A Complete Unknown, the film by James Mangold detailing Bob Dylan in the 1960s, earned the accolades of best picture and best movie for adult audiences at the AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards, which took place on Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Initially slated for Jan. 11, the event was pushed back because of the wildfires that affected several neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area starting on Jan. 7.
Alan Cumming, who has won both a Tony Award and a Primetime Emmy, returned to host the competition show The Traitors, now in its 24th year. The awards will be aired by Great Performances on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on PBS, its official site and the PBS app.
The purpose of AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards is to spotlight films and television programs that connect with older audiences. On theirwebsite, AARP mentions that there is an age stipulation for individual awards: “AARP recognizes the best film and TV achievements of talents aged 50 and over.” (Moreover, they specify ages on their winners list on the site.)
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This age criterion clarifies why Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoë Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), who have garnered most accolades for best supporting actor and actress, respectively, were absent from nominations here. Culkin is 42 years old. Saldaña is 46. This also accounts for the lack of a nomination for Timothée Chalamet as best actor for his portrayal of Dylan in A Complete Unknown, as Chalamet is only 29 — quite young according to AARP standards.
A Complete Unknown was in competition for best picture alongside Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Gladiator II, and September 5. The Dylan biopic received another award for best time capsule, making it the sole double winner at the ceremony.
The honors for best actor and best actress were awarded to Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) and Demi Moore (The Substance), who appear to be the frontrunners for the Academy Awards in these categories.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story was named best documentary. The film, helmed by Peter Ettedgui, chronicles actor Christopher Reeve’s transformation from film star to activist for disability rights after a horse-riding mishap in 1995. It won in a competitive category with an unusually strong musical focus. Other contenders included I Am: Celine Dion, directed by Irene Taylor, highlighting the singer’s challenges with Stiff Person Syndrome;Luther Vandross: Never Too Much — directed by Dawn Porter, exploring the life of the late R&B legend; Piece by Piece, directed by Morgan Neville, depicting the life of Pharrell Williams through LEGO animation; and Will & Harper, directed by Josh Greenbaum, offering a close look at longtime friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, who embark on a cross-country road trip after three decades of friendship.
Glenn Close was recognized with the Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award, akin to a lifetime achievement honor.
Below is the full list of nominees for the 2025 Movies for Grownups Awards, with winners highlighted.
FILM AWARDS
Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups
WINNER: A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Gladiator II
September 5
Best Actress
Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
Nicole Kidman (Babygirl)
WINNER: Demi Moore (The Substance)
June Squibb (Thelma)
Best Actor
WINNER: Adrian Brody (The Brutalist)
Daniel Craig (Queer)
Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
Jude Law (The Order)
Best Supporting Actress
WINNER: Joan Chen (Didi)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Nickel Boys)
Lesley Manville (Queer)
Connie Nielsen (Gladiator II)
Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
Best Supporting Actor
Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
WINNER: Peter Sarsgaard (September 5)
Stanley Tucci (Conclave)
Denzel Washington (Gladiator II)
Best Director
Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door)
WINNER: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
Edward Berger (Conclave)
James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
Ridley Scott (Gladiator II)
Best Screenwriter
Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Nicolas Livecchi (Emilia Pérez)
Jay Cocks and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
WINNER: Winnie Holzman (Wicked)
Peter Straughan (Conclave)
Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts (Dune: Part Two)
Best Ensemble
A Complete Unknown
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
His Three Daughters
September 5
WINNER: Sing Sing
Best Intergenerational Film
Didi
Here
His Three Daughters
The Piano Lesson
WINNER: Thelma
Best Time Capsule
WINNER: A Complete Unknown
The Brutalist
Here
Maria
September 5
Best Documentary
I Am: Celine Dion
Luther: Never Too Much
Piece by Piece
WINNER: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & Harper
TV AWARDS
Best TV Series or Limited Series
The Crown
Hacks
Palm Royale
WINNER: Shōgun
Slow Horses
Best Actress (TV)
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
WINNER: Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)
Jean Smart (Hacks)
Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building)
Sofia Vergara (Griselda)
Best Actor (TV)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
Idris Elba (Hijack)
WINNER: Jon Hamm (Fargo)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
Hiroyuki Sanada (Shōgun)
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
