While the Critics Choice Awards aired live on Jan. 4, the night’s most revealing moments unfolded off-camera inside Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, where bold-faced names from film and TV mixed, mingled, and celebrated between commercial breaks. Despite the rain outside, A-listers quickly warmed the room with unmistakable awards-season energy.
Here’s viewers at home missed:
No food, but plenty to drink
Jacob ElordiAnna Webber/Getty Images
As Janelle James memorably pointed out in her acceptance speech, food was scarce — “It’s gonna be grapes and ice cream every year,” she said to huge laughs in the room — but there was plenty of alcohol on hand, with each table supplied with two bottles of tequilas, complete with shot glasses and a lime at everyone’s place setting. Those bottles came in handy throughout the show, with tablemates toasting each other with shots as winners were named during the night. (There were also water bottles to keep folks hydrated.)
Janelle James Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
The all-star jams
About 30 minutes before showtime, Sentimental Value star Elle Fanning and Renate Reinsve exchanged hugs and complimented each other’s dresses. Nearby, Wicked: For Good star Ariana Grande shared a big hug with The Pitt’s Noah Wyle before taking her seat next to Wicked director Jon M. Chu. Elsewhere, Severance star Adam Scott caught up with If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’s Rose Byrne, who also made time to chat with Pluribus’ Rhea Seehorn and take a selfie with Stranger Things’s Noah Schnapp.
Noah Schnapp and Rose Byrne Getty Images
Once the show began, the crowd was genuinely entertained by host Chelsea Handler, who poked fun at Leonardo DiCaprio yachting with Jeff Bezos as took a shot at studio heads when referencing Seth Rogen’s character in The Studio. Handler delivered one of the night’s biggest laughs when she addressed actors in the audience, saying, “You guys made amazing, original shows that everyone couldn’t stop talking about — until that gay hockey show from Canada came along.” The room then took on a more somber tone when Handler reflected on the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle.
The CCA MVP: Timothée Chalamet
Marty Mauser in the house! Nearly an hour and a half into the ceremony, the energy in the room shifted as Timothée Chalamet arrived alongside girlfriend Kylie Jenner, instantly drawing a stampede of attendees eager for photos and handshakes — that is, if they could break through the phalanx of bodyguards surrounding the couple.
Kylie Jenner and Timothée ChalametPhillip Faraone/Getty Images
The buzz crescendoed Marty Supreme’s star clinching the Best Actor win later in the evening. When Chalamet took the stage to accept the award, he had the room laughing as he pointed out what he thought was an unusual placement of his table, shared with costar Odessa A’Zion and director Josh Safdie. The moment turned heartfelt as he thanked his collaborators before delivering a special callout to Jenner: “Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much.” From her seat in the audience, Jenner mouthed back, “I love you, too.”
The couple was undeniably the It duo of the night — so much so that the Hacks twosome of Paul W. Downs and Meg Stalter cosplayed as Chalamet and Jenner in their Marty Supreme-orange premiere ensemble.
Paul W. Downs and Megan StalterFrazer Harrison/Getty Images
The Standing-O
The first major standing ovation of the night came when Jimmy Kimmel won for Best Talk Show as the casts from Abbott Elementary to One Battle After Another rose to their feet as the late-night host took the stage and directly addressed President Donald Trump: “Thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day. … It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them. Thank you, everyone.”
The thrills of victory
Following Sarah Snook’s surprise win for Best Limited/Movie Actress for All Her Fault, she returned to her table and finished a shot of tequila while nearby Adolescence creator and star Stephen Graham, who won Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television, opted for the Wetzel’s Pretzel, sharing the snack with his table, which included fellow winners Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty.
Britt Lower and Jessie Buckley Getty Images
And Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley had the crowd in tears during her moving acceptance speech for Best Actress win for Hamnet that was followed by an equally emotional offstage moment between her and co-star Paul Mescal. As she returned to her table, the two shared a long embrace that lasted several minutes before director Chloé Zhao and costar Jacobi Jupe joined them to offer congratulations.
One Hug After Another
Chase Infiniti, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Benicio Del ToroPhillip Faraone/Getty Images
The night’s ultimate celebration took place at the One Battle After Another table. After Paul Thomas Anderson claimed Best Director — and then sealed the evening with Best Picture — the room seemed to tilt toward them. Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, and Leonardo DiCaprio were surrounded as waves of guests who surged in, eager to offer congratulations.
Instead of going backstage for the typical press Q&A, both Chalamet and the One Battle crew opted to greet well-wishers and then hit the road.