It was a good night for women at the Critics' Choice Awards. "Big Little Lies" was the biggest TV winner, with four awards, and "The Handmaid's Tale" won three. "Wonder Woman" was named best action movie and its star Gal Gadot accepted a special award for challenging gender stereotypes.
"Big Little Lies" was named best limited series and won acting awards for Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern.
Kidman thanked the entertainment community "who show up to make really fantastic films and TV and let us do what we love."
"I love being an actor," said the 50-year-old Oscar winner. "Thank you for letting me do it all the way through to this age and beyond."
Guillermo del Toro's fantasy romance, "The Shape of Water," was also a quadruple winner–Best Film, Best Director, Best Score and Best Production Design.
Stories about women also won in comedy categories. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" was named best comedy series, and star Rachel Brosnahan won best actress in a comedy.
As she accepted her award, Brosnahan noted that even though women aren't wearing black like most did at the Golden Globe Awards earlier in the week, she said the fight to eradicate sexual harassment continues.
"Let's not lose focus," she said, urging viewers to support the Time's Up initiative. "Let's keep this going."
Olivia Munn hosted the ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. At one point, the actress, who has spoken publicly about her own experiences with sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, led the audience in a toast. Joined by actress Niecey Nash, they raised a glass "to all the good guys in Hollywood," who held meetings in conference rooms rather than hotel rooms.
"Congratulations for doing what you're supposed to do!" Nash said.
Del Toro closed the show Thursday night by shouting that he's always believed in the equality of women.
"Let me tell you one thing, if you don't do that, you don't know what you're missing," he said.
"The Shape of Water," which led all nominees with 14 bids, claimed the best picture prize, along with director, score and production design honors.
Presenter Chris Hemsworth noted that women have had a stellar year at the box office.
"The three biggest movies of 2017 in North America were 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi,' 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Wonder Woman,'" which all feature female protagonists, he said. "The biggest comedy was a female ensemble, 'Girls Trip,' and the biggest independent movie was written and directed by Greta Gerwig."
Hemsworth presented the best actress award to an absent Frances McDormand for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." The film also won for acting ensemble and supporting actor for Sam Rockwell.
Also absent was James Franco. The actor and director, who had new sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him earlier in the day, won best actor in a comedy for his turn in "The Disaster Artist." The award was presented during a pre-telecast ceremony broadcast only online.
Actor Walton Goggins, who presented the award, accepted it on Franco's behalf.
Double winners Thursday included "I, Tonya," ''Get Out" and "Coco."
"I, Tonya" brought acting accolades for star Margot Robbie and supporting actress Allison Janney. "Get Out" was named best sci-fi or horror film, and writer-director Jordan Peele claimed original screenplay honors. "Coco" won animated feature and original song for "Remember Me."
Many Critics' Choice Awards winners also took home Golden Globes, including McDormand, Rockwell, Brosnahan and the stars of "Big Little Lies." Hollywood's awards season continues through March 4, when the Academy Awards are presented.
CRITICS CHOICE AWARD WINNERS
FEATURE FILMS
Film: "The Shape of Water"
Actor: Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"
Actress: Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Supporting actor: Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Supporting actress: Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"
Young actor:/actress: Brooklyn Prince, "The Florida Project"
Acting ensemble: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Director: Guillermo del Toro, "The Shape of Water"
Original screenplay: Jordan Peele, "Get Out"
Adapted screenplay: James Ivory, "Call Me By Your Name"
Cinematography: Roger Deakins, "Blade Runner 2024"
Production design: Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeff Melvin, "The Shape of Water"
Editing: (tie) Paul Machliss, Jonathan Amos for"Baby Driver," and Lee Smith for "Dunkirk"
Costume design: Mark Bridges, "Phantom Thread"
Hair and makeup: "Darkest Hour"
Visual effects: Joe Letteri, Weta Digital, "War for the Planet of the Apes"
Animated feature: "Coco"
Action movie: "Wonder Woman"
Comedy: "The Big Sick"
Actor, comedy: James Franco, "The Disaster Artist"
Actress, comedy: Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
Sci-fi or horror: "Get Out"
Foreign language: "In the Fade"
Song: "Remember Me," from "Coco"
Score: Alexandre Desplat for "The Shape of Water"
TELEVISION
Drama series: "The Handmaid's Tale"
Actor, drama series: Sterling K. Brown, "This Is Us"
Actress, drama series: Elizabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale"
Supporting actor, drama series: David Harbour, "Stranger Things"
Supporting actress, drama series: Ann Dowd, "The Handmaid's Tale"
Comedy series: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Actor, comedy series: Ted Danson, "The Good Place"
Actress, comedy series: Rachel Brosnahan, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Supporting actor, comedy series: Walton Goggins, "Vice Principals"
Supporting actress, comedy series: Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Limited series: "Big Little Lies"
TV movie: "The Wizard of Lies"
Actor in a TV movie or limited series: Ewan McGregor, "Fargo"
Actress in a TV movie or limited series: Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies"
Supporting actor in a TV movie or limited series: Alexander Skarsgard, "Big Little Lies"
Supporting actress in a TV movie or limited series: Laura Dern, "Big Little Lies"
Talk show: "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Animated series: "Rick and Morty"
Unstructured reality series: "Born This Way"
Structured reality series: "Shark Tank"
Competition series: "The Voice"
Reality show host: RuPaul, "RuPaul's Drag Race"
