The 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Who Wasn't There?

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards were a big night for some, but not everyone showed up. The event, hosted by Chelsea Handler at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, saw many stars win big. Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, and Noah Wyle were among the winners. The films Frankenstein and Adolescence took home the most awards. Some big names were in the crowd but didn't win. Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan were there but left empty-handed. Others didn't show up at all. George Clooney's movie Jay Kelly was nominated, but he wasn't there. Adam Sandler represented the film instead. Pamela Anderson's movie The Naked Gun won Best Comedy, but she wasn't present. Fans hoped to see her and Liam Neeson together, but neither attended. Emma Stone, despite her nomination for Bugonia, was also absent.Sean Penn's film One Battle After Another won Best Picture, but he didn't attend with his costars. Gwyneth Paltrow was missing too, even though her costar Chalamet won Best Actor. Cynthia Erivo, Allison Janney, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Crudup, Renée Zellweger, Greta Lee, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Robin Wright were also not there. It's not unusual for stars to skip awards shows. Sometimes they have other commitments, or they just don't want to attend. But it's always interesting to see who shows up and who doesn't. The Critics Choice Awards are just the start of awards season, so there will be more chances for these stars to win and celebrate.