'Adolescence' extends awards streak with multiple wins at Critics Choice Awards 2026
Los Angeles, January 5
The limited series Adolescence seems to be on a winning streak at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, taking home several honours on Sunday. The critically acclaimed show emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, further cementing its position as one of the most talked-about limited series in recent times.
The series won the award for Best Limited Series. Writer-producer and lead actor Stephen Graham accepted the honour on stage along with co-stars Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty.
According to People, while speaking on stage, Graham thanked the cast and crew and spoke about equality and teamwork. He emphasised that everyone involved in the show was equal and shared how his mother taught him important life values. He also spoke about children and urged parents to show love to their kids.
"I'd like to thank all the cast and crew, because without any one of them, none of this is possible. We're all exactly the same," Graham said during his acceptance speech.
"When I was a kid, my mom told me, 'You're never above anyone and you're never below anyone.' So we're all equal. And I think the ethos that we carried into this piece, that paid off in this production," he added.
In addition to the Best Limited Series win, Adolescence also dominated the acting categories. Stephen Graham won Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television for his portrayal of Eddie Miller. Owen Cooper received the award for Best Supporting Actor, while Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actress in the same category.
16-year-old Owen Cooper, who plays a pivotal role in the series, spoke about the life-changing impact the past year has had on him and his family.
While speaking on stage, Cooper reflected on how the past year had changed his life and thanked the makers of the show and his family for standing by him. He said, "This past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family, honestly. It's changed our lives forever, and we're forever grateful. We've cherished every single moment of it. To the directors, the producers, the cast, and the crew -- you took me on an emotional journey I never imagined I could go on."
Adolescence was among the most nominated shows at this year's Critics Choice Awards, earning six nominations in total. The series had earlier won Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series at the 2025 Emmy Awards.
In the four-episode Netflix series Adolescence, Owen plays Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old schoolboy who is arrested in a murder case. The show does not focus on who committed the crime, but instead looks at why Jamie's life took that direction. The series also stars Stephen Graham as Jamie's father, Christine Tremarco as his mother, and Amelie Pease as his sister. According to Deadline, the show crossed more than 141 million views in its first three months, becoming Netflix's second most-watched series after Wednesday.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Stephen Graham's speech about equality and his mother's lesson really resonated. "You're never above anyone and you're never below anyone" – that's a universal truth we should all remember, whether in Mumbai or LA. Glad to see a show with such a strong ethos getting its due. The 141 million views don't lie!
While I'm happy for their success, I do hope Indian limited series and OTT content get this kind of international recognition soon. We have phenomenal stories and actors who deserve a global platform too. That said, congratulations to the entire team of 'Adolescence' – sweeping both series and acting awards is no small feat!
The part about urging parents to show love to their kids is so important. The pressures on adolescents today are immense, globally. A show that examines the root causes of why a child's life goes off track is performing a great service. More power to such meaningful storytelling.
Wow, second most-watched after Wednesday? That's huge. Must be quite the show. The fact that it's only four episodes is appealing – sometimes these limited series tell a tighter, more impactful story. Adding it to my watchlist tonight! Hope it lives up to the hype.
Respectfully, while the awards are well-deserved, I find the Critics Choice sometimes leans towards very specific types of narratives. I hope they also recognize diverse genres and storytelling styles from around the world in the future. Still, congratulations to the winners – a clean sweep is impressive.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.