AARP’s annual Movies for Grownups Awards will be broadcast on the PBS show Great Performances on March 28 at 8 p.m. ET. (check local listings), at pbs.org/moviesforgrownups, and on the PBS Video app.
Tune in to see actress Andra Day and director Lee Daniels accept the best movie award for The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Day stars as Lady Day in this film that, in part, examines the Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ undercover sting operation against the blues singer. Day has already won a best actress Golden Globe for her performance and has stirred Oscar buzz, too.
Movies for Grownups' free screening program gives grown-up movie lovers a chance to see exclusive showings of new movies and connect with other film fans
The pandemic may have kept you from hitting the theaters with your girls for ladies’ night this past year, yet movies feel more important than ever, especially films that tell our stories.
AARP announced winners of this year’s Movies for Grownup Awards on March 4, with the Regina King-directed One Night in Miami snagging the award for best ensemble. Casting director Kimberly Hardin’s alchemistic assembly of talent includes Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X, Eli Goree as Cassius Clay, Aldis Hodge as Jim Brown, Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke, Joaquina Kalukango as Betty X and Nicolette Robinson as Barbara Cooke.
Another winner for the night is diverse storytelling as we see movies like Da 5 Bloods, Bad Boys for Life and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom making the list of nominees.
Viola Davis was nominated for her awe-inspiring performance as Ma Rainey. Recently, Davis was featured on the cover of AARP The Magazine for the second time, proving her to be the perfect leading lady for the Women in America issue.
AARP The Magazine’s editors launched Movies for Grownups Awards with one mission in mind — to encourage Hollywood to make more movies of interest to an audience 50 and older.
What began as a magazine feature in 2002 grew into a Hollywood ceremony by 2006. In 2012, Movies for Grownups also launched a free screening program, giving grown-up movie lovers a chance to see exclusive showings of new movies and connect with other film fans. In 2018, more than 900 screenings of 31 feature films in over 180 communities reached more than 100,000 audience members. That same year, the Movies for Grownups Awards ceremony was televised for the first time.
Past winners include Oprah Winfrey, who was honored for her role in Lee Daniels’ The Butler in 2014; Viola Davis, who took home the best supporting actress award in 2017 for her performance in Fences; and director Kasi Lemmons, who was recognized in 2020 for her film Harriet.
The Movies for Grownups Awards continues to advocate for older viewers, fight against industry ageism and champion films that resonate with the 50-plus audience. This year the awards will also honor standout TV programs, with shows like Watchmen, which stars the incomparable Regina King, on the list of nominees.
Hoda Kotb, NBC News TODAY coanchor and cohost of TODAY With Hoda & Jenna, will host this year’s awards ceremony.
Grab your popcorn and tune in!
