Chelsea Handler moved Hollywood to tears as she addressed the tragic death of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner during her opening monologue at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday night.
It marks the first awards show since Reiner and his longtime wife Michele Reiner were murdered inside their $13.5 million Brentwood mansion on December 14, 2025.
The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, 32, has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killings.
Handler, 50, appeared visibly emotional as she referred to Reiner as the ‘nicest guy in Hollywood,’ which earned a roaring applause from the event’s star-studded audience.
‘Everyone in this room knows that the nicest guy in Hollywood was Rob Reiner. Anyone who ever spent time with Rob Reiner knows that the minute that you met him he felt like an old friend,’ she began.
‘When you were in conversation with him he was present, he was focused and he was funny and he would ask you tons of questions. Whether you were discussing politics or film or the latest beauty trends, he was all in.’
Chelsea Handler moved Hollywood to tears as she addressed the tragic death of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner during her opening monologue at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday night
It marks the first awards show since Reiner and his longtime wife Michele Reiner were murdered inside their $13.5 million Brentwood mansion on December 14, 2025; the couple seen in March 2025
Handler humorously recalled one of her final text exchanges with the Princess Bride director that took place just months before his life was taken at age 78.
‘After I sent him a text thanking him for dinner a few months ago, he texted me back and said, ‘We had so much fun with you last night. Thanks for explaining so much about plastic surgery. It was very edifying.”
Handler then spoke of the ‘tireless efforts’ Reiner and his wife gave ‘to so many causes – all stemming from one basic idea: decency.’
She continued: ‘That we should all look out for each other. And I think we all can agree that we definitely need more of that.
‘So, lets use tonight as a reminder of that decency and as a reminder of everything Rob and Michele represented and fought so hard for.
‘And on that note, lets get this show started,’ Handler concluded.
Before her tribute to the Reiners, Handler had the room in stitches as she mercilessly roasted some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Handler, who wowed on the red carpet, returned as host for the 31st annual ceremony for the fourth consecutive year inside Santa Monica’s iconic Barker Hangar.
Handler appeared visibly emotional as she referred to Reiner as the ‘nicest guy in Hollywood,’ which earned roaring applause from the event’s star-studded audience
Handler then spoke of the ‘tireless efforts’ Reiner and his wife gave ‘to so many causes – all stemming from one basic idea: decency’; the couple seen in February 2025
‘Anyone who ever spent time with Rob Reiner knows that the minute that you met him he felt like an old friend,’ Handler said
Hacks star Jean Smart looked somber as she listened to Handler’s heartfelt words
The camera flashed on Reiner’s close friend Ted Danson
Sinners star Delroy Lindo applauded Handler as she honored the Reiners’ memories
Critics Choice Awards 2026 WINNERS: AT A GLANCE
FILM
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Best Actress: Jesse Buckley – Hamnet
Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan – Weapons
Best Young Actor/Actress: Miles Caton – Sinners
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Best Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Best Animated Film: KPop Demon Hunters
Timothee Chalamet triumphed in the Best Actor category for Marty Supreme
TELEVISION
Best Drama Series: The Pitt
Best Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Best Actress in a Drama Series: Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
Best Comedy Series: The Studio
Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen
Best Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart
Best Limited Series: Adolescence
Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: Stephen Graham – Adolescence
Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: Sarah Snook – All Her Fault Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: Owen Cooper – Adolescence
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: Erin Doherty – Adolescence
Best Talk Show: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
To kick off the night, Handler joked that Sunday night’s ceremony was ‘brought to you by Saudi Arabia’ – a nod to the recent Riyadh Comedy Festival 2025 controversy as it brought up criticisms about free speech in the Middle Eastern country.
As praised the ‘training and dedication’ that went into many of the TV and film performances in 2025, Chandler made a joke accusing Sean Penn of using a well-known erectile dysfunction drug for an X-rated scene in One Battle After Another.
‘From Marty Supreme, Timothee Chalamet trained with a table tennis instructor for years. For Sinners, Miles Caton practiced six hours a day and learned to play guitar,’ she said.
Handler than brutally added, ‘For One Battle After Another, Sean Penn took a Cialis.’
She took aim at bonafide climate activist DiCaprio’s close ties to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos while addressing the cast of his acclaimed 2025 film One Battle After Another.
‘Leo’s here! Thank God! Leo almost didn’t make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Barth’s,’ said Handler, in reference to travel restrictions that affected the Caribbean after Trump’s airstrikes on Venezuela.
DiCaprio, 51, and his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, 27, rang in the new year of Bezos’ luxury $500 million superyacht Koru with several big name stars just days before the awards ceremony.
‘It was just like the Titanic, but worse, because Jeff Bezos was there,’ Handler quipped.
DiCaprio has seemingly been friends with Bezos for years – even attending the Amazon founder’s $50 million wedding to Lauren Sanchez in June of last year – despite critics slamming Amazon’s carbon footprint around the globe.
Just before her jab at DiCaprio, Handler jokingly tried to shoot her shot with his One Battle After Another co-star Benicio del Toro.
