How to Watch the Critics Choice Awards Live For Free to See if Wicked Sweeps the Competition

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The Critics Choice Awards 2025 is just around the corner, getting us ready to celebrate another remarkable year in entertainment. Whether you’re rooting for your favorite films or can’t wait to see if your most-binged shows take home the gold, we’ve got everything you need to know about how to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 live for free.

What makes the Critics Choice Awards special is that it’s the only major awards show where the winners are actually chosen by people who watch movies and TV for a living: over 300 working critics from across the country. Since launching in 1996, they’ve built a reputation for spotting greatness early, often predicting which films and shows will go on to earn acclaim throughout awards season.

The magic happens through two key groups: film critics (originally known as the Broadcast Film Critics Association) who handle the movie categories, and their TV-focused counterparts in the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, who joined the party in 2011. Together, they form today’s Critics Choice Association, bringing their expert eyes to every category from indie darlings to blockbuster hits.

This year’s race is particularly exciting, with Conclave and Wicked tied at the top with 11 nominations each in the film categories. Meanwhile, FX’s Shōgun is dominating the television field with six nods.

With so many compelling nominees in the running, you won’t want to miss a single acceptance speech or surprising upset. Ready to tune in? Here’s how to catch every moment of the Critics Choice Awards 2025, whether you’re watching on TV or streaming from your favorite device.

When do the 2025 Critics Choice Awards air?

The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards will broadcast live on E! at 7 p.m. EST on Friday, February 7, 2025. Can’t tune in live? No worries—you can catch all the glamour and excitement when the ceremony becomes available to stream on Peacock the following day. But for those hoping to tune in live, keep on reading ahead for your best options!

How to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 live for free

The Critics Choice Awards 2025 will air on E!, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, Fubo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $86.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends.

Sling Blue and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they offer cheaper packages and more bang for your buck than the other options. Sling Blue costs $25.50 for your first month and starts at $50.99 per month after the first month ends, whereas Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $81.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to both Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

• Best Overall Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: DirecTV Stream
• Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: Fubo
• Best Budget Pick to Watch E!: Sling Blue
• Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: Hulu+ With Live TV

Best Overall Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: DirecTV Stream

Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch E! live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $86.99 per month; Choice, which costs $114.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $129.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $169.99 per month. E! is available with all four plans.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for E! and start watching the Critics Choice Awards 2025

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: Fubo

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month, Elite, which costs $89.99 per month, and Latino, which costs $32.99 per month. E! is included in the Pro and Elite plans.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 with Fubo’s free trial. 

1. Visit Fubo.TV
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for E! and start watching the Critics Choice Awards 2025

Best Budget Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: Sling Blue

Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch the Critics Choice Awards live for its price and channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $45.99 per month; Sling Blue for $50.99 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $65.99 per month. Sling also has a current deal where subscribers can sign up for 50 percent off their first month, bringing Sling Orange’s price down to $23 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $25.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $33 for your first month. Only Sling Blue includes E!

As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Critics Choice Awards with Sling.

1. Visit Sling.com
2. Click “Try Us Today”
3. Create an account
4. Choose your plan
5. Enter your information and payment method
6. Search for E! and start watching

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $81.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. E! is included in all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Critics Choice Awards 2025 with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for E! and start watching the Critics Choice Awards 2025

Where are the Critics Choice Awards 2025 held?

The Critics Choice Awards 2025 will air live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The historic aircraft hangar turned event space continues to serve as the ceremony’s home, providing a unique backdrop for this celebration of the year’s best in film and television.

Who is the host of the 2025 Critics Choice Awards?

Returning to the stage for her third consecutive year, Chelsea Handler will serve as hostat the 2025 Critics Choice Awards. The sharp-witted entertainer first made waves as the host of E!’s Chelsea Lately (2007-2014), and later starred in her own 2016 Netflix documentary series, Chelsea Does.

Who are the 2025 Critics Choice Awards nominees?

Here is a full list of 2025 Critics Choice Awards nominees.

Best Picture

• A Complete Unknown
• Anora
• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Nickel Boys
• Sing Sing
• The Substance
• Wicked

Best Actor

• Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
• Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
• Daniel Craig, Queer
• Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
• Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
• Hugh Grant, Heretic

Best Actress

• Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
• Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
• Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths
• Angelina Jolie, Maria
• Mikey Madison, Anora
• Demi Moore, The Substance

Best Supporting Actor

• Yura Borisov, Anora
• Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
• Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing
• Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
• Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
• Denzel Washington, Gladiator II

Best Supporting Actress

• Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson
• Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys
• Ariana Grande, Wicked
• Margaret Qualley, The Substance
• Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
• Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Best Young Actor/Actress

• Alyla Browne, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Elliott Heffernan, Blitz
• Maisy Stella, My Old Ass
• Izaac Wang, Didi
• Alisha Weir, Abigail
• Zoe Ziegler, Janet Planet

Best Acting Ensemble

• Anora
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• Saturday Night
• Sing Sing
• Wicked

Best Director

• Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
• Sean Baker, Anora
• Edward Berger, Conclave
• Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
• Jon M. Chu, Wicked
• Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
• RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
• Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two

Best Original Screenplay

• Sean Baker, Anora
• Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum and Alex David, September 5
• Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
• Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
• Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
• Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
• Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, Wicked
• Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley, Sing Sing
• RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys
• Peter Straughan, Conclave
• Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, Dune: Part Two

Best Cinematography

• Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu
• Alice Brooks, Wicked
• Lol Crawley, The Brutalist
• Stéphane Fontaine, Conclave
• Greig Fraser, Dune: Part Two
• Jomo Fray, Nickel Boys

Best Production Design

• Judy Becker and Patricia Cuccia, The Brutalist
• Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales, Wicked
• Suzie Davies and Cynthia Sleiter, Conclave
• Craig Lathrop and Beatrice Brentnerova, Nosferatu
• Arthur Max, Jille Azis and Elli Griff, Gladiator II
• Patrice Vermette and Shane Vieau, Dune: Part Two

Best Editing

• Sean Baker, Anora
• Marco Costa, Challengers
• Nick Emerson, Conclave
• David Jancso, The Brutalist
• Joe Walker, Dune: Part Two
• Hansjörg Weißbrich, September 5

Best Costume Design

• Lisy Christl, Conclave
• Linda Muir, Nosferatu
• Massimo Cantini Parrini, Maria
• Paul Tazewell, Wicked
• Jacqueline West, Dune: Part Two
• Janty Yates, Dave Crossman, Gladiator II

Best Hair and Makeup

• Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener and Neal Scanlan, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• Hair and Makeup Team, Dune: Part Two
• Stéphanie Guillon, Frédérique Arguello and Pierre-Olivier Persin, The Substance
• Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth and Laura Blount, Wicked
• Traci Loader, Suzanne Stokes-Munton and David White, Nosferatu
• Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman and Aaron Saucier, A Different Man

Best Visual Effects

• Mark Bakowski, Pietro Ponti, Nikki Penny and Neil Corbould, Gladiator II
• Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Paul Corbould and David Shirk, Wicked
• Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer, Dune: Part Two
• Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter Stubbs, Better Man
• Bryan Jones, Chervin Shafaghi, Pierre Olivier-Persin and Jean Miel, The Substance
• Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney Burke, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Best Animated Feature

• Flow
• Inside Out 2
• Memoir of a Snail
• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• The Wild Robot

Best Comedy

• A Real Pain
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Hit Man
• My Old Ass
• Saturday Night
• Thelma

Best Foreign Language Film

• All We Imagine as Light
• Emilia Pérez
• Flow
• I’m Still Here
• Kneecap
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Best Song

• “Beautiful That Way” by Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus and Lykke Li, The Last Showgirl
• “Compress / Repress” by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Luca Guadagnino, Challengers
• “El Mal” by Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Camille, Emilia Pérez
• “Harper and Will Go West” by Kristen Wiig, Will & Harper
• “Kiss the Sky” by Maren Morris, The Wild Robot
• “Mi Camino” by Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez

