Australian filmmaker George Miller and his stars and crew from Mad Max: Fury Road have blazed their way through one of America's top awards shows.
In what is a significant boost to the movie's Oscar chances, the fourth chapter in the Mad Max franchise won nine categories, including best director for Miller, at the Critics' Choice Awards.
It almost pulled off a clean sweep of the technical awards, adding momentum to the 10 Oscar nominations the movie received on Thursday.
Mad Max: Fury Road collected Critics' Choice wins for production design, editing, costume design, hair and makeup, visual effects, best action movie, best actor in an action movie for Tom Hardy and best actress in an action movie for Charlize Theron.
After Golden Globe wins last week, and then pipping Mad Max: Fury Road with 12 Oscar nominations, The Revenant and the film's director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu were frontrunners for the directing and best picture Oscars.
They suffered a hit at the Critics' Choice Awards.
Spotlight, about Boston Globe reporters uncovering a Catholic Archdiocese child molestation scandal, won best picture while Miller's directing win helps his Oscar chances against Inarritu.
The Academy Awards will be held on February 28.
The Revenant's star, Leonardo DiCaprio, claimed the Critics' Choice best actor award, confirming his Oscar frontrunner status.
Other winners were: Brie Larson (best actress for Room); Sylvester Stallone (supporting actor, Creed); Alicia Vikander (supporting actress, The Danish Girl).
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