‘I love Leo and Benicio together getting sh** faced to get sh** done,’ she said of the onscreen duo. ‘I respect that.’
She continued, ‘Benicio, you’ve had a phenomenal year this year, and we need to see more of you, okay?
Handler took aim at bonafide climate activist DiCaprio’s close ties to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos while addressing the cast of his acclaimed 2025 film One Battle After Another.
‘Leo’s here! Thank God! Leo almost didn’t make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Barth’s,’ said Handler, in reference to travel restrictions that affected the Caribbean after Trump’s airstrikes on Venezuela
‘Stop being so selective about what you do,’ Handler said of del Toro’s infrequent film roles and red carpet appearances.
‘I need you in more movies, many more TV shows in room 708 at the hotel tonight.’
Despite not even being in the room, Gwyneth Paltrow was not safe from Handler’s wrath as she spoke about Marty Supreme, in which Paltrow stars with Timothee Chalamet.
‘In Marty Supreme, we were also given the gift of Gwyneth Paltrow’s return to the screen,’ Handler began.
After acknowledging that Paltrow ‘couldn’t be here tonight,’ Handler decided to poke fun at the Oscar-winner’s infamous 2023 ski crash trial.
‘She’s skiing, so look out,’ Handler teased.
Paltrow was sued in civil court after a man accused her of injuring him in an alleged 2016 ski collision.
The trial was highly-publicized and a jury ended up determining that Paltrow was not at fault. The actress was a symbolic $1 in damages.
Handler hit a number of recent pop culture points, including rapper Nicki Minaj’s apparent turn to the right-wing and Quentin Tarantino’s brutal rants about actors in Hollywood he doesn’t like.
Handler told Sunday night’s nominees: ‘You guys are all going to be spending the next three months together so whoever wins tonight get used to seeing them win.
Just before her jab at DiCaprio, Handler jokingly tried to shoot her shot with his One Battle After Another co-star Benicio del Toro
‘I need you in more movies, many more TV shows in room 708 at the hotel tonight,’ Handler quipped
‘And whoever doesn’t win, Quentin Tarantino will come up here and tell you what you did wrong!’
Minaj’s name randomly came up as she spoke about Ryan Coogler’s action-packed vampire epic Sinners, which leads the night with the most nominations.
‘Sinners was a massive blockbuster! Although I haven’t been invited into a black person’s house since, except Nicki Minaj, but who wants to go over there?’
In the same Sinner segment, Handler remarked on the ‘staggering $368 million’ that the film made at the box office in 2025. The film was notably helmed by a Black director and featured a predominantly Black cast, including Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton and Jayme Lawson.
‘White Hollywood was so shook after seeing the box office numbers, Variety ran the headline “Do box office numbers really matter”?’ Handler joked.
Kevin Costner received a brutal jab from Handler as she applauded Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan’s latest series Landman starring Billy Bob Thornton.
‘Spoiler alert, in a recent episode Billy Bob Thornton went full frontal. Taylor Sheridan said it was nice to have a d**k onset that wasn’t Kevin Costner,’ she joked.
Sheridan and Costner allegedly feuded on set of CBS’ Yellowstone, leading to Costner’s abrupt exit from the TV show in the midst of its final season.
While discussing Guillermo del Toro’s acclaimed retelling of Frankenstein for Netflix, Handler took the opportunity to throw shade at Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his controversial decisions as the United States’ Secretary of Health and Human Services under Trump.
Despite not even being in the room, Gwyneth Paltrow was not safe from Handler’s wrath as she poked fun at the star’s 2023 ski crash trial; Paltrow seen in court in 2023
‘Gwyneth Paltrow couldn’t be here tonight. She’s skiing, so look out,’ Handler teased
‘Frankenstein is up for best picture. It is the story of a surgeon obsessed with curing death through science, unlike our current administration, which is obsessed with curing science through death,’ she said.
Handler also made rare reference to her ex-boyfriend 50 Cent while making a joke about the rapper’s multi-part Netflix documentary on his disgraced rival Diddy.
‘The power of music was on display this year,’ Handler began. ‘We saw blues music used to fight vampires. K-pop music being used to fight demons. And in Wicked: For good show tunes being used to fight, I don’t know, straight people?
‘The cast of K-Pop Demon Hunters is here somewhere. Not to be confused with Netflix’s other music movie, 50 Cent: Diddy Hunter.’
Handler famously dated 50 Cent back for almost a year back in 2011. She’s previously referred to the 50-year-old mogul as her ‘favorite ex.’
Handler also had some hilarious quips prepared for her longtime friend and fellow comedian Adam Sandler as she spotlighted his acclaimed film Jay Kelly, in which he co-stars with George Clooney.
‘George Clooney and Adam Sandler, another dynamic duo that we did not know we needed,’ she exclaimed, before calling out Sandler’s recent style glow-up.
