‘The Shape of Water’ and ‘Feud: Bette and Joan’ Lead Nominations for 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards

Jordan Bailey

As award season continues along its path of prestige, the Critics’ Choice Awards are gearing up for their ceremony as well. Airing live on The CW on Jan. 11, the best in film and television will be honored at the 23rd annual star-studded event.

Topping the ranks this year in the film categories is the Guillermo del Toro directed “The Shape of Water” with a whopping total of 14 nominations. Getting the most headlines thus far is the star of the film Sally Hawkins – recent recipient of the L.A. Film Critics Association award for Best Actress –  who seems to be a frontrunner for the Best Actress category. Alongside her is del Toro for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for the film, as well as co-stars Richard Jenkins for Best Supporting Actor and Octavia Spencer for Best Supporting Actress. Other potential wins could come from Best Sci-Fi or Horror Movie, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Score, among others.

“The Shape of Water” will no doubt face stiff competition in the Best Picture category, which also includes the WWII epic “Dunkirk,” Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut “Lady Bird,” the journalism thriller “The Post” and comedian Jordan Peele’s horror entrance “Get Out.” “Call Me By Your Name” is another in the Best Picture category. This sexualized tale has caused waves of praise for both its moving storyline and performances from Armie Hammer and young co-star – and Best Actor nominee – Timothée Chalamet. “The Big Sick” will join the ranks in Best Picture as well with star and writer Kumail Nanjiani also nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy and Best Original Screenplay alongside his girlfriend and fellow writer Emily V. Gordon. In fact, there are a handful of writer/directors up for multiple awards including the aforementioned Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele, plus British writer Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), all of whom are up for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

On the small screen, Netflix dominated all categories with 20 nominations. While HBO and FX received 15 and 13, respectively. Most notably from FX, though, is Ryan Murphy’s latest anthology project “Feud: Bette and Joan” which leads the pack with 6 television nominations including Best Limited Series. Co-star of the show Jessica Lange has been put up for Best Actress in a Movie Made for TV or Limited Series, as well. The HBO star-studded mini-series “Big Little Lies” (Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley) and FX’s Minnesota crime thriller “Fargo” each received five nods each. As far as the Best Drama Series goes, Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and “The Crown,” and Hulu’s breakout series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” will all go up against the HBO’s monolith show “Game of Thrones.”

The 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards will air Jan. 11 on The CW.