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Jan 11, 2022
AARP The Magazine Announces Nominees for the Annual Movies for Grownups® Awards
2021’s Best Movies and TV for Grownups to be Honored During the 20th Anniversary Special on March 18 from Great Performances on PBS

WASHINGTONAARP The Magazine today announced the nominees for the upcoming annual Movies for Grownups® Awards, with Being the Ricardos, Belfast, King Richard, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story contending for Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups category. For two decades, AARP’s Movies for Grownups program has championed movies for grownups, by grownups, by advocating for the 50-plus audience, fighting industry ageism and encouraging films that resonate with older viewers.

“During the pandemic, movies have been a source of entertainment, comfort, connection and reflection for grownup audiences. TV and streaming have played those roles, too, so we’re excited to continue with our expanded categories,”said Tim Appelo, AARP film and TV critic. “Every year, we spotlight films and shows that feature crucial issues, thoughtful storylines and the most talented grownup filmmakers that speak directly to a powerful 50-plus audience. Today’s nominations are another bumper year of masterworks — so many more than we had 20 years ago when Movies for Grownups started.”

Iconic and beloved screen and stage performer Alan Cumming will host the star-studded virtual special that will be broadcast by Great Performances on Friday, March 18, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/moviesforgrownups, and the PBS Video app as part of #PBSForTheArts, a multiplatform campaign that celebrates the arts in America.

In the Best Actress category, nominees are Halle Berry (Bruised), Sandra Bullock (The Unforgivable), Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), Frances McDormand (The Tragedy of Macbeth) and Helen Mirren (The Duke). In the Best Actor category, Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Jim Broadbent (The Duke), Peter Dinklage (Cyrano), Will Smith (King Richard) and Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth).

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress are Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley), Judi Dench (Belfast), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), Marlee Matlin (CODA) and Rita Moreno (West Side Story). In the Best Supporting Actor category, Ciarán Hinds (Belfast), Jared Leto (House of Gucci), J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos), Timothy Spall (Spencer) and David Strathairn (Nightmare Alley).

2021 Movies for Grownups® nominees for Best Director are Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley), Steven Spielberg (West Side Story) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune).

The nominees for Best TV Series are The Chair, The Crown, Hacks, Succession and Ted Lasso.

In the Best TV Movie/Limited Series category, nominations go to Halston, Maid, Mare of Easttown, Nine Perfect Strangers and The Underground Railroad.

The 2021 Television/Streaming nominees for Best Actress are Gillian Anderson (The Crown), Andie MacDowell (Maid), Sandra Oh (The Chair), Jean Smart (Hacks) and Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie). In the Best Actor category, Kevin Costner (Yellowstone), Michael Keaton (Dopesick), Ewan McGregor (Halston), Billy Porter (Pose) and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building).

The complete list of the annual Movies for Grownups® Awards Nominees:

  • Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups: Being the Ricardos, Belfast, King Richard, The Power of the Dog, West Side Story
  • Best Actress: Halle Berry (Bruised), Sandra Bullock (The Unforgivable), Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), Frances McDormand (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Helen Mirren (The Duke)
  • Best Actor: Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Jim Broadbent (The Duke), Peter Dinklage (Cyrano), Will Smith (King Richard), Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)
  • Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley), Judi Dench (Belfast), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), Marlee Matlin (CODA), Rita Moreno (West Side Story)
  • Best Supporting Actor: Ciarán Hinds (Belfast), Jared Leto (House of Gucci), J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos), Timothy Spall (Spencer), David Strathairn (Nightmare Alley)
  • Best Director: Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley), Steven Spielberg (West Side Story), Denis Villeneuve (Dune)
  • Best Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza), Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Guillermo del Toro/Kim Morgan (Nightmare Alley), Tony Kushner (West Side Story)
  • Best Actress (TV/Streaming): Gillian Anderson (The Crown), Andie MacDowell (Maid), Sandra Oh (The Chair), Jean Smart (Hacks), Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)
  • Best Actor (TV/Streaming): Kevin Costner (Yellowstone), Michael Keaton (Dopesick), Ewan McGregor (Halston), Billy Porter (Pose), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building
  • Best TV Series: The Chair, The Crown, Hacks, Succession, Ted Lasso
  • Best TV Movie/Limited Series: Halston, Maid, Mare of Easttown, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Underground Railroad
  • Best Ensemble: Don’t Look Up, The Harder They Fall, House of Gucci, Nightmare Alley, West Side Story
  • Best Intergenerational Film: Belfast, C’mon, C’mon, CODA, King Richard, The Tender Bar
  • Best Buddy Picture: Finch, The Harder They Fall, Off the Rails, Queen Bees, 12 Mighty Orphans
  • Best Time Capsule: Being the Ricardos, Belfast, Licorice Pizza, Spencer, West Side Story
  • Best Grownup Love Story: Belfast, Cyrano, The Duke, The Tragedy of Macbeth, 23 Walks
  • Best Documentary: The Beatles: Get Back, Julia, My Name Is Pauli Murray, Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
  • Best Foreign Film: Drive My Car (Japan), The Hand of God (Italy), Sheep Without a Shepherd (China), There Is No Evil (Iran/Germany), Two of Us (France) 

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About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.orgwww.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.​

 

 

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For further information: Paola Groom, AARP Movies for Grownups®, 202-434-2555, pgroom@aarp.org; Marian Koltai-Levine, R&CPMK, marian.koltai@rogersandcowanpmk.com