See the complete Critics Choice Awards 2026 winners list. Timothée Chalamet, Jessie Buckley, Jacob Elordi & top film and TV performances honored.
If you caught the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards 2026 on January 4, you saw that the atmosphere at the Barker Hangar was not just about bright lights and glamour. For the fourth year in a row, the night was hosted by Chelsea Handler and it seemed less like a celebratory back slap and more like a nod to hard work.
Whether it was 12-hour makeup sessions or five-minute television episodes, the winners this year didn’t only act, they suffered. The message from the Critics Choice Association (CCA) was loud and clear: in 2026, the line between technical risk and extraordinary physical commitment is where the industry’s attention lies.
(Best Actor Winner)
The weepy Timothée Chalamet as Brooding Heartthrob, Desert Messiah in Dune is not who Marty Supreme is at all, he’s fully reimagined himself. Chalamet Won Best Actor for portraying a 1950s ping-pong wunderkind based on the real life Marty Reisman.
But this was about more than whacking a ball back and forth. He was described as having a “singularly enervating intensity”. Marty was not a sportsman, but a hustler—a guy who could talk some unbeatable nonsense, who could pair swagger with geeky glasses, and who was so engulfed in his need to win that he was willing to try anything. It was a kinetic, fizzy, electrified turn, the kind that reassures you he can fill a film with their souls alone, and in pure physical comedy.
(Best Actress Winner)
If Chalamet delivered the energy, Jessie Buckley delivered the tears. Taking home Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes (Shakespeare’s wife) in Hamnet, Buckley gave what could be the most gut-wrenching performance of the year.
The storyline deals with the loss of her child, Hamnet, and the sorrows that led to Hamlet. Buckley’s performance was said to be “a privilege to watch.” She never merely portrayed a historical figure; she captured the raw, earth-shattering agony of a mother fighting to keep her life intact. It was a quiet, powerful turn that stood out against flashier roles, proving that sometimes the loudest emotions are the ones spoken in whispers.
(Best Supporting Actor Winner)
Jacob Elordi is now officially more than just a teen heartthrob. Awarded Best Supporting Actor for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Elordi achieved the impossible: he brought us to tears over a monster.1 His role wasn’t about scary make-up or snarling. He reputedly studied Butoh (a Japanese “dance of darkness”) in order to capture the creature’s motions, make such a physicality that was at once a terrifying and sincerely moving figure.
He portrayed the Monster not as a villain, but as an acting soul imprisoned in a grotesque body, one who was turned away from by his maker. It was a “physical” act- ing, in the widest sense — using his back, his shoulders and his eyes as well as his voice.
(Best Supporting Actress Winner)
The lack of appreciation for horror at awards shows makes Amy Madigan’s victory for Best Supporting Actress all the more gratifying. In the surprise hit Weapons as Aunt Gladys, a figure who immediately became a horror icon.
Madigan, a 75-year-old seasoned actress, said she was astonished by the win, she thought people would just “dig” the movie – not fall in love with “terrifying” her character. She teetered between a kooky, eccentric senior citizen and a predatory natural force. To be the most frightening person at the party and be so hypnotically watchable is a rare achievement, and the reviews strongly confirmed that.
We may as well not speak of winners without mentioning the night’s biggest—err, biggest champion? Paul Thomas Anderson won both Best Picture and Best Director for One Battle After Another.
The film is densely plotted, an “exquisitely detailed fantasy” about former revolutionaries meeting to rescue a daughter. It’s political and personal and very, very complex – and well, that’s just what the critics called the masterpiece of resistance and hope. I mean it’s not just the one actor here, it’s a conductor (Anderson) behind the wheel of an orchestra of stellar performers (including Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor) who create the best film of the year.
