One Battle After Another and Hamnet lead the nominations at the 46th London Critics’ Circle Awards as Leonardo DiCaprio and Jessie Buckley vie for Actor and Actress of the Year

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Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, ‘One Battle After Another,’ is gaining significant awards season momentum, receiving nine nominations at the 46th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

As a lifestyle and entertainment enthusiast, I’m excited to share that the new thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio is already making waves! It’s a gripping story about a man who’s tried to leave his dangerous past behind, but gets pulled back in when a corrupt officer starts hunting him down. It’s leading the pack with the most nominations, announced just yesterday, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a major contender this season.

Chloé Zhao’s film, Hamnet, which imagines William Shakespeare’s grief over the loss of his son (played by Paul Mescal), has received eight nominations.

Both movies are up for Film of the Year. Their stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jessie Buckley – who portrays the grieving Agnes in a Shakespeare adaptation – are also nominated for Actor and Actress of the Year.

Ryan Coogler’s horror film, Sinners, set in the American South, received seven nominations, including for Film of the Year.

Josh Safdie’s sports comedy, Marty Supreme, received six nominations, and the dark comedy-drama Sorry, Baby earned five, with four of those going to Eva Victor, who wrote, directed, and starred in the film.

Oliver Laxe’s Sirāt, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, and Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind all received positive feedback when they premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

Completing the list of the critics’ top ten films are Zach Cregger’s popular summer movie, Weapons, which received three nominations, and Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, with two nominations.

Harry Lighton’s film, Pillion, a compelling drama, has received three award nominations, including British/Irish Film of the Year. It will be up against several other notable films for the prize: Hamnet, the musical comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island by Tom Basden and Tim Key, Yorgos Lanthimos’ satirical sci-fi film Bugonia, and Kirk Jones’ popular movie I Swear.

Jane Crowther, who leads the London Critics’ Circle film section, noted that in an era increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence and predictable formulas, it’s refreshing to see the critics’ chosen films bursting with originality, human emotion, and diverse viewpoints.

These films, filled with powerful stories, authentic experiences, and genuine artistry, prove that some things still require human creativity and can’t be replicated by artificial intelligence.

We’re thrilled to welcome a wide range of talented artists to our awards ceremony in February, where we’ll be honoring their accomplishments.

Oh my gosh, I just found out when they’re announcing the winners! It’s going to be at The May Fair in London on February 1st, 2026! And get this – Mark Kermode is hosting the ceremony! I’m already counting down the days, I absolutely have to be there!

The London Film Critics’ Circle is a long-standing and highly respected group of film critics in the UK. It’s part of the larger Critics’ Circle, which was founded in 1913.

A committee of 207 film critics and journalists – representing newspapers, websites, television, and social media – choose the winners of the awards.

To be considered, films must be released in UK movie theaters or on major streaming platforms between February 2024 and February 2025.

These awards have been given out every year since 1980. Jane Crowther, who edits Hollywood Authentic, leads the film category.

At the 2025 London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, The Brutalist was named Film of the Year. Ralph Fiennes received the Actor of the Year award for his performance in Conclave, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste won Actress of the Year for her work in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.

Zoe Saldaña, the American actress, received two awards for her role in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, including the Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation and Supporting Actress of the Year. Daniel Craig, known for playing James Bond, was given the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film.

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2025-12-15 18:34