The Shape of Water wins big

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Guillermo Del Toro

The Shape of Water earned top honors at the Critics' Choice Awards on Thursday.

The fantasy thriller was named Best Picture, while Guillermo del Toro picked up the prize for Best Director. Best Production Design and Best Score titles also went to movie.

It was also a big night for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which took home three honors, including acting awards for Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell, and TV series The Handmaid's Tale and Big Little Lies, which collected seven awards between them in the television categories.

James Franco followed up his Golden Globes win on Sunday by picking up Best Actor in a Comedy for The Disaster Artist, but he was a no show at the ceremony. He is currently battling multiple sexual misconduct claims, sparked by The Breakfast Club star Ally Sheedy, who tweeted and then deleted a cryptic message, in which she appeared to reference his lewd conduct, while he was onstage accepting his award on Sunday.

Franco insists all the allegations made against him are "inaccurate".

Writer/director Jordan Peele was also a big winner at the Critics' Choice Awards on Thursday night, claiming the Best Original Screenplay prize for Get Out, which was also named the Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie.

Another major accolade of the evening went to Gary Oldman, who practically cemented an Oscar win with yet another Best Actor gong for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour.