The 2026 awards season is here.
On Jan. 4, the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards kick things off in Santa Monica, California, where films and television shows from the past year will be honored.
The 83rd Annual Golden Globes will take place the following week on Jan. 11 in Beverly Hills, California, celebrating the best of film, television and podcasting. Dubbed "Hollywood's Party of the Year," several events will precede the awards show for the first time, in a weeklong event called "Golden Week."
Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" leads the pack of Golden Globe nominees, bringing in nine total nominations, while "Sentimental Value" follows close behind with eight Golden Globe nominations.
The projects up for awards can be found on different platforms and screens across the country, with release dates spanning a wide window.
Below, see a go-to guide for watching the year's top projects.
'One Battle After Another'
Anderson wowed audiences once again in 2025, bringing this Leonardo DiCaprio-led dramedy to the big screen. The film tells the story of Pat Calhoun, a former revolutionary fighter who has left his past behind him until a familiar rival, Sean Penn's Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, returns.
"One Battle After Another" hit theaters on Sept. 26. The film is available for rent and purchase, and is now streaming on HBO Max.
'Sinners'
"Sinners" hit theaters nationwide with its April 18 release and immediately generated awards season buzz.
From "Black Panther" and "Creed" director Ryan Coogler, "Sinners" is a chilling horror story based in the Jim Crow-era South, starring Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller and Delroy Lindo.
While "Sinners" is out of theaters, the film, which received seven Golden Globe nominations, is streaming on HBO Max.
'Frankenstein'
The 2025 re-telling of the classic science fiction story racked up five nominations at this year's Golden Globes, including best motion picture (drama). The Guillermo del Toro film stars Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi. You can watch it on Netflix.
'Jay Kelly'
George Clooney and Adam Sandler lead this Netflix film by director Noah Baumbach and co-writer Emily Mortimer. It follows actor Jay Kelly (Clooney) on his journey of self discovery as he confronts his past and present with his manager Ron (Sandler).
Not only is the film nominated for best picture and best original screenplay at the Critics Choice Awards, but Clooney and Sandler have both snagged acting nominations at the Golden Globes as well.
"Jay Kelly" is available to stream on Netflix.
'Train Dreams'
Clint Bentley's latest film, based on Denis Johnson's 2011 novella of the same name, is nominated for best picture at the Critics Choice Awards. Star Joel Edgerton, who plays Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker in the rapidly-changing America during the early 20th century, is also Golden Globes-nominated for best performance by a male actor in a motion picture (drama).
"Train Dreams" is available to stream now on Netflix.
'Bugonia'
"Bugonia," the Yorgos Lanthimos black comedy, stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons and tells the story of conspiracy theorists who kidnap a high-powered CEO.
Stone is nominated for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture (musical or comedy) at this year's Globes, while Plemons is nominated for best performance by a male actor in a motion picture (musical or comedy).
"Bugonia" is streaming on Peacock.
'Nouvelle Vague'
Richard Linklater's film about the origins of French New Wave cinema stars Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch and more. "Nouvelle Vague," nominated for best picture (musical or comedy) at the 83rd Golden Globes, is streaming now on Netflix.
'KPop Demon Hunters'
This animated Netflix film by Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans -- from a screenplay by Kang, Applehans, Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan -- follows the demon-slaying practices of a K-pop group called HUNTR/X.
Not only is it nominated for three Golden Globes and best animated feature at the Critics Choice Awards, its hit song "Golden," by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick, is nominated for four awards at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
'Elio'
"Elio," an animated sci-fi movie about an 11-year-old boy's adventures through space, is directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina. Zoe Saldaña lends her voice to Olga Solís in the film, while Yonas Kibreab voices the titular Elio. The Pixar film is available to stream now on Disney+.
'Blue Moon'
"Blue Moon," also from director Linklater, stars Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley and tells the story of lyricist Lorenz Hart grappling with his past and future while celebrating a high-profile production. The film is available to rent on platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
'It Was Just An Accident'
From acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi, "It Was Just An Accident" tells the story of a man who confronts someone he believes was his former tormentor in an Iranian prison. The film is in select theaters and available to rent on platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
'Sentimental Value'
"Sentimental Value," the emotionally rich story of a family attempting to reunite, scored eight total nominations at this year's Globes.
The Joachim Trier picture, which stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, hit theaters on Nov. 7. It is available to rent on platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and more.
'Hamnet'
Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley star in "Hamnet," based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Maggie O'Farrell.
The Chloé Zhao-directed film, which is a historical fiction telling of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, focuses on the couple's tragedy of losing their son Hamnet at a young age.
"Hamnet" scored six nominations at the Globes this year. The film premiered exclusively in theaters on Nov. 26.
'Marty Supreme'
It's been just over a week since Josh Safdie's latest film, "Marty Supreme," was released in theaters, but it has already generated awards show buzz, receiving three nominations at the 83rd Golden Globes -- including best motion picture (musical or comedy) -- and eight nods at the 31st Critics Choice Awards.
Timothée Chalamet stars as Marty Mauser in the film, a young man who will do whatever it takes to become a champion table tennis player. The film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher.
"Marty Supreme" is in theaters now.
'Avatar: Fire and Ash'
James Cameron's latest "Avatar" film opened on Dec. 19 with the second-best global debut of the year, with $345 million in worldwide sales.
The film, which stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet and more, follows human-turned-Na'vi Jake Sully and his wife Neytiri as they fight for survival and as Pandora faces colonization by humans.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" is in theaters now.
'Wicked: For Good'
The second and final chapter of Jon M. Chu's "Wicked" film series is nominated for five Golden Globes and earned seven nods at this year's Critics Choice Awards, including best picture.
In "Wicked: For Good," Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) continue on their journey to mend their friendship and save Oz for good. In addition to Erivo and Grande, the film stars Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
You can still catch "Wicked: For Good" in theaters or buy or rent it on digital now.
'The Secret Agent'
While "The Secret Agent" is now available to purchase on Apple TV and Prime Video, the film is still being shown in theaters as well.
Set in 1977, the film, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, follows a technology expert who flees from a mysterious past and returns to his Brazilian hometown of Recife in search of peace, according to a synopsis. "The Secret Agent" is nominated for three Golden Globes, including best motion picture (drama). Star Wagner Moura also earned a nod for best actor in a motion picture (drama).
'No Other Choice'
The Park Chan-wook-directed satirical black comedy thriller tells the story of a man who will stop at nothing to ensure he secures a professional opportunity.
The film, which stars Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won, earned three nods at this year's Globes and two Critics Choice nominations. It is now in select theaters and will have a wide release in January.
