GVN Critics Choice Awards 2026: ‘Sinners’ Dominates With A Massive Haul of Wins

The 2026 GVN Critics Choice Awards celebrate the best achievements in film across performances, craft, storytelling, and technical artistry. This year’s awards reflect a cinematic landscape defined by bold filmmaking, standout performances, and ambitious genre storytelling. While many films earned recognition across the ballot, one title towered above the rest: Sinners.

Ryan Coogler’s electrifying drama emerged as the clear favorite among critics, taking home an impressive twelve awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, and multiple technical categories. The film’s sweeping victory demonstrates its impact across every aspect of filmmaking—from storytelling and performances to cinematography and sound design.

Other notable winners included Frankenstein, which dominated several design and craft categories, and Superman, which proved a powerhouse in blockbuster and genre filmmaking categories. Meanwhile, smaller and international films such as Sentimental Value and the documentary The Perfect Neighbor also found recognition, highlighting the diversity of cinema celebrated this year.

2026 GVN Critics Choice Award Winners

Best Picture

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: Sorry, Baby

Best Director

Winner: Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Runner-Up: Chloé Zhao, Hamnet

Best Actor

Winner: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Runner-Up: Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme

Best Actress

Winner: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Runner-Up: Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Runner-Up: Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Amy Madigan, Weapons
Runner-Up: Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: Sorry, Baby

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: One Battle After Another
Runner-Up: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Breakthrough Performance

Winner: Miles Caton, Sinners
Runner-Up: Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby

Best Vocal or Motion Capture Performance

Winner: Oona Chaplin, Avatar: Fire and Ash
Runner-Up: Arden Cho, KPop Demon Hunters

Best Ensemble Cast

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: One Battle After Another

Best Animated Feature

Winner: KPop Demon Hunters
Runner-Up: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Best Documentary

Winner: The Perfect Neighbor
Runner-Up: Cover-Up

Best International Feature

Winner: Sentimental Value
Runner-Up: No Other Choice

Best Original Score

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: The Testament of Ann Lee

Best Original Song

Winner: “I Lied to You,” Sinners
Runner-Up: “Golden,” KPop Demon Hunters

Best Cinematography

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: Train Dreams

Best Production Design

Winner: Frankenstein
Runner-Up: Sinners

Best Hair & Makeup

Winner: Frankenstein
Runner-Up: Sinners

Best Costume Design

Winner: Frankenstein
Runner-Up: Hedda

Best Sound

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: F1

Best Editing

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: Marty Supreme

Best Visual Effects

Winner: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Runner-Up: Superman

Best Stunt Work or Fight Choreography

Winner: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Runner-Up: Thunderbolts*

Best Horror Film

Winner: Sinners
Runner-Up: The Ugly Stepsister

Best Comedy

Winner: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Runner-Up: The Naked Gun

Best Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film

Winner: Superman
Runner-Up: Mickey 17

Best Action Film

Winner: Superman
Runner-Up: F1

Film Win Tally

• Sinners – 12 wins
• Frankenstein – 4 wins
• Superman – 2 wins
• Avatar: Fire and Ash – 2 wins
• KPop Demon Hunters – 1 win
• The Perfect Neighbor – 1 win
• Sentimental Value – 1 win
• One Battle After Another – 1 win
• Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – 1 win
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – 1 win
• Hamnet – 1 win
• Weapons – 1 win

Could ‘Sinners’ Be the Oscar Favorite?

The overwhelming support for Sinners at this years awards reinforces its standing as one of the strongest contenders heading into the Academy Awards race. Films that dominate critics’ awards often carry that momentum into Oscar night, especially when their victories span both major categories and technical fields.

Ryan Coogler’s direction has been widely praised for balancing intimate character work with sweeping cinematic spectacle. Michael B. Jordan’s lead performance has likewise generated significant awards buzz throughout the season, and the film’s sweeping wins in editing, cinematography, and sound highlight how effectively its craft elements support the narrative.

Beyond its critical acclaim, Sinners also represents the kind of ambitious, director-driven filmmaking that frequently resonates with Academy voters. If awards momentum continues to build, the film could emerge as a leading contender for Best Picture at the Oscars.

That said, strong competition remains. Films such as Sorry, Baby, Hamnet, and One Battle After Another continue to earn attention throughout the awards circuit, and the Academy has historically favored a variety of storytelling styles. Still, the sheer number of wins here suggests Sinners has firmly planted itself in the center of the conversation.