Screen Awards 2025: Full List of Winners Revealed

The Screen Awards are a new celebration of the year’s top movies, TV shows, and anime. Created by a partnership of ScreenRant, Collider, CBR, and MovieWeb, these awards bring together critics and editors from Valnet to honor the most memorable stories of the year. Covering everything from critically acclaimed films and popular TV series to groundbreaking anime, the Screen Awards showcase the best of today’s screen entertainment.

I’m so excited to share the winners! They really showcase the best of entertainment in 2025 – both the things everyone loved and the truly innovative projects that pushed boundaries. A fantastic group of critics and editors from our publications carefully reviewed everything to choose the winners, so you know these awards are well-deserved.

The Screen Awards 2025 celebrate the best in film and television, recognizing the creators, actors, and shows that truly stood out during the year. These awards honor those who not only entertained audiences and critics but also pushed the boundaries of their craft.

Without further ado, the winners for the 2025 Screen Awards:

Best Picture Winner: One Battle After Another

Collider’s Ross Bonaime:

Paul Thomas Anderson spent around 20 years trying to turn Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland into a film, and he finally succeeded with his most expansive project yet, One Battle After Another. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob, a man with a revolutionary past who must safeguard his daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti), when they are hunted down by Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) after 16 years in hiding.

Since its release in September, One Battle After Another has become the most talked-about film of 2025. It’s not only Paul Thomas Anderson’s most expensive project to date, but also his biggest commercial success, earning over $200 million. Critics at Sight and Sound, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker have all named it the best film of the year, and it’s widely expected to be a major contender at the next Academy Awards. Beyond Anderson’s skillful writing and directing, and a particularly comedic performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, the film’s acclaimed cast – including Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor, alongside Penn and Infiniti – has been a highlight. One Battle After Another is considered one of PTA’s most ambitious, impactful, and relevant films to date.

Best TV Series Winner: The Pitt

Collider’s Carly Lane:

With so many medical shows on television, HBO Max’s The Pitt seemed destined for success, especially with its unique storytelling approach. Created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by John Wells and star Noah Wyle, the first season of The Pitt unfolds in real-time over a single 15-hour shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The show follows the doctors, nurses, and staff as they deal with the challenges and rewards of emergency medicine, led by attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Wyle).

Initially, The Pitt received positive reviews for its stories and acting. However, it gradually gained a dedicated fanbase as each episode was released. Getting approval from medical professionals was a major challenge, so when doctors and emergency room staff praised the show’s realism – even noting how accurately it reflected real-life situations – it was a significant win. With Season 2 already in production, fans won’t have to wait long for more episodes. The show’s success also indicates a revival of compelling, high-quality dramas, and suggests it could have a lasting positive impact on television.

Best Lead Actress Winner: Jessie Buckley

ScreenRant’s Gregory Nussen:

I was absolutely floored by Jessie Buckley’s performance in Hamnet. It’s the kind of raw, deeply affecting work you almost never see these days. She plays Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, and brings her to life with such spirit and strength. Watching her fall in love felt completely new, like witnessing the very birth of the emotion. And when her character experiences the loss of a child, it’s devastating – it genuinely felt like I was experiencing that grief alongside her for the very first time. It’s a truly remarkable performance in Chloé Zhao’s beautiful adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel.

While Buckley has already gained recognition with an Oscar-nominated performance in The Lost Daughter (2022), her role as Agnes is likely to be the most defining of her career so far. She brings Agnes’s deep empathy, unwavering love, and passionate anger to life with a raw and unforgettable intensity.

Best Lead Actress Winner (TV): Rhea Seehorn

Collider’s Tania Hussain:

Moving from a strong supporting role to leading one of the most anticipated TV shows of 2025 would be challenging for many, but Rhea Seehorn handles it with incredible skill in Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus. She reimagines the typical sci-fi hero, often performing alone for extended periods—without another actor or dialogue—connecting directly with the audience. Through her character, Carol Sturka—the sole unhappy person remaining after an alien virus turns everyone else into a blissful collective—Seehorn delivers a complex performance that is both vulnerable and witty, with a sharp, compelling edge.

What truly sets her performance apart is her ability to portray Carol’s complexities without losing our empathy for her. This realism and authenticity become the emotional heart of the show, allowing Seehorn to skillfully convey the weight of Carol’s experiences – her loneliness, grief, independence, bitterness, and the sacrifices she’s made in pursuit of happiness. She makes Carol feel like a real person, not just an actress playing a role. This is a major reason the show has become so incredibly popular for Apple TV+, quickly becoming their most successful launch ever and earning nominations for both a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award, including one for Seehorn’s leading performance. It’s wonderful to see her talent driving the show’s success.