Handler also had some hilarious quips prepared for her longtime friend and fellow comedian Adam Sandler as she spotlighted his acclaimed film Jay Kelly
‘And the question of the night is who put a neckerchief on Adam Sandler? That person deserves a Critics’ Choice award of their own,’ she said of the actor’s recent style glow-up
‘And the question of the night is who put a neckerchief on Adam Sandler? That person deserves a Critics’ Choice award of their own.
‘We found your look and it’s adorable. You look like you went to the groomers, Adam!’
She congratulated the SNL icon on his acting nomination as she complimented him for being ‘so funny in everything that you do.
‘You also keep showing us what a great and serious actor you are in more serious roles. Everyone knows you’ve always been the nicest guy in Hollywood.’
Timothee Chalamet had his crowning moment as he earned Best Actor at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards and publicly declared his love girlfriend Kylie Jenner, but it was One Battle After Another which took home the top prize of the night.
The 30-year-old actor beat out living legend Leonardo DiCaprio as he was recognized for his work in ping-pong drama Marty Supreme at the gala held in Santa Monica, California on Sunday.
However, it was DiCaprio’s film One Battle After Another which earned Best Picture on a night that Jessie Buckley upset a star-studded field in the Best Actress category for her work in Hamnet.
On the television side, it was HBO drama The Pitt which took home the coveted Best Drama Series Award with leading man Noah Wyle being recognized for his work in the Best Actor in a Drama Series category.
Timothee Chalamet had his crowning moment as he earned Best Actor at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards and publicly declared his love girlfriend Kylie Jenner
Jenner looked emotional as Chalamet recognized her during his big moment
A24’s Marty Supreme did lose the top honor to DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another – which was produced by Warner Bros. – at the end of the night as the field also included: Bugonia (Focus Features), Frankenstein (Netflix), Hamnet (Focus Features), Jay Kelly (Netflix), Sentimental Value (Neon), Sinners (Warner Bros.), Train Dreams (Netflix), and Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
DiCaprio is seen on stage at the end of the night moments after losing to Chalamet
Meanwhile, during Chalamet’s acceptance speech, he publicly recognized his 28-year-old mogul girlfriend Jenner as he said: ‘Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation.
‘I love you. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
Kylie appeared to have tears in her eyes and she stared adoringly at the actor on stage and said: ‘I love you, too.’
The New York native beat out an impressive field including the aforementioned DiCaprio – One Battle After Another, Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams, Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon , Michael B. Jordan – Sinners, and Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent.
A24’s Marty Supreme did lose the top honor to DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another – which was produced by Warner Bros. – at the end of the night as the field also included: Bugonia (Focus Features), Frankenstein (Netflix), Hamnet (Focus Features), Jay Kelly (Netflix), Sentimental Value (Neon), Sinners (Warner Bros.), Train Dreams (Netflix), and Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures).
Paul Thomas Anderson earned Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for the action epic.
Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley upset a star-studded field as she earned Best Actress for her stunning work in Hamnet.
The 36-year-old Irish actress triumphed over Emma Stone – Bugonia, Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee, Rose Byne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another, Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value in the hotly contested category.
Noah Wyle led HBO drama The Pitt to top honors at the gala nearly two decades after the end of iconic series E.R.
Jessie Buckley upset a star-studded field as she earned Best Actress for her stunning work in Hamnet
Noah Wyle led HBO drama The Pitt to top honors at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards nearly two decades after the end of iconic series ER
Rhea Seehorn earned Best Actress in a Drama Series for her work on AppleTV’s Pluribus
Meanwhile, The Studio beat out Hacks for Best Comedy Series and Seth Rogen also took home Best Actor in a Comedy Series
The 54-year-old actor took home Best Actor in a Drama Series as the show also took home the most coveted television award Best Drama Series.
The talented actor won over: Sterling K. Brown – Paradise, Diego Luna – Andor, Mark Ruffalo – Task, Adam Scott– Severance, and Billy Bob Thornton – Landman.
For the top television honor, The Pitt won over: Alien: Earth (FX), Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat (Netflix), Paradise (Hulu), Pluribus (Apple TV), Severance (Apple TV), and Task (HBO Max).
Jean Smart made history as she earned her fourth straight Best Actress in a Comedy Series honor.
The 74-year-old acting icon has previously won the same category in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Last year Ayo Edebiri earned the honor for her work on The Bear, but Hacks was not eligible for any awards.
Unfortunately, Hacks did not win the top honor of Best Comedy series as they were bested by the Seth Rogen led The Studio after winning last year.
It also earned individual honors for Seth Rogen in the Best Actor in a Comedy Series category.
Owen Cooper earned a massive win as Adolescence nearly swept the limited series categories.
The 16-year-old rising star became the youngest ever to earn Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television for his name-making role for Netflix.
It wasn’t the only big win for Adolescence as Erin Doherty won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television and Stephen Graham took home Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television.
It also took home the top honor Best Limited Series over All Her Fault (Peacock), Chief of War (Apple TV), Death by Lightning (Netflix), Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock), Dope Thief (Apple TV), Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu), and The Girlfriend (Prime Video).