The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards looked considerably less glittery than usual Sunday as organizers cobbled together a scaled-back, host-free ceremony in the wake of the ongoing writers strike.
Last week, it was announced that the show would air as a pre-taped special as several attendees ― including host Drew Barrymore ― dropped out in solidarity with the writers. Those hopeful for the usual spate of eyebrow-raising fashion moments also had their hopes dashed, as MTV also scrapped all plans for a red carpet as well.
“We’re pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night full of exclusive sneak peeks, irreverent categories our audience has come to expect, and countless moments that will both surprise and delight,” Bruce Gillmer, an executive producer at MTV, said in a statement.
Arturo Holmes via Getty Images
It was a tough blow for an awards show better known for its spontaneous, headline-making moments than as a certifiable measure of cinematic merit, and the result had the disjointed feel of a program that might have aired in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Barrymore still appeared in a series of comedic segments that had presumably been filmed prior to her decision to opt out, and much of the show was dedicated to “flashback” footage from previous ceremonies.
Still, there were several memorable moments. A-list actors Tom Cruise and Pedro Pascal were among those who made virtual appearances. Viewers also got a first look at the “Kiss the Girl” number from Disney’s hotly anticipated live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” as well as “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” and a forthcoming episode of Showtime’s “Yellowjackets.”
The writers strike, however, remained top of mind ― with Jennifer Coolidge acknowledging it directly in one of her acceptance speeches.
“Almost all great comedy starts with great writers,” she said. “I stand here before you tonight side by side with my sisters and brothers from the [Writers Guild of America] that are fighting right now — fighting for the rights of artists everywhere.”
Here are all the winners:
”Avatar: The Way of Water”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
BEST SHOW
WINNER: “The Last of Us”
Monica Schipper via Getty Images
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE
Austin Butler, “Elvis”
Florence Pugh, “Don’t Worry Darling”
Michael B. Jordan, “Creed III”
WINNER: Tom Cruise, “Top Gun: Maverick”
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW
Aubrey Plaza, “The White Lotus”
Christina Ricci, “Yellowjackets”
WINNER: Jenna Ortega, “Wednesday”
Riley Keough, “Daisy Jones & The Six”
Sadie Sink, “Stranger Things”
Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”
ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
Jenna Ortega, “Wednesday”
Paul Rudd, “Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania”
WINNER: Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”
Tom Cruise, “Top Gun: Maverick”
BEST VILLAIN
WINNER: Elizabeth Olsen, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”
Harry Styles, “Don’t Worry Darling”
Jamie Campbell Bower, “Stranger Things”
The Bear, “Cocaine Bear”
BEST KISS (presented by Cheetos®)
Anna Torv and Philip Prajoux, “The Last of Us”
Harry Styles and David Dawson, “My Policeman”
WINNER: Madison Bailey and Rudy Pankow, “Outer Banks”
Riley Keough and Sam Claflin, “Daisy Jones & The Six”
Selena Gomez and Cara Delevingne, “Only Murders in the Building”
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
WINNER: Adam Sandler, “Murder Mystery 2”
Dylan O’Brien, “Not Okay”
Jennifer Coolidge, “Shotgun Wedding”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Bad Bunny, “Bullet Train”
Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”
Emma D’Arcy, “House of the Dragon”
WINNER: Joseph Quinn, “Stranger Things”
Rachel Sennott, “Bodies Bodies Bodies”
ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
Brad Pitt (Ladybug) vs. Bad Bunny (The Wolf), “Bullet Train”
WINNER: Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) vs. Ghostface, “Scream VI”
Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna) vs. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), “Stranger Things”
Keanu Reeves (John Wick) vs. Everyone, “John Wick 4”
Escape from Narkina 5, “Andor”
MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE
WINNER: Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Cocaine Bear”
Justin Long, “Barbarian”
Rachel Sennott, “Bodies Bodies Bodies”
Sosie Bacon, “Smile”
BEST DUO
Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke, “Do Revenge”
Jenna Ortega and Thing, “Wednesday”
WINNER: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”
Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannò, “The White Lotus”
Tom Cruise and Miles Teller, “Top Gun: Maverick”
BEST KICK-ASS CAST
”Ant-Man & The Wasp, “Quantumania”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
WINNER: “Stranger Things”
“Teen Wolf: The Movie”
Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Demi Lovato: “Still Alive” from “Scream VI”
Doja Cat: “Vegas” from “Elvis”
Lady Gaga: “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”
OneRepublic: “I Ain’t Worried” from “Top Gun: Maverick”
Rihanna: “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
WINNER: Taylor Swift: “Carolina” from “Where the Crawdads Sing”
BEST DOCU-REALITY SERIES
”Jersey Shore Family Vacation”
“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”
“Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition”
WINNER: “The Kardashians”
“Vanderpump Rules”
BEST COMPETITION SERIES
WINNER: “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars”
“The Traitors”
BEST HOST
WINNER: Drew Barrymore, “The Drew Barrymore Show”
Joel Madden, “Ink Master”
Nick Cannon, “The Masked Singer”
RuPaul, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Kelly Clarkson, “The Kelly Clarkson Show”
BEST REALITY ON-SCREEN TEAM (presented by SONIC®)
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Vinny Guadagnino, Pauly D (MVP), “Jersey Shore Family Vacation”
Tori Deal and Devin Walker, “The Challenge: Ride or Dies”
RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
WINNER: Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney, Scheana Shay, LaLa Kent, “Vanderpump Rules”
Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”
Daisy Jones & the Six: “Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)”
Don’t Worry Darling: Jack’s Tap Dance
Ginny & Georgia: “I Will Survive” (Bachelorette Party)
Matilda the Musical: “Revolting Children”
WINNER: Purple Hearts: “Come Back Home”
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: “Body”
Stranger Things: “Running Up That Hill”
The Last of Us: “Long Long Time” (Bill & Frank Play Piano)
The School for Good and Evil: “You Should See Me in a Crown”
The Summer I Turned Pretty: “This Love (Taylor’s Version)”
Wednesday: “Goo Goo Muck”
Young Royals: “Simon’s Song”
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me”
“The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean’s American Pie”
Comedic Genius Award: Jennifer Coolidge