Best Lead Actor Winner: Michael B. Jordan

ScreenRant’s Graeme Guttmann:

Ryan Coogler’s horror film, Sinners, was a huge hit in the first half of 2025, continuing Warner Bros.’ streak of successes in a record-breaking year. However, the film’s impact goes beyond just box office numbers. Sinners is a deeply moving and disturbing vampire story set in the Mississippi countryside. Michael B. Jordan gives a remarkable performance playing twins Smoke and Stack, a dual role reminiscent of Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap.

Jordan masterfully creates two unique and believable characters, giving each brother individual quirks and habits. Though they’ve returned to town to open a music venue, Smoke and Stack have some amends to make to those they left behind. As we see them reconnect with old flames, friends, and family, it becomes clear how easily they were able to con money from Chicago criminals before disappearing. Much like his powerful performance in Fruitvale Station, Jordan demonstrates a natural talent here, and Sinners gives him the opportunity to showcase his full acting abilities like never before.

Best Lead Actor Winner (TV): Noah Wyle

ScreenRant’s Greg MacArthur:

Noah Wyle was nominated for an Emmy five times in the 1990s for his role as John Carter on ER, but didn’t win until this year when he took home two Emmys for The Pitt. This was a long-awaited victory for Wyle, who plays Dr. Michael Robinavitch, a central figure at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center in HBO Max’s popular medical series.

At the 2025 Emmys, The Pitt was a major winner, taking home awards for Outstanding Drama Series – beating out Severance, which had the most nominations with 27 – and Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Kimble Wyle, who was also an executive producer on the show. After a hugely successful first season, The Pitt is quickly becoming recognized as one of the greatest TV series ever made, currently ranking at #41 on IMDb’s Top 250 list. Wyle delivers a compelling performance as Dr. Robby, a dedicated and strong ER doctor, expertly portraying both the triumphs and challenges of the job.

Best Supporting Actress Winner: Teyana Taylor

ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman:

Two actresses in One Battle After Another delivered performances worthy of a nomination for Best Supporting Film Actress, alongside Teyana Taylor. In the film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, she portrays Perfidia Beverly Hills, a member of the French 75 revolutionary group and the mother of Willa.

Taylor’s portrayal of Perfidia is central to the film One Battle After Another. She brilliantly captures Perfidia’s rebellious spirit, rage, and impulsiveness as a revolutionary, but also reveals a softer, more insecure side when she becomes a mother. Perfidia is a complex and memorable character, and Taylor’s performance is a highlight of the film.

Similar to another person on this list, Taylor is primarily known as a musician, but she started acting in the 2021 film Coming 2 America. She’s since been praised for her role in the 2023 movie A Thousand and One. Most recently, Taylor received nominations for Best Supporting Actress from both the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes for her work in One Battle After Another.

Best Supporting Actress Winner (TV): Carrie Coon

CBR’s Caralynn Matassa:

The third season of Mike White’s popular HBO series, The White Lotus, known for its dark humor and focus on the lives of guests at a fancy resort, moved its setting to Thailand. Like past seasons, it featured a talented cast including established stars and up-and-coming actors, notably the brilliant Carrie Coon.

Sarah Coon stars as Laurie Duffy, one of three lifelong friends with a complicated, love-hate relationship that’s both awkward and fascinating to watch. Laurie, a lawyer recently going through a divorce, joins Jaclyn, a famous TV actress, and Kate, a wife who enjoys a comfortable country club lifestyle, at a resort. The women constantly tease and talk about each other, but they’re also deeply connected by years of friendship and genuine care.

Coon gives the most subtly complex performance of the season, brilliantly showing how closeness can turn into jealousy, competition, and bitterness, even while love still remains. The highlight is the final scene, where the actor, known for powerful monologues, delivers a deeply vulnerable speech that perfectly captures the complicated and painful connection between the three characters.

Jennifer Coon received an Emmy nomination for her work on The White Lotus, bringing her career total to three nominations, following previous recognition for Fargo Season 3 and The Gilded Age. However, many TV fans best remember her for her breakthrough role as Nora Durst in The Leftovers, where she first showcased her incredible talent for delivering powerful monologues.

Best Supporting Actor Winner: Sean Penn

CBR’s Sean O’Connell & MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer:

Despite all the political discussion surrounding Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, One Battle After Another, at its core, the movie simply asks: who is Willa’s (Chase Infiniti) father – the former radical Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), or his conservative counterpart, Col. Lockjaw? And it’s Sean Penn, in his powerful portrayal of Lockjaw, who brilliantly delivers the film’s pointed commentary on a nation increasingly leaning towards right-wing ideologies.

