For the first time in its history, the Critics Choice Association has released an official shortlist across 11 artisan categories, spotlighting the behind-the-scenes craftspeople who created some of the year’s most acclaimed films.
The shortlists, which span categories from cinematography and editing to production design and original score, include three new categories: sound, stunt design, and casting and ensemble. They arrive just ahead of the organization’s nomination voting, which begins today. Nomination ballots were sent to more than 500 CCA members on Monday. Each artisan category will yield six official nominees, and the best picture race will recognize 10 films. All CCA members will vote on all other major categories, including acting, screenplay and best picture.
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Among the contenders, a few titles stood out across multiple categories. Warner Bros.’ “Sinners” emerged as a dominant force with 13, appearing on shortlists for cinematography, costume design, editing, hair and makeup, sound, visual effects, original score, three original songs and stunt design — a remarkable feat that signals widespread recognition for its craft across the board.
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Three films were right behind with nine mentions apiece.
Netflix’s “Frankenstein” also turned in a robust showing, landing mentions for production design, cinematography, editing, hair and makeup, sound, visual effects and score. The gothic reimagining continues to gain momentum as a favorite in both technical and creative circles.
Apple’s high-octane “F1” made strong appearances across editing, sound, visual effects, score and two for original song. The racing drama not only proved its technical excellence but also earned spots on the longlist for production design and casting and ensemble.
Coming off its blockbuster weekend, Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good” brought musical spectacle to the artisan fields, appearing on shortlists for costume design, hair and makeup, production design, sound, visual effects, two original songs and stunt design.
Warner Bros. led all studios in total mentions with 31, which also includes multiple mentions for Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” and James Gunn’s “Superman.” Netflix wasn’t far behind with 21, while A24 nabbed 12, Focus Features with 10 and Neon picking up nine.
The newly instituted artisan shortlists align the Critics Choice Awards more closely with below-the-line recognition seen at guild awards and the Oscars. They also allow some eclectic selections to be seen by the broader group of members. Some of the surprising entries include Paramount Pictures’ “Roofman” and Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in production design, IFC’s “The Ugly Stepsister” and GKids’ “Kokuho” in hair and makeup, and A24’s “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Apple’s “The Lost Bus” in sound.
Several anticipated December releases, including James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James L. Brooks’ “Ella McCay” and Paul Feig’s “The Housemaid,” were not screened in time for the Nominating Committee process and were thus excluded from shortlists. However, each artisan category on the final CCA ballot includes one open slot, allowing members to recognize an eligible late-year release.
CCA nomination ballots are due Dec. 3 for above-the-line and Dec. 4 for below-the-line categories. The CCA film nominations will be announced on Dec. 5. Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards will take place on Jan. 4, 2025, on E!.
The shortlist categories are below.
