‘Deadpool and Wolverine,' ‘Thunderbolts,' ‘The Last of Us' lead the 2025 Critics Choice Super Awards nominations
The pair of Marvel Studios movies lead the film nominations for the fifth annual Critics Choice Super Awards, with six apiece including Best Superhero Movie. That top category is rounded out by Captain America: Brave New World, The People's Joker, Robot Dreams, and Venom: The Last Dance.
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For television, HBO's zombie apocalypse drama The Last of Us leads the field with six bids, including Best Superhero Series, Limited Series, or Made-for-TV Movie. The other programs competing in that race are Agatha All Along, The Boys, Fallout, The Penguin, and Superman & Lois.
Liane Hentscher/HBO
The Critics Choice Super Awards honor films and shows in four separate genres: action, superhero (which includes comic book and video game adaptations), horror, and science fiction/fantasy. While heroes are the stars of the show, there are also two categories for villains. This year's nominated baddies are: Austin Butler (Dune: Part Two), Emma Corrin (Deadpool & Wolverine), Hugh Grant (Heretic), Jack O'Connell (Sinners), Lewis Pullman (Thunderbolts), and Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) for film; and Vincent D'Onofrio (Daredevil: Born Again), Michael Emerson (Evil), Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Takehiro Hira (Shōgun), Julianne Nicholson (Paradise), and Jesse Plemons (Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity) for television.
"The Super Awards continue to spotlight the incredible achievements in genre cinema and television. This year's slate of nominees truly blew us away with their performances and craftsmanship. These selections represent the very best of popular culture, and we can't wait to see who takes home the honors," Sean O'Connell, CCA director of the Super Awards, said.
Marvel Studios
The eligibility period for scripted features and TV series is from Jan. 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. Content may be delivered to audiences theatrically and/or by broadcast, cable, or online apps and services.
Here are the 2025 Critics Choice Super Awards nominations:
BEST ACTION MOVIE Civil War The Fall Guy Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Monkey Man Rebel Ridge Warfare
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE Tom Cruise – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Taron Egerton – Carry-On Ryan Gosling – The Fall Guy Dev Patel – Monkey Man Aaron Pierre – Rebel Ridge Jack Quaid – Novocaine
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE Emily Blunt – The Fall Guy Ana de Armas – From the World of John Wick: Ballerina Kirsten Dunst – Civil War Cailee Spaeny – Civil War June Squibb – Thelma Anya Taylor-Joy – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE Captain America: Brave New World Deadpool & Wolverine The People's Joker Robot Dreams Thunderbolts Venom: The Last Dance
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE David Harbour – Thunderbolts Tom Hardy – Venom: The Last Dance Hugh Jackman – Deadpool & Wolverine Anthony Mackie – Captain America: Brave New World Lewis Pullman – Thunderbolts Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool & Wolverine
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE Emma Corrin – Deadpool & Wolverine Vera Drew – The People's Joker Lady Gaga – Joker: Folie à Deux Jennifer Garner – Deadpool & Wolverine Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Thunderbolts Florence Pugh – Thunderbolts
BEST HORROR MOVIE Bring Her Back Heretic Longlegs Nosferatu Sinners The Substance
BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR MOVIE Nicolas Cage – Longlegs David Dastmalchian – Late Night With the Devil Hugh Grant – Heretic Michael B. Jordan – Sinners Bill Skarsgård – Nosferatu Justice Smith – I Saw the TV Glow
BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE Lily-Rose Depp – Nosferatu Willa Fitzgerald – Strange Darling Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back Demi Moore – The Substance Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners Naomi Scott – Smile 2
BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Alien: Romulus Companion Dune: Part Two Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Mickey 17 The Wild Robot
BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Austin Butler – Dune: Part Two Timothée Chalamet – Dune: Part Two David Jonsson – Alien: Romulus Robert Pattinson – Mickey 17 Jack Quaid – Companion Miles Teller – The Gorge
BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE Naomi Ackie – Mickey 17 Lupita Nyong'o – The Wild Robot Cailee Spaeny – Alien: Romulus Sophie Thatcher – Companion Alicia Vikander – The Assessment Zendaya – Dune: Part Two
BEST VILLAIN IN A MOVIE Austin Butler – Dune: Part Two Emma Corrin – Deadpool & Wolverine Hugh Grant – Heretic Jack O'Connell – Sinners Lewis Pullman – Thunderbolts Denzel Washington – Gladiator II
BEST ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE 9-1-1 Black Doves The Day of the Jackal The Gentlemen Reacher Shōgun
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Sterling K. Brown – Paradise Theo James – The Gentlemen Eddie Redmayne – The Day of the Jackal Alan Ritchson – Reacher Hiroyuki Sanada – Shōgun Ben Whishaw – Black Doves
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 Viola Davis – G20 Keira Knightley – Black Doves Lashana Lynch – The Day of the Jackal Zoe Saldaña – Lioness Anna Sawai – Shōgun
BEST SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Agatha All Along The Boys Fallout The Last of Us The Penguin Superman & Lois
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Charlie Cox – Daredevil: Born Again Colin Farrell – The Penguin Walton Goggins – Fallout Tyler Hoechlin – Superman & Lois Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us Antony Starr – The Boys
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Danai Gurira – The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Kathryn Hahn – Agatha All Along Cristin Milioti – The Penguin Erin Moriarty – The Boys Ella Purnell – Fallout Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
BEST HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire Evil From The Last of Us True Detective: Night Country What We Do in the Shadows
BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Kevin Bacon – The Bondsman Matt Berry – What We Do in the Shadows Mike Colter – Evil Michael Emerson – Evil Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us Harold Perrineau – From
BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Natasia Demetriou – What We Do in the Shadows Jodie Foster – True Detective: Night Country Katja Herbers – Evil Melanie Lynskey – Yellowjackets Niecy Nash-Betts – Grotesquerie Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
BEST SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Andor Black Mirror Doctor Who Dune: Prophecy Fantasmas Severance
BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Ncuti Gatwa – Doctor Who Walton Goggins – Fallout Diego Luna – Andor Adam Scott – Severance Tramell Tillman – Severance Julio Torres – Fantasmas
BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Adria Arjona – Andor Caitriona Balfe – Outlander Kathryn Hahn – Agatha All Along Britt Lower – Severance Cristin Milioti – Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity Michelle Yeoh – Star Trek: Section 31
BEST VILLAIN IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE Vincent D'Onofrio – Daredevil: Born Again Michael Emerson – Evil Colin Farrell – The Penguin Takehiro Hira – Shōgun Julianne Nicholson – Paradise Jesse Plemons – Black Mirror: USS Callister: Into Infinity
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And finally, I pulled out one of the fabrics that we have there and said, 'let's try the laser cut.' We glued the laser cut on a very thin silk organza fabric. You can't see that there is a fabric underneath that the laser cut, but it is. We really collaborated well with Anna Foerster, director of the first episode, and Pierre Gill, director of photography. We tested literally anything they wanted. Anna wanted to see the reflection of the pattern on the veil in the eye of the actress.' This sounded like a big ask, but there is no doubt that by figuring out how to make such a shot possible Dune: Prophecy as a series is elevated. The fabulous (if slightly terrifying) Bene Gesserit Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) Courtesy of HBO Max 'We managed,' the designer said with a smile, 'we did several tests for that, and we tried different angles, and it really worked. When you see it on the screen, it's good when you're happy with the result, but it's better knowing how many phases you went through to get that result and we were trying different dimensions.' When telling stories on film, there are a variety of options for how the actors, stunt people, stand-ins and extras get their wardrobes. Pieces of clothing can be made for a production, purchased, rented from a costume house, lended or otherwise sourced. But for a science fiction production that takes place thousands of years in the future, but ten thousand years before the source material, your options are severely reduced. I had to ask how many costumes had been made, if a tally had been kept, because there are so many people, whole armies at times, of people in costume on screen. 'I'm so glad that you asked this,' Nikitović said with a grin, 'because this is the most difficult. In a project like this, you're starting from zero. I think we finished with more than 3000 costumes made. We started by gathering fabrics. Some of the things we made in our workshop, we were doing prototypes in our workshop. And for the extras, we were making 10 of these, 15 of these, 20 of these, so, it's a lot.' Bene Gesserit Truthsayers. Courtesy of HBO Max 'We made so many accessories with so many details,' the designer told me. 'We were working on each pair of shoes, adding details, even if we buy it, we have to change something about them so that they are unrecognizable. So it's the projects like this one, when you are starting the first season, it's really challenging.' When I spoke to the designer, she was on set, filming the second season, and she told me about the impact of being greeted by all the work her department had completed last season. 