Inside the Critics Choice Awards 2024! Giddy Emma Stone celebrates with Succession's Kieran Culkin, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish have a fan-girl moment while Oppenheimer stars CHANT together in candid behind-the-scenes snaps
READ MORE: Margot Robbie brings red hot Barbie glamor as she joins Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt and Reese Witherspoon on best dressed list READ MORE: Critics Choice Awards 2024 WINNERS
Stars gathered to celebrate the finest cinematic achievements of the year at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards, held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on Sunday.
There was plenty of excitement on stage, as Barbie’s Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig accepted Best Comedy while Paul Giamatti landed a shock win over Cillian Murphy.
There was also plenty of unforgettable candid moments behind-the-scenes, including when Poor Things star Emma Stone celebrated her Best Actress win as she hugged Succession’s Kieran Culkin, who won Best Actor in a Drama Series for the highly popular HBO series.
Meanwhile singers Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish cozied up and appeared to have a blast together, as they posed for snaps at the event.
In another candid moment the cast of Oppenheimer, including Emily Blunt, Alden Ehrenreich, David Krumholtz, Cillian Murphy, and Robert Downey Jr., were pictured doing a victorious chant backstage after winning the Best Acting Ensemble Award.
Emma Stone celebrated her Best Actress win at the Critics Choice Awards 2024 as she hugged Succession’s Kieran Culkin backstage in a candid behind-the-scenes moment from the ceremony
Meanwhile singers Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish cozied up and appeared to have a blast at the event together
In another candid moment the cast of Oppenheimer, including Emily Blunt, Alden Ehrenreich, David Krumholtz, Cillian Murphy, and Robert Downey Jr., were pictured doing a victorious chant backstage after winning the Best Acting Ensemble Award
Kieran also mingled with Daniel Levy at the soiree.
Succession’s Nicholas Braun played around with two trophies in his hands. His co-star Sarah Snook shared a kiss with husband Dave Lawson after nabbing Best Actress in a Drama Series trophy.
Elsewhere at the event Natasha Lyonne snapped a selfie with host Chelsea Handler, while Killers of the Flower Moon co-stars Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio also struck a pose.
Meanwhile Oprah Winfrey was pictured beaming next to Best Actor winner Giamatti, as she sizzled in a plunging purple gown following her recent weight loss.
She also held hands with The Color Purple star Taraji P. Henson after recently denying rumors of a feud between the two.
There was also a Riverdale reunion inside the event, as nominee Charles Melton and presenter Vanessa Morgan mingled inside the ballroom.
Charlotte Stoudt, Mimi Leder, Jennifer Aniston, and Kristin Hahn snapped a selfie together. Aniston also mingled with Billy Crudup.
Aniston was later joined by pal Reese Witherspoon.
The Last of Us hunk Pedro Pascal caught up with Spiderman actor Tom Holland.
Ali Wong shared a warm hug with her Beef co-star Steven Yeun, after she earned the Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television award.
Blockbuster film Barbie – which earned $1.4billion in the worldwide box office last year – won the top honor when it comes to comedy films but it was not scheduled to appear on the broadcast and instead was announced during a vignette before breaking off into commercial.
Culkin had also won Best Actor in a Drama Series for his highly popular HBO series
Emma also shared a sweet moment with actor Brendan Fraser
He was also spotted laughing it up with co-star Sarah Snook, who won Best Actress in a Drama Series
The actor proudly gazed at his trophy
The Succession cast celebrated their big night; (L-R) Sarah, Matthew Macfadyen, Kevin J. Messick, Jesse Armstrong, Braun, and Culkin
Kieran also mingled with Daniel Levy at the soiree
Kieran posed with proud wife Jazz Charton
Sarah shared a kiss with husband Dave Lawson after nabbing Best Actress in a Drama Series trophy
Downey Jr. shared a cute moment with Murphy
Despite losing out on Best Actor the Irish leading man remained in good spirits
Downey Jr. was in great spirits after winning Best Supporting Actor for his work in Oppenheimer
Emily Blunt sizzled in red
Meanwhile his Succession co-star Nicholas Braun played around with two trophies in his hands
Greg posed with The Bear star Ayo Edebiri
Dua was seen enthusiastically greeting Barbie star America Ferrera
She sizzled in a red gown for the night
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie won the Best Comedy Award for Barbie
The blonde bombshell celebrated alongside co-star America Ferrera
Margot was joined by her husband Tom Ackerley
Greta sat next to her leading man Ryan Gosling
Braun approached Gosling for a chat
Oprah Winfrey beamed next to Best Actor winner Paul Giamatti, as she sizzled in a plunging purple gown
Harrison Ford was joined by wife Calista Flockhart
The Star Wars icon accepted the Career Achievement Award at the event, and was seen getting a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd
Charlotte Stoudt, Mimi Leder, Jennifer Aniston, and Kristin Hahn snapped a selfie together
Aniston was later joined by pal Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon chatted with her mini-me daughter Ava
The mother and daughter duo looked chic as ever
Aniston also mingled with Billy Crudup
Jen caught up with the show’s host Chelsea Handler
Killers of the Flower Moon co-stars Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio struck a pose inside
The Titanic star caught up with his other co-star Lily Gladstone
The Last of Us hunk Pedro Pascal caught up with Spiderman actor Tom Holland
Ali Wong shared a warm hug with her Beef co-star Steven Yeun
She also cozied up to boyfriend Bill Hader
May December star Julianne Moore looked elegant alongside Jesse Plemons
Host Chelsea, 48, did not stand for the film not being recognized during the televised portion as she went rogue after a return from break at the event.
