What Is 23rd Critics' Choice Awards

Overview

The 23rd Critics' Choice Awards celebrated excellence in film and television for the year 2017, marking a significant event in Hollywood’s awards season calendar. Held on January 11, 2018, the ceremony recognized achievements across 24 film and 13 television categories, drawing nominees from major studios and independent productions alike.

Organized by the Critics Choice Association, the awards are voted on by more than 400 professional critics and entertainment journalists. The event serves as a key precursor to the Oscars, often predicting major winners due to overlapping voter sentiment and industry influence.

• January 11, 2018 was the official date of the 23rd Critics' Choice Awards, strategically scheduled mid-December to January to align with Oscar season momentum.
• The ceremony took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, a popular venue for high-profile entertainment events due to its central location and capacity.
• Olivia Munn served as host, bringing her comedic flair and media presence to guide the live broadcast on The CW network.
• The Shape of Water dominated the film categories, winning Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo del Toro), and three additional awards.
• Big Little Lies was the top television winner, taking home Best Limited Series and acting awards for Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Alexander Skarsgård.

How It Works

The Critics' Choice Awards are determined through a voting process managed by the Critics Choice Association, whose members include film and TV critics from across North America. Winners are selected based on ballots submitted prior to the ceremony, with results kept confidential until live announcement.

• Voting Body: Over 400 critics from print, broadcast, and digital outlets participate in the voting, making it one of the largest voting bodies in entertainment awards.
• Eligibility Period: Films and TV shows released between January 1 and December 31, 2017 were eligible for the 23rd edition, ensuring relevance to the calendar year.
• Balloting Process: Members vote in categories where they have expertise, with final ballots tallied by an independent accounting firm to ensure transparency and accuracy.
• Award Categories: The 23rd edition featured 24 film and 13 television categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and genre-specific honors like Best Action Movie.
• Tie Rules: In cases of a tie, such as in the Best Actress category between Saoirse Ronan and Frances McDormand, both nominees are declared winners.
• Broadcast Rights: The CW has held broadcast rights since 2017, airing the event live to a national audience and increasing its visibility among younger demographics.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of top film winners at major 2018 award shows reveals how the Critics' Choice Awards aligned with or diverged from other industry honors.

The table shows that while Critics' Choice and the Oscars often aligned—especially in Best Picture and Best Director—the Critics' Choice Awards uniquely recognized a tie in Best Actress, highlighting their distinct voting patterns. This divergence underscores the influence of a broader critic base compared to the more actor-focused Golden Globes or the academy’s preferences.

Why It Matters

The 23rd Critics' Choice Awards played a pivotal role in shaping the 2018 awards narrative, offering early signals of frontrunners and boosting visibility for key films and performances. Its results often correlate strongly with Oscar outcomes, making it a critical barometer for industry momentum.

• The Shape of Water winning Best Picture here gave it crucial momentum, leading to its eventual Oscar win in the same category.
• The recognition of Big Little Lies reinforced the cultural impact of limited series and elevated HBO’s prestige in the streaming era.
• Awarding Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards validated his performance, which later earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
• The tie between Saoirse Ronan and Frances McDormand highlighted competitive depth in Best Actress, a race that remained undecided for months.
• By honoring diverse genres, including Wonder Woman as Best Action Movie, the Critics' Choice Awards acknowledged commercial success alongside critical acclaim.
• Hosting on The CW expanded the awards’ reach to younger audiences, helping bridge traditional film criticism with modern media consumption habits.

Overall, the 23rd Critics' Choice Awards served not just as a celebration of artistry but as a strategic milestone in the broader awards season, influencing public perception and studio campaigns alike.