The Critics Choice Awards have long tried to focus attention on more than just the biggest names and titles, and/or those destined to win lots of other awards. The awards for, for example, Best Action Movie and Best Sci-Fi or Horror Movie, have often managed attention to films that didn’t quite receive the spotlight they deserved. Of course, even when these awards went to films that didn’t need attention (such as Avengers: Endgame winning last year), it’s still nice to celebrate the genres in a way that many awards avoid.
Now, they (we) are kicking things up a notch and giving an entire award show over to underrepresented genres. In much the same way that the Critics Choice Association decided that Reality TV and Documentaries really deserved their own showcase, there will now be a Critics Choice Super Awards, honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, Action, and Animation Movies and Series.
The special will air on The CW on January 10, 2021 (8:00-10:00 ET). Nominations will be announced November 19th.
I have always been a huge fan of the fact that we at the Critics Choice Association have tried to put some appreciation of other genres into the awards, but some years it just doesn’t quite work out as you’d hope. In fact, some years the best “work” the award does is in the nominating, so that films at least get that much attention. With an entire award show specifically dedicated to these categories/genres, I think it does a great service to the industry and its fans.
There are good horror and action movies, and while occasionally a Get Out or Mad Max: Fury Road will come along and take center stage, it isn’t often enough, and fans of the broader genres are as overlooked in the mainstream as much as the films.
“The time has come to recognize the brilliance, creativity, and artistic excellence showcased in genres that, for far too long, have been overlooked by other award shows,” said Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin. “We are thrilled to be partnering with our friends at The CW to bring these beloved genres to the forefront and give them the recognition they so deeply deserve.”
Below check out the full list of awards that will be part of the special, and mark your calendar.
CRITICS CHOICE SUPER AWARDS MOVIE CATEGORIES
Best Action Movie
Best Male Actor in an Action Movie
Best Female Actor in an Action Movie
Best Animated Movie
Best Male Voice Actor in an Animated Movie
Best Female Voice Actor in an Animated Movie
Best Superhero Movie*
Best Male Actor in a Superhero Movie*
Best Female Actor in a Superhero Movie*
Best Horror Movie
Best Male Actor in a Horror Movie
Best Female Actor in a Horror Movie
Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie
Best Male Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie
Best Female Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie
Best Villain in a Movie (across all genres)
* Superhero category also includes Comic Book and Video Game Inspired Movies
CRITICS CHOICE SUPER AWARDS TV/STREAMING CATEGORIES
Best Action Series
Best Male Actor in an Action Series
Best Female Actor in an Action Series
Best Animated Series
Best Male Voice Actor in an Animated Series
Best Female Voice Actor in an Animated Series
Best Superhero Series*
Best Male Actor in a Superhero Series*
Best Female Actor in a Superhero Series*
Best Horror Series
Best Male Actor in a Horror Series
Best Female Actor in a Horror Series
Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Series
Best Male Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series
Best Female Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series
Best Villain in a Series (across all genres)
* Superhero category also includes Comic Book and Video Game Inspired Series
Follow the Critics Choice Super Awards on Twitter and Instagram @CriticsChoice and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards.