She announced: ‘Earlier tonight Barbie was awarded best comedy. I’ll go rogue because Greta and Margot deserve to make a speech. Would you mind coming up and accepting the award for Best Comedy.’
Margot, 33, and 40-year-old filmmaker Greta quickly got up and walked up to the stage to accept the crowning achievement with impromptu speeches.
The Wolf Of Wall Street actress said: ‘Thank you. Thank you, Chelsea. We love you so much. You know, when everyone is like oh, this is so unexpected. This is actually unexpected and not apart of the show. We are very grateful and I’d like Greta to talk.’
The film beat out American Fiction, Bottoms, The Holdovers, No Hard Feelings, and Poor Things.
Perhaps the most shocking moment of the night came when Giamatti beat out favorite Murphy in the Best Actor category.
Paul, 56, was up for the award for The Holdovers while Cillian, 47, was nominated for blockbuster Oppenheimer as they were up against Bradley Cooper – Maestro, Leonardo DiCaprio – Killers of the Flower Moon, Colman Domingo – Rustin, and Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction.
The veteran actor began his acceptance speech by poking fun at the viral moment last week of him eating at California fast food joint In-N-Out with his Golden Globe award in full tuxedo.
He said: ‘Oh, my gosh. Wow, guys. I didn’t think my week could get any better than going viral for eating a cheeseburger. I’m serious guys. I need that endorsement. Let’s pray for me. Thank you.
Jeremy Allen White cut a dapper figure at the event
Crudup posed alongside The Crown’s Elizabeth Debicki
There was also a Riverdale reunion inside the event, as nominee Charles Melton and presenter Vanessa Morgan mingled inside the ballroom
Natasha Lyonne snapped a selfie with host Chelsea Handler
Handler changed her outfit during the show
Oprah held hands with The Color Purple star Taraji P. Henson after recently denying rumors of a feud between the two
Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks and Taraji posed together
Jonathan Bailey embraced Matt Bomer
Ayo Edebiri shared a cute moment with The Bear co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach
‘Did everybody get their pizza in a bag by the way? I think that would be a good endorsement Paul Giamatti for pizza in a bag. This is cordry.’
In the film The Holdovers he portrays a cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.
Meanwhile Emma Stone was also one of the biggest winners of the night as she earned Best Actress for Poor Things.
The 35-year-old actress – who also triumphed at the Golden Globe Awards last week – was in disbelief as she won over a very stacked category which included the likes of Lily Gladstone – Killers Of The Flower Moon, Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall, Greta Lee – Past Lives, Carey Mulligan – Maestro, Margot Robbie – Barbie.
She recognized each of her competitors individually during the beginning of her acceptance speech as she said: ‘Um, I’ll be honest. I’m in full blown I didn’t have anything that I was going to say because this is completely crazy. This category is ridiculous. Lily, I mean, come on. Margot. What in the Carey. Okay. Greta and Sandra Huller. This doesn’t make any sense.’
In Poor Things she portrays Bella Baxter/Victoria Blessington who is a woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter (played by Willem Dafoe).
Despite Cillian Murphy not winning, Oppenheimer had a massive night as it earned top honor Best Picture and earned the most award of the night with five including Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Ensemble.
The night culminated with the blockbuster film beating out heavy competition including: American Fiction, Barbie, The Color Purple, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, Poor Things, and Saltburn.
Oppenheimer is the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan also won Best Director for the film besting Bradley Cooper – Maestro, Greta Gerwig – Barbie, Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things, Alexander Payne – The Holdovers, and Martin Scorsese, – Killers Of The Flower Moon.
Earlier in the night Robert Downey Jr. won Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film.
Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt and Ryan Piers Williams snapped a selfie together
Celia Rose Gooding and Zaya LaChanze Gooding flashed bright smiles
Ashley Madekwe put on a busty display
Erika Alexander cozied up with a guest
Downey Jr., 51, was recognized for his work in Oppenheimer and beat out heavy competition including: Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction, Robert De Niro – Killers Of The Flower Moon, Ryan Gosling – Barbie, Charles Melton – May December, and Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things.
In Oppenheimer Downey Jr portrays as Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss, a retired Naval officer and high-ranking member of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).
On the television side Succession was the biggest winner of the night as the highly-popular series earned the top honor Best Drama Series.
The drama triumphed over The Crown (Netflix), The Diplomat (Netflix), The Last Of Us (HBO | Max), Loki (Disney+), The Morning Show (Apple TV+), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+), and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO | Max).
The Critics Choice Awards are bestowed annually to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement.
Historically, they are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.