Best Score

• Volker Bertelmann, Conclave
• Daniel Blumberg, The Brutalist
• Kris Bowers, The Wild Robot
• Clément Ducol & Camille, Emilia Pérez
• Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Challengers
• Hans Zimmer, Dune: Part Two

Best Drama Series

• The Day of the Jackal
• The Diplomat
• Evil
• Industry
• Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire
• The Old Man
• Shōgun
• Slow Horses

Best Actor in a Drama Series

• Jeff Bridges, The Old Man
• Ncuti Gatwa, Doctor Who
• Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal
• Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun
• Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat
• Antony Starr, The Boys

Best Actress in Drama Series

• Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
• Kathy Bates, Matlock
• Shanola Hampton, Found
• Keira Knightley, Black Doves
• Keri Russell, The Diplomat
• Anna Sawai, Shōgun

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun
• Michael Emerson, Evil
• Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Found
• Takehiro Hira, Shōgun
• John Lithgow, The Old Man
• Sam Reid, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Moeka Hoshi, Shōgun
• Allison Janney, The Diplomat
• Nicole Kidman, Lioness
• Skye P. Marshall, Matlock
• Anna Sawai, Pachinko
• Fiona Shaw, Bad Sisters

Best Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• English Teacher
• Hacks
• Nobody Wants This
• Only Murders in the Building
• Somebody Somewhere
• St. Denis Medical
• What We Do in the Shadows

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

• Brian Jordan Alvarez, English Teacher
• Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
• David Alan Grier, St. Denis Medical
• Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
• Kayvan Novak, What We Do in the Shadows
• Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

• Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
• Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
• Natasia Demetriou, What We Do in the Shadows
• Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere
• Jean Smart, Hacks
• Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Paul W. Downs, Hacks
• Asher Grodman, Ghosts
• Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows
• Brandon Scott Jones, Ghosts
• Michael Urie, Shrinking
• Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
• Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
• Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
• Stephanie Koenig, English Teacher
• Patti LuPone, Agatha All Along
• Annie Potts, Young Sheldon

Best Limited Series

• Baby Reindeer
• Disclaimer
• Masters of the Air
• Mr Bates vs the Post Office
• The Penguin
• Ripley
• True Detective: Night Country
• We Were the Lucky Ones

Best Movie Made for Television

• The Great Lillian Hall
• It’s What’s Inside
• Música
• Out of My Mind
• Rebel Ridge
• V/H/S/Beyond

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

• Colin Farrell, The Penguin
• Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
• Tom Hollander, FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans
• Kevin Kline, Disclaimer
• Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow
• Andrew Scott, Ripley

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

• Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
• Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
• Jessica Lange, The Great Lillian Hall
• Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
• Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Out of My Mind
• Naomi Watts, FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

• Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer
• Hugh Grant, The Regime
• Ron Cephas Jones, Genius: MLK/X
• Logan Lerman, We Were the Lucky Ones
• Liev Schreiber, The Perfect Couple
• Treat Williams, FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

• Dakota Fanning, Ripley
• Leila George, Disclaimer
• Betty Gilpin, Three Women
• Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
• Deirdre O’Connell, The Penguin
• Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country

Best Foreign Language Series

• Acapulco
• Citadel: Honey Bunny
• La Máquina
• The Law According to Lidia Poët
• My Brilliant Friend
• Pachinko
• Senna
• Squid Game

Best Animated Series

• Batman: Caped Crusader
• Bluey
• Bob’s Burgers
• Invincible
• The Simpsons
• X-Men ’97

Best Talk Show

• Hot Ones
• The Daily Show
• The Graham Norton Show
• John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.
• The Kelly Clarkson Show
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best Comedy Special

• Ali Wong: Single Lady
• Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny
• Kevin James: Irregardless
• Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die
• Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special
• Ramy Youssef: More Feelings