‘Spotlight,’ Leonardo DiCaprio and Brie Larson win big at Critics’ Choice Awards

The investigative journalism drama “Spotlight” won the top prize at the Critics’ Choice Awards on Sunday, while awards favourites Brie Larson and Leonardo DiCaprio won the top acting prizes for “Room” and “The Revenant,” the Associated Press reports.

Both actors won Golden Globe Awards and are considered front-runners for the Academy Awards, too.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” was the most nominated film of the evening with 13 nominations from the Broadcast Film Critics’ Association. While it lost out for the top prize, it did win a number of awards, including Best Director for George Miller, best action movie, and best action movie actor and actress for Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.

The financial crisis dramedy “The Big Short,” meanwhile, won for best comedy and best comedic actor for star Christian Bale, who kissed both his wife and director Adam McKay on his way up to the stage to accept his award.

Both were up for best picture Oscar heavyweights like “Spotlight,” ”The Revenant” and “The Martian,” as well as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which was added after initial nominees were announced and went home empty handed on Sunday.