Adam Sandler did not take home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Sander, 59, was nominated for the accolade for his portrayal of Ron Sukenick in Jay Kelly but lost to Jacob Elordi, who was up for his portrayal of The Creature in Frankenstein.
During the Sunday, January 4, ceremony held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, Sandler and Elordi, 28, also faced off against Benicio del Toro for One Battle After Another, Paul Mescal for Hamnet, Sean Penn for One Battle After Another and Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value.
The comedian, for his part, arrived at the awards show with his wife, Jackie, by his side. Their two daughters Sadie, 19, and Sunny, 17, meanwhile, stayed home despite walking many red carpets with their parents in the past. (Elordi, meanwhile, walked the red carpet solo.)
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Sandler starred in Jay Kelly alongside George Clooney, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup and more. The film follows an A-list actor named Jay Kelly (Clooney) who is looking back on the time he gave up with his loved ones as he pursued his career. In one last hurrah, Jay has his manager, Ron (Sandler), join him on a trip to Europe.
Jay Kelly was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Casting and Ensemble at the awards show, kicking off the 2026 awards season.
In addition to a Critics Choice Award, Sandler also received a Golden Globe nomination. The awards show will air on Sunday, January 11.
This was not the first time Sandler earned praise for a role in a drama. In 2019, Sandler starred in Uncut Gems. His performance in the Josh Safdie film also earned him a Critics Choice nomination but he ultimately lost to Joaquin Phoenix for his starring role as the titular character in Joker.
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Sandler, who is best known for his comedic performances, earned critical acclaim for his role in the drama. Following the film’s August 2025 premiere, Sandler played it cool when asked about his name being in contention for potential awards.
“Well, that’s real cool and real nice of everybody to say, and I’m just happy I got to be in it,” he told People at the time. “My man [director] Noah Baumbach wrote it, kind of put it all together, got the performances he wanted out of everybody and I’m proud to be in it.”
Sandler’s eldest daughter, Sadie, also had a small role in the film as she played his daughter on screen as well.
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“She’s so good in it and I love her,” Sandler gushed during a November 2025 appearance on Good Morning America. “Proud of her, she worked hard and never stopped preparing.”
Last month, Sandler opened up about how much he enjoys working with his kids. (Sandler’s daughters have appeared in countless of his films over the years.)
“I just like being around them, whether it’s on set or at home when we’re clicking. It’s the best,” Sandler told E! News in December 2025. “It’s just been fun the last few weeks we’ve been running around together. They’re doing some stuff, and Sadie’s in Jay Kelly. She plays my daughter. They’re both really good kids.”