Despite a stiff, comical walk that hints at hidden prejudices, internal conflicts, and self-disgust, the actor playing Lockjaw doesn’t fully embrace the character’s potential for satire. Instead, he surprisingly and powerfully portrays a figure who is simultaneously sad, funny, and frightening. Hopefully, the actor will appear more relaxed on the Oscars red carpet than Lockjaw does.

Best Supporting Actor Winner (TV): Tramell Tillman

CBR’s Jon Arvedon:

Tramell Tillman’s character, Seth Milchick, continues to be one of the most captivating and disturbing parts of Severance in season 2, just as he was in season 1. He perfectly embodies the strange contrast at Lumon Industries – the company’s insistence on cheerful positivity alongside its strict, controlling nature. This contrast is key to the show’s overall feeling, and Milchick is the one who best represents it this season.

This season, Milchick (played by Tramell Tillman) faces increasing challenges to his authority from more threatening forces at Lumon. This allows Tillman to showcase the character’s unpredictable nature, contrasting his forced positivity with moments of frustration and desperation. He’s a man torn between simply managing things and fiercely defending Lumon’s beliefs, and this internal conflict drives the increasing tension and drama. Milchick is already considered one of the most compelling characters in Severance, and with good reason – the show has received numerous awards and widespread praise, suggesting he’ll remain a memorable figure for years to come.

Best Anime Film Winner: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc

ScreenRant’s Evan D. Mullicane

Following a long wait and a mixed response to the first season, fans of Chainsaw Man were understandably concerned about MAPPA’s movie adaptation of the Reze Arc. Fortunately, both MAPPA and fans will be pleased to know that the new film, based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s incredibly popular manga, is a remarkable success.

Picking up right after the first season of Chainsaw Man, Reze Arc focuses on the complex connection between Denji and Reze. It’s best not to reveal too much about the story, as the film has some great surprises, but it definitely delivers the same raw energy and intense action that fans love about the original manga.

The Reze Arc isn’t just a faithful adaptation of the manga; it actually improves upon it. Director Tatsuya Yoshihara (from MAPPA) made inspired choices that deepen the manga’s already complex themes. If the rest of Chainsaw Man season 2 is as good as this arc, it has the potential to be one of the best anime series ever made.

Best Anime Series Winner: The Summer Hikaru Died

CBR’s Renan Fontes & CBR’s Christy Gibbs:

Anime often has trouble creating truly scary and memorable horror stories, but The Summer Hikaru Died is a notable exception. It expertly builds a sense of unsettling dread and psychological fear, and features a romance that, while clear, feels both deeply real and genuinely chilling.

The anime The Summer Hikaru Died tells a straightforward but captivating story: a young man presumed dead after a hiking accident returns, changed into something…else. What makes it so compelling is its focus on the details and the complex relationship between the two main characters, a friendship both familiar and strangely new after this supernatural event. If you’re an anime fan who’s been craving a truly scary series since shows like From the New World (2012) or the highlights of Wonder Egg Priority (2021), this is easily one of the best anime Netflix has offered this year.

Best Director Winner: Ryan Coogler

ScreenRant’s Todd Gilchrist:

Ryan Coogler, a nominee for the Screen Awards’ directing prize, has particularly excelled at blending commercially successful films with more personal projects. From Fruitvale Station to Sinners, he consistently brings a unique and intimate perspective to his work while still delivering broadly appealing entertainment. This focus on inclusivity is a key element of Sinners, which explains its strong connection with audiences this year.

Despite being a strong contender, Sinners has garnered significant recognition, including 17 nominations from the Critics Choice Association, seven Golden Globe nominations, and six Grammy nominations. Many believe this is the project’s year to win, particularly given its success – it’s earned $368 million and is now among the top ten highest-grossing films of the year.

Best New TV Series Debut Winner: The Pitt

ScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns:

As a huge fan of medical dramas, I’ve always been amazed by how the genre keeps bouncing back, even when it feels like we’ve seen it all. So, when I heard about The Pitt – and that it was reuniting the team behind the groundbreaking ER, including R. Scott Gemmill, John Wells, and Noah Wyle – my expectations were through the roof! Honestly, they didn’t just meet those expectations, they blew past them. It’s incredible how they managed to create something so fresh and innovative, and I truly believe it’s raised the bar for medical dramas all over again.

The show The Pitt follows a tense shift in a Pittsburgh hospital’s emergency room, focusing on the personal and professional lives of the doctors and nurses. While it uses familiar elements of the medical drama genre, it stands out by unfolding in real-time, similar to the show 24. This approach heightens the drama of the realistic and often unsettling medical cases, and allows the talented cast to deliver incredibly powerful performances. With season 2 taking place during the busy July 4th holiday, The Pitt could become one of the top shows of 2026.

2025-12-24 20:57