What the Critics’ Choice Awards are and why they matter
The Critics’ Choice Awards, presented by the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA), highlight the best in film and television each year. In 2022, the ceremony highlighted emerging talent and reaffirmed the momentum of acclaimed series and movies from the previous season. Unlike some peer awards shaped by industry voting alone, the Critics’ Choice Awards emphasize reviews and informed criticism. This explainer clarifies how the Critics’ Choice Awards operated in 2022, which titles won, and how these choices reflected broader critical sentiment.
2022 winners: film highlights
The 27th Critics’ Choice Awards in 2022 honored films released in 2021. The ceremony typically spans motion picture and television categories, and the following table summarizes key verified winners in major film categories for that edition.
| Category | Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | The Power of the Dog | Drama, directed by Jane Campion |
| Best Actor | Benedict Cumberbatch | The Power of the Dog |
| Best Actress | Jessica Chastain | The Eyes of Tammy Faye |
| Best Director | Jane Campion | The Power of the Dog |
| Best Supporting Actor | Kodi Smit-McPhee | The Power of the Dog |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kirsten Dunst | The Power of the Dog |
These winners reflect the 2022 Critics’ Choice focus on craft-driven, character-led drama. The ceremony takes place annually before the major global awards seasons, positioning it as an early indicator of critical favor.
2022 winners: television highlights
Television categories in the 2022 Critics’ Choice Awards recognized storytelling that balanced ambitious scope with intimate character work. The following table outlines notable television winners from that ceremony.
| Category | Winner | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Best Comedy Series | Ted Lasso | Apple TV+ |
| Best Drama Series | Succession | HBO |
| Best Actor in a Comedy Series | Jason Sudeikis | Ted Lasso |
| Best Actress in a Drama Series | Sarah Snook | Succession |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Nicholas Braun | Succession |
| Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Jodie Comer | The Undoing |
Succession and Ted Lasso dominated the television side of the 2022 Critics’ Choice Awards, underscoring the awards’ attention to ensemble writing, performance, and direction.
How the Critics’ Choice Awards are decided
Members of the Broadcast Television Journalists Association vote on television categories, while film categories are decided by the full BTJA membership, which includes professional journalists who regularly cover entertainment. Key rules and norms include:
- Voting windows: Nominees are typically announced in December, with winners revealed in early January.
- Eligibility: Films must have premiered in the prior calendar year and meet screening thresholds; television episodes must air in the prior calendar year.
- Runoff practices: Some categories may use ranked-choice voting or runoff-style tabulation to determine final winners, depending on member agreement for that cycle.
The Critics’ Choice process aims to reflect consensus critical judgment rather than popularity alone. This emphasis on review quality shapes its reputation as a critics’ awards body rather than a purely popularity contest.
Notable trends and context in the 2022 cycle
The 2022 Critics’ Choice Awards arrived amid a busy awards season that included major guild honors and festival premieres. Several observations help frame how these awards fit into the broader landscape:
- Early momentum: Wins here often precede or align with recognition from the Oscars, BAFTAs, and guilds, especially for Best Picture and major acting categories.
- Streaming and premium cable balance: While streaming platforms gained presence, traditional premium cable and major studios continued to perform strongly.
- International reach: Films like The Power of the Dog demonstrated how non–U.S.-centric stories can achieve broad critical acclaim.
How this differs from other award bodies
Compared with guild awards, critics’ groups like the Critics’ Choice Awards prioritize reviews and cultural impact over craft-union membership. Compared with audience-voted honors, they rely on informed journalism. That distinction makes the Critics’ Choice Awards a useful barometer of critical sentiment, even if their influence shifts year to year. Understanding this helps interpret which titles gain traction here and how that might ripple into later voting bodies.
Evergreen takeaways on the Critics’ Choice Awards
The Critics’ Choice Awards are best understood as a critics-first prize that amplifies momentum rather than setting it. Their value lies in spotlighting work that meets clear critical standards, often rewarding craft and performance consistency. For audiences and industry watchers, they offer one data point among many, useful for anticipating wider recognition but not a guarantee of subsequent wins. Their criteria, voting body, and category structures evolve slowly, making past winners and trends reliable guides to how the awards typically function.