Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mad Max: Fury Road were the big winners of this year’s Empire Awards.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens took home five Empire Awards for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film, Best Male and Female Newcomers for both John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, and Best Director for J.J. Abrams. Star Wars also won Best Visual Effects. Mad Max: Fury Road was the second big winner with a total of four Empire Awards. The film took home majority of the technical awards, including: Best Soundtrack, Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Costume Design. Missing from the winners list included actors Leonardo DiCaprio, who won his first Oscar this year, and actress Brie Larson, who won the best actress Oscar for her role in Room . Both actors had won most of the major awards this season.
Although both Star Wars: The Force Awakensand Mad Max: Fury Roadwere not able to secure the biggest prize of the night, Best Film; that was awarded to The Revenant,a film that was favored to win Best Picture at this year’s Oscars but was surprisingly snubbed by the drama Spotlight.The latest James Bond installment, Spectretook home two Empire Awards, for both Best British Film, and Best Thriller. Actor Matt Damon won Best Actor for The Martian, and actress Alicia Vikander won Best Actress for The Danish Girl. Other awards included Best Video Game and Best TV Series, which respectively went to Batman: Arkham Knightand This Is England ’90,a British drama mini-series delving into rave culture and the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Actor Stanley Tucci was honored with the prestigious Empire Hero Award for his contributions and late actor Alan Rickman was honored with the Empire Legend Award. Tucci had recently been seen in The Hunger Games Trilogyas Caesar Flickerman. Rickman died earlier in January of this year after battling cancer. The actor was famous for his roles in Galaxy Quest, Dogma, and as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films.
The Empire Awards is an annual awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the local (U.K.)/global film industry. Winners are voted by readers of Empire magazine, and the awards are handed out in a ceremony in London.
- Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer: John Boyega – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer: Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Empire Award for Best Comedy Film: Spy
- Empire Award for Best Horror Film: The Hallow
- Empire Award for Best Thriller Film: Spectre
- Empire Award for Best British Film: Spectre
- Empire Award for Best Actor: Matt Damon – The Martian
- Empire Award for Best Actress: Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
- Empire Award for Best Director: J.J. Abrams – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Empire Award for Best Film: The Revenant
- Empire Award for Best TV Series: This is England ’90
- Empire Award for Best Screenplay: The Big Short (Adam McKay and Charles Randolph)
- Empire Award for Best Animated Film: Inside Out
- Empire Award for Best Documentary: Amy
- Empire Award for Best Soundtrack: Mad Max: Fury Road
- Empire Award for Best Costume Design: Mad Max: Fury Road
- Empire Award for Best Hairstyling and Makeup: Mad Max: Fury Road
- Empire Award for Best Visual Effects: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- Empire Award for Best Short Film: World of Tomorrow
- Empire Award for Best Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road
- Empire Award for Best Video Game: Batman: Arkham Knight
- Empire Inspiration Award: Paddy Considine
- Empire Legend Award: Alan Rickman
- Empire Hero Award: Stanley Tucci
[Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images]
