‘Sinners’ ‘The Librarians’ ‘Sentimental Value’ Win at Houston Film Critics Society Awards

Sinners received a record-breaking eight wins at the Houston Film Critics Society 19th Annual Awards, taking Best Picture of 2025, along with Best Director and Screenplay for Ryan Coogler.

Michael B. Jordan was named Best Actor, and the film was honored for the year’s best Ensemble Cast, Cinematography, Original Music Score and Casting.

“Sinners’ landmark success should not be seen as an aberration in cinema, but instead remind us that taking creative risks allow for bold filmmaking and new visions,” said Travis Leamons, president of the organization. “As we do each year, the Houston Critics celebrate their favorites and share their enjoyment with readers and listeners alike. It just so happened we really loved horror in 2025.”

Jesse Buckley won Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet, Jacob Elordi received Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein, and Best Supporting Actress went to Amy Madigan for Weapons.

Winning the Texas Independent Film Award – for the best film made in Texas – was the documentary Kim A. Snyder’s The Librarians, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value was named Best Foreign Language Feature, and The Perfect Neighbor by Geeta Gandbhir won Best Documentary Feature.

2025 Houston Film Critics Society Awards (and nominees)

Best Picture

WINNER: Sinners

Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Train Dreams
Weapons

Best Director

WINNER: Ryan Coogler, Sinners

Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another

Best Actor – Leading Role

WINNER: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent

Best Actress – Leading Role

WINNER: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Best Actor – Supporting Role

WINNER: Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein

Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Paul Mescal, Hamnet
Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

Best Actress – Supporting Role

WINNER: Amy Madigan, Weapons

Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Best Screenplay

WINNER: Ryan Coogler, Sinners

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Rian Johnson, Wake Up Dead Man
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme

Best Animated Feature

WINNER: KPop Demon Hunters

Arco
The Bad Guys 2
Ne Zha 2
Zootopia 2

Best Cinematography

WINNER: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners

Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams
Claudio Miranda, F1
Dan Laustsen, Frankenstein
Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another

Best Documentary Feature

WINNER: The Perfect Neighbor

The Alabama Solution
Cover-Up
My Mom Jayne
Orwell: 2+2=5

Best Foreign Language Feature

WINNER: Sentimental Value

It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
Sirāt

Best Original Score

WINNER: Ludwig Göransson, Sinners

Alexandre Desplat, Frankenstein
Daniel Lopatin, Marty Supreme
Hans Zimmer, F1
Jonny Greenwood, One Battle After Another

Best Original Song

WINNER: “Golden”, KPop Demon Hunters

“I Lied to You”, Sinners
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)”, Sinners
“Our Love”, The Ballad of Wallis Island
“Train Dreams”, Train Dreams

Best Visual Effects

WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash

F1
Frankenstein
Sinners
Superman

Best Stunt Coordination Team

WINNER: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Ballerina
F1
One Battle After Another
Sinners

Best Casting

WINNER: Francine Maisler, Sinners

Cassandra Kulukundis, One Battle After Another
Jennifer Venditti, Marty Supreme
Nina Gold, Hamnet
Robin D. Cook, Frankenstein

Best Ensemble

WINNER: Sinners

One Battle After Another
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Wake Up Dead Man

Texas Independent Film Award

WINNER: The Librarians

Ick
Luv Ya Bum
Selena y Los Dinos
The Senior