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| Category | Winner | Show | Key Context |
| Best Drama | The Pitt | HBO Max | Medical realism meets pandemic trauma. |
| Best Actor | Noah Wyle | The Pitt | A return to form with “urgent” authenticity. |
| Best Actress | Rhea Seehorn | Pluribus | Sci-Fi nuance; playing a resistor in a hive-mind. |
| Best Limited Series | Adolescence | Netflix | A technical feat of one-shot storytelling. |
Perhaps the most heartening bit from the 31st Critics Choice Awards is that “Genre isn’t a slur anymore. ”Horror and Sci-Fi, two genres long neglected at awards time, dominated the discussion.
The 2026 ceremony wasn’t about the speeches (though Noah Wyle’s tribute to healthcare workers was a tear-jerker), it was about the work. The Critics Choice Association took risks in its rewards. They watched Chalamet playing ping-pong half-blind, Elordi starving in a makeup chair, Stephen Graham doing a one-hour monologue in a single take and thought: This is the bar now.
As we head toward the Oscars, one thing is clear: The industry is turning its back on polished perfection and embracing a gritty, sweaty, technically dazzling brand of realism.
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Disney confirms Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim for the live-action Tangled. Explore cast details, release timeline, and Disney’s big franchise plan.
The whole studio is behind the Tangled franchise, and the announcement from Walt Disney Pictures yesterday that Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim have been cast as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in the live-action adaptation of Tangled is just the icing on the cake.
The project, which has survived a tumultuous development process that has included long periods of dormancy and a reshuffling of the workforce, is now being advertised as the cornerstone of Disney’s theatrical lineup for the late 2020s. Directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) and written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge), the film will be an adaptation of the 2010 animated classic to a “high-stakes musical event” exclusively for theatrical release.
The selection of Croft and Manheim comes after an extensive international search and a number of intense screen tests held in London in the month of December 2025. This represents a clear and marked shift in the direction of casting actors who have solid musical theatre credentials and meaningful experience in the genre.
As Disney contends with the post-pandemic box office environment and the complicated legacy of its prior live-action remakes, the Tangled film comes not only as a nostalgic gambit, but a shrewd bid to attract the rising Gen-Z and millennial audiences who consider the original movie a key cultural touchstone.
The path of the live-action Tangled is impossible to trace without placing it in the context of the financial situation for Walt Disney Studios as a whole. Entering late 2024 and into 2025, the studio was introspective, after a string of financial disappointments on key titles, most especially the live-action Snow White. Industry analysts noted a waning in public interest in remakes of early 20th century classics, which fueled speculation that projects such as Tangled had been put on hold indefinitely as to prevent any further risk.
But the tides turned with the live-action Lilo and Stitch theatrical debut in May-2025. With a worldwide gross of over $1 billion, Lilo and Stitch demonstrated that remakes of “modern classics” (films originally released during the Disney Renaissance in the 2000s) had their own draw. This success restored corporate trust in the Tangled brand.
With a theatrical-only release, Disney is making clear that Tangled is to be a major cinematic event for the brand, rather than a direct-to-streaming filler. This strategy mirrors that of the upcoming Moana live action, set for release in July 2026, and maximum theatrical revenue before coming to Disney+.
| Film Title | Release Date | Original Animated Gross | Key Strategic Driver |
| Snow White | March/2025 | $418M (Adj.) | Re-evaluating early classics after underperformance. |
| Lilo and Stitch | May/2025 | $273M | The $1B success that revived the remake pipeline. |
| Moana | July 10, 2026 | $643M | Leveraging modern IP and star power. |
| Tangled | Prod. June 2026 | $592.5M | Targeting Gen-Z nostalgia and musical theater fans. |
The hunt for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider was all-consuming and ended in chemistry tests in London just before the holiday season of 2025. In contrast to earlier casting calls which were geared towards attracting A-list celebrity names to serve as marketing anchors, the Tangled production team was looking for vocal performers who could capture the emotional complexity of the characters and who had the vocal endurance to perform Alan Menken’s -folk-rock score.
