AARP Movies for Grownups Awards – ‘Hamnet’ Wins Best Picture

Hamnet was awarded Best Picture/Best Movie at the AARP annual Movies for Grownups Awards, with Chloé Zhao, Paul Mescal, and Jessie Buckley in attendance to accept the award.

Jacob Elordi presented the Best Director award to Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, saying, “It’s really special to be here tonight to present the AARP Award for Best Director to someone I’ve long admired, Guillermo del Toro.”

He continued, “With Frankenstein, Guillermo returns to a story he’s carried with him for decades. This version isn’t about spectacle. It’s about responsibility – about what it means to create something and what happens when you don’t take care of it.”

George Clooney was honored as Best Actor for Jay Kelly, while Adam Sandler received the Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award.

Clooney reflected on his latest role in Jay Kelly, saying, “I couldn’t believe my luck that I got to play the part… This film was made by people who love actors.”

Best Actress winner Laura Dern, honored for Is This Thing On?, accepted with a heartfelt speech saying, “My parents taught me… we are lucky and blessed to be part of this industry. It is an extraordinary gift not to be wasted.”

Movies for Grownups Awards, honoring films and television projects that celebrate the voices, creativity, and stories of people 50 and older, will be broadcast by Great Performances on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 7/6c on PBS (check local listings).

The complete list of the annual Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP Nominees and Winners:

Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups: Winner: Hamnet

Best Actress: Winner: Laura Dern (Is This Thing On?)

Best Actor: Winner: George Clooney (Jay Kelly)

Best Supporting Actress:  Winner: Regina Hall (One Battle After Another)

Best Supporting Actor:  Winner: Delroy Lindo (Sinners)

Best Director: Winner: Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein)

Best Screenwriter: Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Best Ensemble:  Winner: One Battle After Another

Best Intergenerational Film: Winner: Sentimental Value

Best Period Film:  Winner: Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Best Documentary:  Winner: My Mom Jayne

Best Foreign-Language Film: Winner: Sentimental Value

Best TV Series or Limited Series: Winner: The Pitt

Best Actor (TV): Winner: Noah Wyle (The Pitt)

Best Actress (TV): Winner: Kathy Bates (Matlock)