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With the awards season now well underway, the 2025 Critics Choice Awards ceremony is finally here. We've provided a breakdown of everything you need to know about where to watch the Critics Choice Awards, which movies and TV shows are nominated, and some of the big names attending the 2025 ceremony.
This year marks the 30th Critics Choice Awards ceremony after originally being presented in 1996 (for 1995 films). The awards honor the achievements of movies and TV shows from 2024 in categories voted on by members of the Critics Choice Association. Among the leading movies with the most nominations in 2025 are "Conclave" and "Wicked" at 11 nominations each, with "Shogun" leading the TV shows at six nominations. Additionally, some of the stars with acting nominations include Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Timothée Chalamet, Demi Moore, and Denzel Washington.
Originally, the ceremony was scheduled to take place on January 12, but was delayed in response to the wildfires in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. The event will also be hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler for the third year in a row.
Here's our breakdown of everything you need to know about the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, including where to watch the ceremony and who will be at the event. We'll recommend live TV streaming services for those without cable.
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What channel are the Critics Choice Awards on?
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on E! on Friday, February 7, starting at 7 p.m. ET. The ceremony typically lasts about three hours, so the broadcast should be over by 10 p.m. ET.
Where to watch the Critics Choice Awards in the US
In the US, the cheapest option for streaming the 2025 Critics Choice Awards live on the E! channel is through Sling TV. E! is only available through Sling TV's Blue plan, which includes 40+ total channels with at least 16 exclusive news and entertainment channels. Sling TV's Blue plan subscription price is $46/month. Currently, the platform is offering a deal where first-time subscribers can get half-off of their first month at $23. E! is also available in the combined Sling TV Blue and Orange plan, which includes even more channels at $61/month, with half-off your first month at $30.50.
Access 40+ channels for just $23 a month for your first month as a part of a special offer right now on Sling Blue where you can get 50% off. The best part about Sling is that you only pay for what you want and you're not tied to a long-term contract
Another option for streaming the 2025 Critics Choice Awards live on E! in the US is through a subscription to DirecTV Stream. Prices for DirecTV Stream tiers that include E! start at $87/month with the Entertainment Plan, which comes with over 90 channels, after a five-day free trial.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
Another way to watch the 2025 Critics Choice Awards live is with a subscription to Fubo. The Essential Plan price starts at $60 for the first month after a seven-day free trial, then is bumped up to $85/month thereafter. Including E!, this subscription tier comes with 150+ channels and the ability to watch on up to ten screens.
Fubo's most essential tier features most of the same offerings as its Pro plan (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.), but it lacks regional sports networks that show NBA, NHL, and MLB games. This will remove any applicable extra RSN fees from your monthly bill.
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards will also be available to watch the following day with a subscription to Peacock. While the ceremony will not be airing live on the streaming service, it will become available on Peacock on-demand on February 8. The cheapest Peacock subscription plan needed to watch the Critics Choice Awards is the ad-supported Premium Plan, which costs $8/month. Peacock is also offering a limited-time special offer for the annual Premium Plan, bringing the price down by 63% from $80/year to $30/year.
Peacock is a convenient streaming source for hit NBC TV shows, Universal movies, and select sports like Sunday Night Football. The service also carries its own slate of original programming.
How to watch the Critics Choice Awards from anywhere
If you're traveling outside the US, you can also use a VPN to access the awards show on the above streaming services. A VPN, which stands for virtual private network, allows users to change their virtual geographic location so that their streaming services, websites, and apps still function the same as they would back in the US. VPNs are also useful for enhancing privacy and cybersecurity on the web. The services we've highlighted require US payment methods, so this will work best for Americans who are simply abroad.
We recommend using ExpressVPN for users who don't have a VPN yet, which is our best-tested VPN service. ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for users who aren't satisfied. Another perk of the app is that it has fast servers globally and works on various web and mobile devices. For more information about what the service offers, check out our review of ExpressVPN.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
How to watch the Critics Choice Awards with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.
- Install it once the device you're using to watch.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Sign up for one of the above streaming services.
- Enjoy the show!
Who is presenting at the Critics Choice Awards?
While the ceremony boasted that over 200 stars would be in attendance, the Critics Choice Awards waited until the day before to reveal who exactly will be presenting the awards this year. David Harbour, Ewan McGregor, Jackie Chan, Jesse Eisenberg, Jimmy O. Yang, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Keri Russell, Kristen Bell, Lupita Nyong'o, Michelle Yeoh, and Sarah Michelle Gellar are among some of the major stars scheduled to appear.
Were the Critics Choice Awards rescheduled?
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards was postponed not once, but twice prior to landing on its final February 7 air date. The show was originally scheduled to occur on January 12, but was postponed to January 26 due to the series of wildfires affecting Southern California, as the ceremony takes place at the Santa Monica Airport. A few days after its initial postponement, the Critics Choice Awards were rescheduled again from January 26 to February 7 due to the continued impact of the LA wildfires.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