Teagan Croft is a young Australian actress of 21 years old, who was chosen from a multitude of finalists. Her previous work as Rachel Roth (Raven) on the DC show Titans was key to her casting. To play Raven, Croft had to grapple with isolation and secret empowerment—narrative beats that, surprisingly, mirror those Rapunzel undergoes as a prisoner of Mother Gothel.
Additionally, Croft’s turn in Netflix’s True Spirit showcased her ability to head a family-friendly survival film. From the very beginning, Rapunzel isn’t a typical princess with “Tangled”: she’s a bohemian dreamer and inquisitive teenager who’s been living as an insanely long tag-along to Mother Gothel for eighteen years. Croft’s talent for encompassing “wonder, grit, and curiosity” all at once made her the obvious choice.
According to THR, the casting of Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider (aka Eugene Fitzherbert) is celebrated in the Disney fandom. Manheim is a “Disney-native” talent, with seven years leading the Zombies franchise. From this, he gained an insight into the mechanics of the musical storytelling of the studio like no other.
Aside from his Disney Channel background, Manheim has made a name for himself as a powerhouse stage actor, most recently starring in Little Shop of Horrors off-Broadway. The role of Flynn Rider is notoriously difficult to nail down—it’s a very specific type of arrogance you have to convey paired with sincerity– the “smolder” has to be hilarious but the eventual vulnerability has to be real. Manheim’s previous Dancing with the Stars tenure further guarantees he has the nimble body necessary for swashbuckling action sequences.
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Michael Gracey’s selection as director suggests a certain aesthetic for the film. Gracey, known for The Greatest Showman, is known for fusing modern musical tastes with the traditional theater spectacle. This one-size-fits-all template is especially curious when applied to Tangled, whose Alan Menken original score was a “folk-rock” departure from Broadway norms.
The director’s approach to films tend to focus on a “heightened reality.” For Tangled, this probably means that the Kingdom of Corona will be realized in tangible settings, rather than relying on the sterile “blue-screen” method. Backing Gracey is screenwriter Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, whose keen dialogue in Do Revenge indicates that the live-action script will keep the animated film’s sharp, current humor.
While the leads have been disclosed, the Mother Gothel part is still very much up for grabs. Early reports suggested that Scarlett Johansson was attached, but she departed the project due to schedule conflicts. So there’s a gap to fill now, for the heart and soul of the film.
Fans have made their support for Donna Murphy – the original voice actress, to come back to the role heard far and wide, and others have brought up Kathryn Hahn as a potential replacement for charismatic, manipulative roles.
Production is scheduled to start in June 2026, indicating an arrival just for the big screen in late 2027 or 2028. The schedule provides ample time for the complex post-production work needed for the tricky physics of Rapunzel’s hair along with the environmental VFX.
The signing of Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim is more than just a headline, it is the first step in a massive multi-year plan to revive the Kingdom of Corona. The world awaits the lantern launch, and for the first time in years, the “dream” of a viable live action Rapunzel transition seems attainable.
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Discover Anthony Mackie’s journey from theater to Hollywood, his rise in the MCU as Captain America, and his impact on film, TV, and stage. Learn more...!
Anthony Mackie was born on September 23, 1978. He is an American actor and producer. People love his work in movies and TV shows. He acts in both small films and big superhero movies.
Many fans know him as Sam Wilson, also called Falcon. He later became Captain America in the Marvel movies. He is talented and hardworking. His journey from stage to Hollywood is truly inspiring.
Anthony Mackie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He started acting at 14 at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He later studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
He performed in many plays, including Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. In 2002, he worked as an understudy for Don Cheadle in Topdog/Underdog. That same year, he won an Obie Award for his role in Talk, a play by Carl Hancock Rux.
Mackie made his film debut in 2002. He played Papa Doc, a rival to Eminem’s character in 8 Mile. In 2003, he got his first starring role in Brother to Brother. He played Perry, a young Black artist struggling with his identity.