'I was so proud,' the designer told me, 'when we came to this big studio and now it's full of costumes that we made in the first season. Some of them I even forgot. It was coming in nonstop. I was thinking, look how many things we did. I love it so much.' The idea of managing all of this, keeping it all organized, the troubleshooting and continuity issues; this was a massive amount of work. The process part of all of this is particularly interesting, you could give 10 designers the same perimeters and they'd come up with 10 working solutions. Costume design proves, without a doubt, that there is no such thing as a single right way. Lord Pruwet Richese (Charlie Hodson-Prior) and Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) during their Engagement Ceremony during Episode One, Season One of 'Dune: Prophecy'. Courtesy of HBO Max 'It's a process,' Nikitović explained, 'and prep is so important. I really spend a lot of time pulling different references that could help, that could be inspiring for something. I think that all of us in this business, when we are in the project, we are in the project seven days a week, 24 hours a day, nonstop. Even when I'm doing something totally unrelated, maybe I will see a detail and think, 'this could be interesting.' And then I put it in a certain folder just to have it in case I need it.' There are many ways to design clothing, Nikitović prefers to start with an illustration. For her, this is an important part of the process. 'I like to make the first drawing by myself because I like to draw. Then I send it to my illustrator, then she sent it back. Then I do corrections and then it goes back and forth many times before we have the final version.' Princess Ynez's red engagement ceremony dress and veil designed by Bojana Nikitović on a mannequin. Courtesy of Bojana Nikitović Some details come from the script, some from a director or showrunner, some come from actors and some are left up to the designer. I asked Nikitović where the palettes for the families came into all of that. 'Color palettes are so important,' she said, 'and when I was preparing presentations for the studios, showrunner, et cetera, I started from that. Like Valach 9 is all about cold, it's misty, it's windy. It's the cold palette, and the costumes were different shades of gray. Then black for Reverend Mothers and Mother Superior. Then we came to Salusa Secundus, which is completely Mediterranean. And then we have Corrinos, which are the most powerful family in the universe.' 'We wanted to show the power, but also the tradition, the dignity, the regality, and the reality. So we went to Burgundy or Pomegranate Red and different kinds of Royal Blue, Teal, a lot of gold, but the gold that is not shiny and cheap, but it looks matte from the generations before. I'm really obsessed with the details- I love them so much. Even when they're not visible, I know that they're there.' Empress Natalya (Jhodi May) in the dark red and matte gold of the royal family, House Carrino. Courtesy of HBO Max I could not leave the conversation before asking the designer about the incredible red corset, panniers and gown worn by Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) in the first episode. It is an exquisitely designed, impeccably crafted confection that gives off the feeling of an iron core. 'I'm really sorry that we never saw all the details on the corset in the series,' Nikitović said, 'because we literally created the whole system of closing it. The scene where Natalia, her mother, is helping was so important, helping Ynez to put the corset and the panniers on was an introduction to the red dress that we are going to see later. It was also an important moment between a mother and daughter, and we all know how complicated those relationships can be. We liked the corset so much, and it was almost a golden cage that we are putting Ynez into. The whole dress was created to show that, in a way, she's confined in the whole story of this forced engagement and future marriage that she has to say yes to, because of the most important things in her family and in the whole universe.' A digital illustration of Princess Ynez's red engagement dress and veil. Courtesy of HBO Max 'The corset was created to be part of the upper part of the dress. The skirts created a net, almost like a spider web, or a cage, something that she's, in a way, trapped in. It was made using laser cut, layering one fabric on top of the other. It was really fun to do it. I have a great team, I must say. I'm always emphasizing that, because without a great team, no one can do such a big project like this. I have amazing, amazing textile artists and breakdown artists and girls who are doing dyeing. They're capable of making a copy that looks like the original.' 'In this kind of project,' the designer continued, 'when it's all about so many details, with all this embossing and textures, and somebody has to do the laser cutting, et cetera, et cetera. But I'm telling you, with a great team, it's all possible. I have a brilliant milliner, Snežana Pešić, we've been working together almost, like more than 25 years. We really understand each other, can almost communicate without speaking.' Like the Bene Gesserit I asked? 'Yes,' Nikitović laughed, 'almost like them.' Stillsuits are coming!!! Courtesy of HBO Max MORE FROM FORBES Forbes All Hail Qveen Herby: A Conversation About Costume Versus Clothing By Rachel Elspeth Gross Forbes Bringing Beloved Characters To Life For Amazon Prime's 'Wheel Of Time' By Rachel Elspeth Gross Forbes The Unusual Language Of Class In Netflix's 'Sirens' By Rachel Elspeth Gross
