‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Earns Late Critics’ Choice Awards Best Picture Nomination

John Boyega Star Wars The Force Awakens
Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (Photo © 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM.)

In an interesting twist on the standard year-end awards voting, members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association* were asked yesterday to vote on whether to include Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a Best Picture nominee. Disney held press screenings around the U.S. on December 15, 2015 which was after the Critics’ Choice Awards nomination process had ended and a day after nominees were announced. An email was sent to all BFCA members asking if had the screening taken place in time for the initial round of voting, would Star Wars: The Force Awakens have earned a Best Picture nomination. The majority voted yes and Star Wars: The Force Awakens was just added as an 11th nominee in the Best Picture category. (The film was not added in any other category and members were not asked if any of the actors should be considered for awards.)


Announcing the new addition to the Best Picture category, the BFCA said this is the second time a film that was screened too late for consideration was added in the Best Picture category. A late screening also took place in 2000 for Cast Away and the membership voted after the nominations were announced to add it to the Best Picture category. Per the official announcement: “It is the purpose of the Critics’ Choice Awards to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Making this exception to our rules serves this purpose.”

The 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards show will be held on January 17, 2016. T.J. Miller is hosting and the show will air live on A&E, Lifetime, and LMN at 5pm PT/8pm ET.

Critics’ Choice Awards Best Picture Nominees:

    The Big Short
    Bridge of Spies
    Brooklyn
    Carol
    Mad Max: Fury Road
    The Martian
    The Revenant
    Room
    Sicario
    Spotlight
    Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Complete List of Critics’ Choice Awards Nominees

* – I am a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association