advocacy for decency, earning a roaring standing ovation from the star-studded audience.
Handler's comedic edge quickly returned, however, as she took aim at Leonardo DiCaprio. She roasted the noted climate activist for his close friendship with Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, joking that DiCaprio had almost missed the show because he was 'trapped on a boat in St. Barth's' on Bezos's superyacht. 'It was just like the Titanic, but worse, because Jeff Bezos was there,' she quipped, highlighting the perceived hypocrisy.
Surprise Wins, Shocking Losses, and PDA
The awards themselves provided major talking points. Timothée Chalamet triumphed in the fiercely competitive Best Actor category for Marty Supreme, beating out favourite Leonardo DiCaprio. But it was his acceptance speech that truly captivated audiences, as he publicly declared his love for long-term girlfriend Kylie Jenner, thanking his 'partner of three years' and stating, 'I love you. I couldn't do this without you.' A rare mid-show kiss between the typically private couple further sent social media into a frenzy.
In a major upset, Ariana Grande lost the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Wicked: For Good. The honour instead went to Amy Madigan for the horror film Weapons, leaving Grande's devoted fans outraged online. Meanwhile, Netflix's animated phenomenon K-Pop Demon Hunters scored a significant win for Best Animated Feature, beating Disney and Pixar contenders.
Jimmy Kimmel used his win for Best Talk Show to address his recent suspension and mock former President Donald Trump, whom he sarcastically thanked 'for all the many ridiculous things you do.'
Unforgettable Moments from the Audience
The viral highlights weren't confined to the stage. Hacks stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs stole the red carpet by impeccably mimicking Chalamet and Jenner's recent premiere looks, recreating their poses with hilarious precision.
During the ceremony, host Chelsea Handler revealed that someone in the audience had a ping pong paddle under their seat—a nod to Chalamet's film—and would get to 'spank Timothee at the afterparty.' The camera found veteran actress Kathy Bates, who proceeded to seductively lick the paddle, a moment she immediately mock-regretted, mouthing 'That's so gross' to uproarious laughter.
Elsewhere, Teyana Taylor's exuberant celebrations for her film One Battle After Another earned her the title of 'hype woman of the year' online, while 16-year-old Owen Cooper made history as the youngest ever winner in the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series category for Netflix's Adolescence.
The 2026 Critics Choice Awards successfully blended heartfelt homage with cheeky humour and genuine surprise, solidifying its role as a major predictor of Oscar success and a prolific generator of water-cooler—and social media—moments.