“A House of Dynamite” (Netflix) — Susanne Scheel
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Nina Gold
“Jay Kelly” (Netflix) — Douglas Aibel and Nina Gold
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Jennifer Venditti
“No Other Choice” (Neon) — no credited casting director
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Cassandra Kulukundis
“Rental Family” (Searchlight Pictures) — Kei Kawamura and Yumi Takada
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Francine Maisler
“The Long Walk” (Lionsgate) — Rich Delia
“The Plague” (IFC) — Rebecca Dealy
“The Secret Agent” (Neon) — Gabriel Domingues
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) — Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey
Production Design
“A House of Dynamite” (Netflix) — Jeremy Hindle and David Schlesinger
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.) — Ben Munro, Mark Tildesley, Reynan Castro Del Rosario, Andrew McCarthy and Véronique Melery
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios) — Kasra Farahani and Jille Azis
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton
“Hedda” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Cara Brower and Stella Fox
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Jack Fisk and Adam Willis
“No Other Choice” (Neon) — Ryu Seong-hie
“Roofman” (Paramount Pictures) — Inbal Weinberg and Kendall Anderson
“Sentimental Value” (Neon) — Jørgen Stangebye Larsen and Catrine Gormsen
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Hannah Bleachler and Monique Champagne
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) — Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
Cinematography
“28 Years Later” (Sony Pictures) — Anthony Dod Mantle
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.) — Claudio Miranda
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Dan Laustsen
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Łukasz Żal
“Jay Kelly” (Netflix) — Linus Sandgren
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Darius Khondji
“No Other Choice” (Neon) — Kim Woo-hyung
“Nouvelle Vague” (Netflix) — David Chambille
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Michael Bauman
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Autumn Durald Arkapaw
“The Plague” (IFC) — Steven Breckon
“Train Dreams” (Netflix) — Adolpho Veloso
Costume Design
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios) — Alexandra Byrne
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Kate Hawley
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Malgosia Turzanska
“Hedda” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Lindsay Pugh
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions) — Colleen Atwood and Christine L. Cantella
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Miyako Bellizzi
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Colleen Atwood
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Ruth E. Carter
“Song Sung Blue” (Focus Features) — Ernesto Martinez
“The Secret Agent” (Neon) — Rita Azevedo
“The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures) — Malgorzata Karpiuk
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) — Paul Tazewell
Editing
“A House of Dynamite” (Netflix) — Kirk Baxter
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.) — Stephen Mirrione
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Evan Schiff
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Chloé Zhao and Affonso Gonçalves
“It Was Just an Accident” (Neon) — Amir Etminan
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
“No Other Choice” (Neon) — Kim Sang-bum
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Andy Jurgensen
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Michael P. Shawver
“The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix) — Viridiana Lieberman
“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” (Netflix) — Bob Ducsay
“Weapons” (Warner Bros.) — Joe Murphy
Hair and Makeup
“28 Years Later” (Sony Pictures)
“Bugonia” (Focus Features)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hedda” (Amazon MGM Studios)
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)
“Kokuho” (GKids)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Superman” (Warner Bros.)
“The Smashing Machine” (A24)
“The Ugly Stepsister” (IFC)
“Weapons” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Sound
“A House of Dynamite” (Netflix)
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (A24)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Sirāt” (Neon)
“Superman” (Warner Bros.)
“The Lost Bus” (Apple Original Films)
“Warfare” (A24)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Visual Effects
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Universal Pictures)
“Mickey 17” (Warner Bros.)
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (Paramount Pictures)
“Predator: Badlands” (20th Century Studios)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Sketch” (Angel)
“Superman” (Warner Bros.)
“Tron: Ares” (Walt Disney Pictures)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Original Score
“A House of Dynamite” (Netflix) — Volker Bertlemann
“Bugonia” (Focus Features) — Jerskin Fendrix
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.) — Hans Zimmer
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Alexandre Desplat
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Max Richter
“Hedda” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Hildur Guðnadóttir
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Daniel Lopatin
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Jonny Greenwood
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Ludwig Göransson
“Sirāt” (Neon) — Kangding Ray
“The Plague” (IFC) — Johan Lenox
“Tron: Ares” (Walt Disney Pictures) — Nine Inch Nails
Original Song
“Clothed by the Sun” — “The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Dear Me” — “Diane Warren: Relentless” (Greenwich Entertainment)
“Drive” — “F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Lose My Mind” — “F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Golden” — “KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix)
“Highest 2 Lowest” — “Highest 2 Lowest” (A24/Apple Original Films)
“I Lied to You” — “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” — “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Pale, Pale Moon” — “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“The Girl in the Bubble” — “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
“No Place Like Home” — “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
“Train Dreams” — “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Stunt Design
“Ballerina” (Lionsgate)
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (Paramount Pictures)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
“Predator: Badlands” (20th Century Studios)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Superman” (Warner Bros.)
“The Smashing Machine” (A24)
“Thunderbolts*” (Marvel Studios)
“Warfare” (A24)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)