Los Angeles, CA – In a surprising upset at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, the critically acclaimed and commercially dominant film Marty Supreme failed to secure the night's top honor, Best Picture. The award instead went to One Battle After Another, a Leonardo DiCaprio-starring drama that blended comedy and thriller elements to captivate audiences and critics alike. The ceremony, held on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, highlighted the competitive landscape of the awards season, where box office success did not guarantee critical triumph.
Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie and led by Timothée Chalamet in the titular role, had entered the evening as a frontrunner. The film, loosely based on the life of real-life table tennis champion Marty Reisman, shattered records upon its Christmas Day 2025 release, posting the highest domestic opening weekend in A24's history with $28.3 million, according to box office tracker The Numbers. Despite this momentum, it was edged out by One Battle After Another, which follows DiCaprio as Bob, a paranoid former revolutionary living off the grid with his daughter Willa, played by Chase Infiniti. The film, released in September 2025, has garnered positive reviews for its mix of humor and tension.
On stage to accept the Best Picture award, director Paul Thomas Anderson delivered a characteristically understated yet heartfelt speech. “Thank you very much, everybody. This is really fantastic. Fantastic news,” Anderson said, his monotone delivery belying the passion in his words. “We’ll take it. A lot of great films. It’s great to be in this room. It’s great to be part of all of this. It’s great to have this cast behind me.” As he spoke, co-star Teyana Taylor could be heard cheering from the wings with an enthusiastic “Let’s go,” adding a burst of energy to the moment.
The win for One Battle After Another came shortly after Chalamet himself claimed the Best Actor prize for his portrayal of Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme. Chalamet, who beat out a field of strong contenders, appeared elated but gracious in defeat for the film's top award. The movie's ensemble cast, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher, brought depth to a story centered on Mauser's ambitious yet troubled journey in professional table tennis.
At its core, Marty Supreme chronicles the life of Marty Mauser, an overconfident shoe salesman harboring dreams of table tennis stardom. According to the film's synopsis, Mauser's cockiness and financial woes lead to repeated scrapes with the law, complicating his path to the World Championships. The narrative weaves in personal turmoil, including an affair with married neighbor Rachel Mizler (A’zion), which results in an unplanned pregnancy that Marty initially denies. His entanglements escalate when he begins a relationship with actress Kay Stone (Paltrow), the wife of wealthy investor Milton Rockwell (O’Leary), prompting desperate measures like attempting to pawn what turns out to be costume jewelry from her neck.
The film's climax unfolds in its final 15 minutes, where Mauser confronts the rigged nature of a key match against Japanese rival Koto Endo, defying Rockwell's wishes by demanding a rematch. Ultimately, Mauser learns a hard lesson about accountability, as his poor decisions bar him from competing internationally. This resolution, reported by Us Weekly, underscores the film's themes of ambition, responsibility, and the pitfalls of unchecked ego.
Chalamet's preparation for the role was immersive, as he shared during the promotional tour. In a December interview with IndieWire, he captured Mauser's bravado, saying, “This is in the spirit of Marty, and I feel like this is ultimately an original film at a time when original movies aren’t really put out.” He added, “It’s a movie about the pursuit of a dream. I’m leaving it on the field. Whether it’s the merch or the Zoom or the media appearances, I’m trying to get this out in the biggest way possible. In the spirit of Marty Mauser.” Chalamet's performance was widely praised, positioning him as a potential Academy Award contender, though he tempered expectations with Marty-like confidence.
One Battle After Another faced stiff competition in the Best Picture category, nominated alongside Marty Supreme, Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams, and Wicked: For Good. Critics noted the film's unique blend of genres as a key factor in its appeal, with DiCaprio's portrayal of a man haunted by his past resonating deeply. The movie's September 2025 debut aligned with a wave of prestige releases, setting the stage for its awards trajectory.
While Marty Supreme's loss may sting for its team, the film's box office haul and Chalamet's individual win suggest it's far from out of the race. A24, the indie powerhouse behind the project, celebrated the opening weekend figures as a milestone, surpassing previous records set by films like Everything Everywhere All at Once. Industry observers, speaking to Us Weekly, pointed to the Critics Choice Awards as an early indicator, though the Oscars remain the ultimate prize.
The 2026 Critics Choice Awards, voted on by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, have historically been a reliable predictor of Academy Award outcomes, with about 70-80% overlap in winners year over year. This year's event, broadcast live on The CW, drew an audience of over 5 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings reported post-ceremony. Host Chelsea Handler kept the tone light, poking fun at the industry's glamour amid the high-stakes presentations.
Behind the scenes, the production of Marty Supreme was marked by Safdie's signature kinetic style, drawing from his work on films like Uncut Gems. The director collaborated closely with Chalamet to infuse authenticity into the table tennis sequences, consulting with experts on the sport's nuances. Reisman's real-life exploits as a brash ping-pong prodigy in the 1950s provided the biographical backbone, though the film takes creative liberties for dramatic effect.
For One Battle After Another, Anderson's direction emphasized character over spectacle, a departure from his more stylized past works like There Will Be Blood. DiCaprio, reuniting with the director after Inherent Vice, described the role as a return to his dramatic roots. Infiniti, in her breakout performance as Willa, brought emotional weight to the father-daughter dynamic, earning early buzz for supporting actress nods.
As the awards season progresses, attention now turns to the Golden Globes on January 11, 2026, and the Oscars on March 8. Marty Supreme's team remains optimistic, with Chalamet hinting at further surprises. “We’re just getting started,” a publicist for A24 told reporters outside the venue, echoing the film's underdog spirit.
The night's events reflect broader trends in Hollywood, where original stories like Marty Supreme compete against established franchises and biopics. Despite the loss, the film's cultural impact is undeniable, spawning discussions on dream-chasing in an era of reboots. With streaming deals and international releases pending, its legacy seems secure regardless of further accolades.
In the end, the 2026 Critics Choice Awards served as a reminder of the subjective nature of art. While One Battle After Another claimed victory, Marty Supreme's journey from indie darling to box office smash positions it as a winner in its own right, poised for more chapters in the awards narrative.