Key Takeaways
- The AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards ceremony was held on Sunday night, where actresses Sharon Stone, Laura Dern, and Kathy Bates emotionally remembered their late mothers onstage.
- The ceremony, which will be broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 22, honored the best TV shows and films made by and for people over 50 in 2025.
- Winners of the night included George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Regina Hall, and Noah Wyle, among others.
- The ceremony was marked by moments of levity and laughter, as well as more serious discussions about grief, loss, and the importance of community and storytelling.
Introduction to the AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards
The AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards ceremony was held on Sunday night at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California. The event, which will be broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. on PBS, honored the best TV shows and films made by and for people over 50 in 2025. The ceremony was marked by moments of levity and laughter, as well as more serious discussions about grief, loss, and the importance of community and storytelling. Actresses Sharon Stone, Laura Dern, and Kathy Bates were among those who took the stage to pay tribute to their late mothers, sharing emotional and heartfelt speeches about the impact of loss on their lives.
Remembering Loved Ones
Sharon Stone, who lost her mother in March of 2025, was brought to tears as she introduced the winner of the Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups, "Hamnet". Stone spoke about the impact of loss on her life, saying that "these losses do not just simply disappear; they move into us. They become a piece of us. They become a part of us." Her speech was a powerful tribute to the enduring power of love and memory, and the ways in which our experiences shape us into the people we become. Laura Dern, who announced her mother’s passing in November, also spoke about her own personal grief, recalling that "the last time I was here, you were honoring my mother," and adding that "she loved you all" at AARP.
The Importance of Community and Storytelling
Chloé Zhao, the director of "Hamnet", also spoke about the importance of community and storytelling in times of grief and loss. During her acceptance speech, Zhao said that making "Hamnet" reminded "us that grief is an inevitable art of life, and yet the more we can allow ourselves to feel the depths of our grief, the greater our capacity to love and to have compassion grow." She added that "it’s a really beautiful paradox and incredibly, incredibly hard, as many of you know," and that "when it’s really difficult to feel our grief, that’s when we reach out for poetry, and that’s when we reach out for part, and that’s when we reach out for storytelling, for each other and for community." Zhao’s words highlighted the importance of coming together to support one another in times of need, and the ways in which art and storytelling can provide a sense of comfort and solace.
Honoring the Winners
The ceremony honored a range of winners, including George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Regina Hall, and Noah Wyle, among others. Kathy Bates, who plays Madeline "Matty" Matlock in the CBS drama series, was also brought to tears during her speech as she spoke about her late mother, Bertye Kathleen Bates. Bates shared that her mother is "the engine that drives my Matty," and that "she wanted to be a lawyer, and she would have been a damn good one." Her speech was a heartfelt tribute to the enduring power of love and family, and the ways in which our relationships shape us into the people we become.
Conclusion
The AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards ceremony was a powerful celebration of the best TV shows and films made by and for people over 50 in 2025. The event was marked by moments of levity and laughter, as well as more serious discussions about grief, loss, and the importance of community and storytelling. The winners of the night, including George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Regina Hall, and Noah Wyle, among others, were honored for their contributions to the world of film and television. The ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. on PBS, providing a chance for audiences to come together and celebrate the power of storytelling and community.
