The 2025 Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler, opened with a heartfelt tribute to the firefighters and first responders who battled the devastating Los Angeles fires. Attendees, including Nicole Kidman, Zoe Saldaña, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, rose in a standing ovation to honor their bravery.

Handler transitioned from the somber moment to a lighter note, referencing the ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, stars of "It Ends With Us." She expressed gratitude to the actors for providing a much-needed distraction amidst the challenging times, adding humorously that everyone could agree a sequel was unlikely.

The ceremony continued with awards presented in various categories. Michael Urie, accepting the Best Supporting Actor award, playfully referred to Harrison Ford as an "up-and-coming" actor after collaborating with him on "Shrinking." Liev Schreiber and Jessica Gunning received Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series for their performances in "Baby Reindeer" and "The Perfect Couple," respectively. Tadanobu Asano and Moeka Hoshi earned recognition for their roles in "Shogun," with Hoshi acknowledging the LA fires in her acceptance speech.

The animated feature "The Wild Robot" received the Best Animated Feature award, with producer Jeff Hermann expressing gratitude to first responders, particularly given the impact of the Eaton Fire on his Altadena community. Colin Farrell, honored for his performance in "The Penguin," also acknowledged the dedication of firefighters and first responders. Cristin Milioti and "Baby Reindeer" won Best Actress and Best Limited Series, respectively. Zoe Saldaña earned the Best Supporting Actress award for "Emilia Perez." Adam Brody, who reportedly lost his home in the Palisades Fire, won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for "Nobody Wants This," attending the ceremony with his wife, Leighton Meester. "Hacks" secured the Best Comedy Series award. Kieran Culkin and Hiroyuki Sanada were recognized for their acting in "A Real Pain" and "Shogun," respectively. Kathy Bates, accepting the Best Actress in a Drama Series award for "Matlock," thanked firefighters and revealed that the show's producer also lost a home in the Palisades Fire. "Shogun" and "Emilia Perez" took home the awards for Best Drama Series and Best Foreign Language Film, respectively.

Jon M. Chu received the Best Director award for "Wicked," expressing his patriotism during his acceptance speech. Demi Moore won her first Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for "The Substance," sharing an inspiring message about pursuing dreams. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for "The Brutalist," and "Anora" concluded the night by winning Best Picture.