Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor’s film One Battle After Another dominated the Critics Choice Awards on January 4, 2026, taking home three trophies-including Best Picture-while Taylor unveiled a surprising new nickname for her co-star.
> At a Glance
> – Teyana Taylor dubbed Leonardo DiCaprio “Pops” during their red-carpet interview
> – Their film One Battle After Another won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay
> – The pair first met at Diana Ross’s birthday party years ago
> – Why it matters: The movie now leads all films heading into the Golden Globes with nine nominations, positioning it as a major awards-season contender
The duo stopped by E! News on Sunday night, where Taylor, 35, casually referred to 51-year-old DiCaprio as “Pops” while describing her character’s arc.
> Teyana Taylor explained:
> > “Preparing for Perfidia was a lot of conversation with P [director Paul Thomas Anderson], good conversation, you know? Really building those layers … for baby girl Willa to rise and take on these battles along with Pops right here.”
DiCaprio flashed a grin and replied:
> > “Love it. Love it. Whatever she wants to call me.”
Wins and Nominations
One Battle After Another-loosely adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland-also earned Paul Thomas Anderson honors for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. While DiCaprio and Taylor were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress**, respectively, neither converted the nomination into a win.
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Picture | One Battle After Another |
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson |
Plot Snapshot
The film follows a revolutionary couple-played by Taylor and DiCaprio-who raise a daughter while evading government forces. After Taylor’s Perfidia is captured by Sean Penn’s villainous agent, DiCaprio and their daughter vanish for 16 years under new identities.
Awards Momentum
With nine Golden Globe nods-the most of any film this year-the cast and crew have another shot at glory on January 11, 2026.
> Taylor previously told The New York Times:
> > “That’s my wingman, my partner in crime!”
Key Takeaways
- One Battle After Another secured three Critics Choice Awards and leads the Golden Globe tally
- Taylor and DiCaprio’s off-screen friendship-sparked at Diana Ross’s birthday-adds chemistry to their on-screen roles
- The “Pops” nickname is likely to stick as awards-season campaigning continues
Expect more red-carpet banter-and possibly another nickname or two-when the Golden Globes air next weekend.
