2025 Critics Choice Awards winners: Conclave and Ralph Fiennes gather momentum as the film nabs Best Ensemble

The 2025 Critics Choice Awards got off to a strong start on Friday when Conclave earned the first award of the evening for Best Ensemble. The film's star, Ralph Fiennes, accepted the award for the film, which depicts the secretive and suspenseful selection of a new pope. 'We all enjoyed being in our red skirts together,' Fiennes joked while representing his costars, including Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow.

The win has helped cement the late-breaking Oscars momentum for Fiennes and Conclave. The Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler, are finally taking place at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, after twice being delayed due to the devastating LA fires. The show was first slated to take place on Sunday, January 12, before being pushed to Sunday, January 26. The 2025 Critics Choice Awards got off to a strong start on Friday when Conclave earned the first award of the evening for Best Ensemble, with its lead Ralph Fiennes accepting.

The early win cements the Oscars momentum for Conclave and Fiennes; pictured in a still from the film. But due to the venue's close proximity to the fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades, ceremony officials decided to push the show to February. Wicked, Conclave and Shogun lead the nominations. Wicked scored the most Critics Choice Awards 2025 nominations, including major nods for its stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, as the musical ties Conclave for the most nominations with 11.

Both Wicked and Conclave are also up for the biggest prize of the night in Best Picture. The two films will face off against an impressive field including: A Complete Unknown, Anora, The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing and The Substance. Ariana, 31, is up for Best Supporting actress, and she will take on Danielle Deadwyler — The Piano Lesson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — Nickel Boys, Margaret Qualley — The Substance, Isabella Rossellini — Conclave, and Zoe Saldaña –—Emilia Pérez.

Cynthia, 38, will also face stiff competition in the coveted Best Actress category, as she is up against: Karla Sofía Gascón — Emilia Pérez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste — Hard Truths, Angelina Jolie — Maria, Mikey Madison — Anora, and Demi Moore — The Substance. Transgender actress Gascon, who has been slammed for resurfaced 'racist' social media posts, is not expected to be in attendance with her Emilia Pérez castmates.

Wicked is centered around Elphaba (Erivo), a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda (Grande), a popular girl. The two become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz, but after an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads. Wicked leads the way with the most Critics Choice Awards 2025 nominations, including major nods for Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The musical earned 11 tying the film Conclave for the most.

Meanwhile, Conclave's Ralph Fiennes leads the Best Actor field, which includes: Adrien Brody — The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet — A Complete Unknown, Daniel Craig — Queer, Colman Domingo — Sing Sing, and Hugh Grant — Heretic. Conclave is centered around Fiennes' character, Cardinal Lawrence, who is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope. But he soon finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.

Rounding out the top individual honors is the Best Supporting Actor category, which features: Yura Borisov — Anora, Kieran Culkin — A Real Pain, Clarence Maclin — Sing Sing, Edward Norton — A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce — The Brutalist, and Denzel Washington — Gladiator II. Both Wicked and Conclave are up for Best Acting Ensemble against Anora, Emilia Pérez, Saturday Night and Sing Sing.

Best Director will be a contentious category, as the field includes: Jacques Audiard — Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker — Anora, Edward Berger — Conclave, Brady Corbet — The Brutalist, Jon M. Chu — Wicked, Coralie Fargeat — The Substance, RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys, and Denis Villeneuve — Dune: Part Two. Behind the two frontrunners with the most nominations were Dune: Part Two and Emilia Perez, which each landed 10 nods.

The Brutalist had nine while Anora and The Substance trailed slightly with seven nominations each. The Critics Choice Awards don't only honor the finest in films, but television as well. Conclave tied with Wicked for most nominations including a Best Actor nod for Ralph Fiennes. Ariana (pictured), 31, is up for Best Supporting actress. She will take on Danielle Deadwyler — The Piano Lesson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — Nickel Boys, Margaret Qualley — The Substance, Isabella Rossellini — Conclave, and Zoe Saldaña — Emilia Pérez.