Sun | Dec 14, 2025

‘Belfast’, ‘West Side Story’ dominate Critics Choice Awards nominations

Published:Tuesday | December 14, 2021 | 12:10 AM
Actors renowned in theatre and film, those new to the silver screen, and a host of talented singers and dancers join Steven Spielberg and his crew in bringing a new adaptation of the original, beloved stage musical ‘West Side Story’ to the big screen.
Actors renowned in theatre and film, those new to the silver screen, and a host of talented singers and dancers join Steven Spielberg and his crew in bringing a new adaptation of the original, beloved stage musical ‘West Side Story’ to the big screen.
In ‘Dune’, a gifted young man must face danger to save the future and his people.
In ‘Dune’, a gifted young man must face danger to save the future and his people.
Kristen Stewart has been nominated for Best Actress for her role as the late Princess Diana in the drama film, ‘Spencer’.
Kristen Stewart has been nominated for Best Actress for her role as the late Princess Diana in the drama film, ‘Spencer’.
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B elfast and West Side Story have dominated the nominations for the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards, each receiving 11 nods.

The Sir Kenneth Branagh comedy-drama, set in 1960s Northern Ireland during the troubles, and the Steven Spielberg remake of the classic musical have both been nominated for Best Picture, and the two film-makers will also go head-to-head for the accolade of Best Director.

Dune and The Power of the Dog picked up 10 nominations each, and will compete for the evening’s biggest award, Best Picture, against Belfast and West Side Story, along with musical film tick, tick…Boom!, Licorice Pizza, King Richard, CODA, Nightmare Alley and Don’t Look Up.

Licorice Pizza and Nightmare Alley collected eight nominations each, while King Richard and Don’t Look Up received a total of six nods.

Kristen Stewart, 31, has been nominated for Best Actress for her role as the late Princess Diana in the drama film Spencer, alongside pop stars Lady Gaga and Alana Haim, who are nominated for House of Gucci and Licorice Pizza, respectively; Nicole Kidman, for her turn as comedy legend Lucille Ball in Meet the Ricardos; The Eyes of Tammy Faye star Jessica Chastain; and The Lost Daughter’s Olivia Colman.

For Best Actor, Nicolas Cage ( Pig) and Benedict Cumberbatch ( The Power of the Dog) both received a nod for their work, along with Andrew Garfield ( tick,tick...Boom!), Peter Dinklage ( Cyrano), Denzel Washington ( The Tragedy of Macbeth), and Will Smith for King Richard.

Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer will reveal the winners live from the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on January 9, 2022.

Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin stated, “We are so proud to be honouring this amazing list of films and the incredibly talented people who made them during this extremely challenging time.

“All eyes are going to be on the Fairmont Century Plaza red carpet and ballroom on January 9th, when the biggest stars in movies and television will be gathered to celebrate the best of the best in entertainment this past year.

“In the safest possible environment, it will mark the return of the kind of glitz and glamour we haven’t been able to enjoy in far too long.”

The nominations for the TV categories were released last week and are led by Succession, with eight nods.