His performance earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. In 2004, he starred in Million Dollar Baby, which won an Academy Award. That same year, he worked with Spike Lee in She Hate Me. His career kept growing from there.
Anthony Mackie kept building his career in the mid-2000s. He acted in Half Nelson (2006), Crossover, and We Are Marshall. In March 2008, he performed in three plays by August Wilson. These plays were Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, and Jitney. The performances took place at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In 2009, Mackie played Tupac Shakur in Notorious. He later starred in Night Catches Us (2010). In 2011, he appeared in The Adjustment Bureau and Real Steel. His big break came in 2014 when he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He played Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He returned for many MCU films, including Avengers: Endgame.
In 2021, Mackie officially became Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He will star as Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World. The movie is set to release in 2025.
Anthony Mackie got his first big role in Brother to Brother (2003). He played Perry, a young Black artist. Perry struggled with his identity as a gay man. Mackie’s performance impressed many people. He earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. This was a big moment in his career.
In 2004, Mackie starred in major films. He appeared in Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint Eastwood. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Mackie also worked with Spike Lee in She Hate Me.
His role in Million Dollar Baby showed he could handle big studio films. His work with Spike Lee proved his passion for independent films. That same year, he starred in The Manchurian Candidate.
Mackie kept building his career in the mid-2000s. He starred in Half Nelson (2006), Crossover, and We Are Marshall. These films showed his versatility. He took on different roles. He proved himself as a talented and dependable actor.
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Anthony Mackie has always loved performing on stage. He has returned to theater many times in his career. Live performance is important to him. In March 2008, he starred in three plays by August Wilson. He performed at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The plays included Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, and Jitney. These performances were part of “August Wilson’s 20th Century.” The event featured staged readings of Wilson’s Century Cycle.
In mid-2009, Mackie played Pentheus in The Bacchae. The play was part of Shakespeare in the Park in New York City. In February 2010, he starred on Broadway. He performed in A Behanding in Spokane with Christopher Walken.
Mackie has never left theater behind. He continues to explore different roles on stage. His love for acting drives him to return to live performances. His work in theater proves his passion for the craft.
Anthony Mackie’s career changed when he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In 2014, he played Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon. He first appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Audiences quickly loved his performance. His role in the MCU grew. He played Falcon in several Marvel films. He appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016). He continued in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
In 2021, his character’s journey reached a major moment. He starred in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+. In the show, Sam Wilson became the new Captain America. This moment was a big step in the MCU. It also made Mackie a top star in the superhero world.
Mackie will continue as Captain America. He will lead Captain America: Brave New World in 2025. Fans are excited to see his next adventure in the MCU.
As of February 2025, Anthony Mackie’s net worth is estimated at $8 million, though it’s expected to increase after his role in Captain America: Brave New World.
Mackie originally intended to become an engineer, but he was drawn to acting and attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He married his childhood sweetheart, Sheletta Chapital, in 2014, but they divorced in 2018.
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Anthony Mackie kept pushing himself after his success in the MCU. He took on many different and challenging roles. He starred in Detroit (2017), a period crime film. He played an important role in The Hate U Give (2018). In 2019, he appeared in the horror film Synchronic.
He also starred in The Banker (2020). These movies show his passion for meaningful stories and different genres. He also played Martin Luther King Jr. in All the Way (2016) on HBO.
Mackie also explored television. In 2020, he starred as Takeshi Kovacs in Altered Carbon on Netflix. In 2023, he took on a new role in the Peacock series Twisted Metal. He played the lead character, John Doe.
This role allowed him to mix action and comedy. His performance proved his versatility and charm. He continues to take on exciting projects and impress audiences with his talent.
Anthony Mackie is an American actor and producer known for roles in movies and TV shows, especially as Sam Wilson (Falcon) in the MCU.
He was born on September 23, 1978, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
His first major film role was in 8 Mile (2002), where he played Papa Doc.
Mackie joined the MCU in 2014, playing Sam Wilson (Falcon) in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
