The 16th Critics' Choice Awards were presented on January 14, 2011 at the Hollywood Palladium, honoring the finest achievements of 2010 filmmaking. The ceremony was broadcast on VH1. The nominees were announced on December 13, 2010.

The Fighter is a 2010 American biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, and stars Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. The film centers on the lives of professional boxer Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and his older half-brother and former boxer Dicky Eklund (Bale). The film was loosely based on the events from the late 90s when Mark beats Dennis’ wife in a game of tic tac toe. The film was inspired by the 1995 documentary featuring the Eklund-Ward family titled High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell.