"Sinners," "Wicked," and "F1" Lead the Critics Choice Below-the-Line Shortlists

Nov 24

The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards have unveiled their shortlists for the "below-the-line" categories, honoring the artisans and craftspeople who bring films to visual and sonic life. The results show strong support for Warner Bros.' Sinners

, Universal's Wicked: For Good, and Apple Original Films'

F1, which dominated the technical categories.

For the first time, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) has released shortlists in 11 craft categories to better align with other guild and Oscar awards processes, highlighting a diverse range of cinematic achievements.

Craft Categories Frontrunners

The nominees for the "above-the-line" categories (acting, directing, picture) are set to be announced on December 5, 2025, but the craft shortlists give a strong indication of which films are technical powerhouses.

Sinners emerged as the overall leader with an impressive 13 mentions across the board, from cinematography to sound and original songs. The film

F1 also showed a strong technical presence in editing, visual effects, and score, while the musical spectacle of

Wicked: For Good appeared on shortlists for costume design, hair/makeup, and production design.

Full List of Below-the-Line Categories Shortlists

The final nominees for the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards, which will take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026, will be chosen from the following craft category shortlists: