2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominees, Host, Performers And How To Watch
The MTV Movie & TV Awards are back in 2021, after taking a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A special show, the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time, was held last year, hosted by Vanessa Hudgens. The ceremony paid respect to some of the best pop culture moments ever, while also highlighting some of the greatest moments of the MTV Movie & TV Awards since they began back in 1992.
This year, however, it's back to business as usual. A new host has been named, and celebrities are set to arrive from near and far to present, as well as receive awards at one of the most fun-filled nights in entertainment. It's all about the fans at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, as they decide who the big winners are. Voting for the show ran from April 19 through April 30, with fans being eligible to vote every single day.
The awards show will be a two-part event spread out over two days. For the first time ever, a spin-off ceremony, "Movie and TV Awards: Unscripted," will honor all the talent from reality television in the last year.
Eager for more? We've got everything you need to know about the upcoming MTV Movie & TV Awards, including how to watch!
When are the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards?
The 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards are steadily approaching, with a premiere date of Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. These awards will encompass all film and scripted television projects, with over a dozen awards set to be given out to fans' favorite celebrities for their work over the last year. This isn't the only portion of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, however — a special spin-off ceremony will follow 24 hours later.
On Monday, May 17 at 9 p.m., the second part of the awards will air. The "MTV Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted" show will cover everything in the reality television world. There are a handful of categories this year that honor the best moments from reality television, from series running on a variety of networks and platforms. The two ceremonies will be entirely different, but promise to be equally entertaining.
Where are the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards being held?
According to Rolling Stone, the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards will take place in Los Angeles, California at the Hollywood Palladium theater. This is the first time the ceremony will take place at the venue, with the last locations being the Barker Hangar, the Shrine Auditorium, and Warner Bros. Studios.
The Hollywood Palladium's website notes that it can hold about 4,000 people, making it one of the smallest halls to ever host the ceremony. The choice to hold the show at a smaller venue makes sense, given the ongoing health crisis, and MTV is expected to take every safety precaution. As Deadline noted, it's possible the MTV Movie & TV Awards might have a larger crowd of attendees than expected, and possibly even a red carpet, given that California is steadily moving through its reopening plan.
Award shows that have taken place during the pandemic have had a limited number of guests at their ceremonies, with the Oscars only allowing nominees, their guests, and presenters into the event.
Will the MTV Movie & TV Awards have a pre-show?
In the past, the MTV Movie & TV Awards have almost always had a pre-show special that aired on the network just before the ceremony began. For now, there has not been an announcement regarding a pre-show for the 2021 awards. Unfortunately, there may not be one at all, as producers are looking to take extra safety precautions due to COVID-19.
Past pre-shows have included red-carpet interviews and musical performances which took place outside the venue where the show was held. For now, there is no news regarding whether or not fans will see that again in 2021.
Who is hosting the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards?
MTV News announced that "Saturday Night Live" alum Leslie Jones will be the host for the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards, marking the first time she has helmed the ceremony. This isn't her first gig as an awards show host, however. In 2017, the comedic actress hosted the BET Awards. Jones also hosts ABC's "Supermarket Sweep," where she also serves as an executive producer.
Jones joins a long line of legendary MTV Movie & TV Awards hosts, including Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Dwayne Johnson, and Tiffany Haddish, to name a few. The night is especially important to Jones, because she is also nominated for Best Comedic Performance in Eddie Murphy's "Coming 2 America." This is the first MTV Award nod for the actress.
Is anyone performing at the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards?
The 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards are expected to have multiple performances, but this year's performers have not been named at this time. Unlike the Video Music Awards, the Movie and TV Awards feature a much smaller number of musical acts, used to break up the many awards given throughout the evening.
Some former acts from Movie & TV Awards past include Lizzo, Bazzi, and Nick Jonas. One of the award show's most popular performances came in 2017, when the cast of "The Fast and Furious" franchise accepted their Generation Award. J Balvin, Camila Cabello, and Pitbull performed "Hey Ma," which appears on the "Fate of the Furious" soundtrack. This got the audience on their feet and the "Fast" family hyped.
A performer we'd love to see this year is H.E.R., who just won an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Fight For You") from "Judas and the Black Messiah."
Who is nominated for the biggest awards of the night?
With the introduction of television programs into the MTV Movie Awards in 2017, the categories are unlike anything seen at any other award show. Categories combine performers from the big and small screen, and are also not separated by gender. Nominees for the night's biggest awards are listed below.
Best Movie
"Borat Subsequent Moviefilm"
"Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Promising Young Woman"
"Soul"
"To All the Boys: Always and Forever"
Best Show
"Bridgerton"
"Cobra Kai"
"Emily in Paris
"The Boys"
"WandaVision"
Best Performance in a Movie
Carey Mulligan ("Promising Young Woman")
Chadwick Boseman ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom")
Daniel Kaluuya ("Judas and the Black Messiah")
Sacha Baron Cohen ("The Trial of the Chicago 7")
Zendaya ("Malcolm & Marie")
Best Performance in a Show
Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Queen's Gambit")
Elizabeth Olsen ("WandaVision")
Elliot Page ("The Umbrella Academy")
Emma Corrin ("The Crown")
Michaela Coel ("I May Destroy You")
Best Comedic Performance
Annie Murphy ("Schitt's Creek")
Eric Andre ("Bad Trip")
Issa Rae ("Insecure")
Jason Sudeikis ("Ted Lasso")
Leslie Jones ("Coming 2 America")
Breakthrough Performance
Antonia Gentry ("Ginny & Georgia")
Ashley Park ("Emily in Paris")
Maria Bakalova ("Borat Subsequent Moviefilm")
Paul Mescal ("Normal People")
Regé-Jean Page ("Bridgerton")
Who are the other nominees?
The MTV Movie & TV Awards are known for their unique categories, especially Best Kiss. These categories often result in on-stage shenanigans, like Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling's infamous recreation of their kiss from "The Notebook" during the 2005 award show. Check out the nominees for Best Kiss and other playful categories below.
Best Hero
Anthony Mackie ("The Falcon and the Winter Soldier")
Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman 1984")
Jack Quaid ("The Boys")
Pedro Pascal ("The Mandalorian")
Teyonah Parris ("WandaVision")
Best Kiss
Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline ("Outer Banks")
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh ("Killing Eve")
Lily Collins and Lucas Bravo ("Emily in Paris")
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Jaren Lewison ("Never Have I Ever")
Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor ("Bridgerton")
Best Villain
Aya Cash ("The Boys")
Ewan McGregor ("Birds of Prey")
Giancarlo Esposito ("The Mandalorian")
Kathryn Hahn ("WandaVision")
Nicholas Hoult ("The Great")
Best Fight
Final Funhouse Fight ("Birds of Prey")
Finale House Fight ("Cobra Kai")
Starlight, Queen Maeve, Kimiko vs. Stormfront ("The Boys")
Wanda vs. Agatha ("WandaVision")
Final Fight vs. Steppenwolf ("Zack Snyder's Justice League")
Most Frightened Performance
Elisabeth Moss ("The Invisible Man")
Jurnee Smollett ("Lovecraft Country")
Simona Brown ("Behind Her Eyes")
Victoria Pedretti ("Scripted The Haunting of Bly Manor")
Vince Vaughn ("Freaky")
Best Duo
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo ("Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar")
Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan ("The Falcon and the Winter Soldier")
Pedro Pascal and Grogu/Baby Yoda ("The Mandalorian")
Lily Collins and Ashley Park ("Emily in Paris")
Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova ("Borat Subsequent Moviefilm")
Which reality television shows are nominated this year?
The reality television winners will be revealed during the spin-off "Movie and TV Awards: Unscripted" ceremony, which will air Monday, May 17.
Best Docu-Reality Show
"Below Deck Mediterranean"
"Black Ink Crew New York"
"Bling Empire"
"Jersey Shore Family Vacation"
"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta"
Best Dating Show
"90 Day Fiancé"
"Ex On The Beach"
"Love Is Blind"
"Ready to Love"
"The Bachelorette"
Best Competition Series
"Legendary"
"RuPaul's Drag Race"
"The Challenge"
"The Circle"
"The Masked Singer"
Best Lifestyle Show
"Deliciousness"
"Fixer Upper: Welcome Home"
"Making The Cut"
"Nailed It!"
"Queer Eye"
Best New Unscripted Series
"Bling Empire"
"Cardi Tries"
"Selena + Chef"
"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City"
"VH1 Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition"
Best Talk / Topical Show
"A Little Late with Lilly Singh"
"Red Table Talk"
"The Breakfast Club"
"The Daily Show with Trevor Noah"
"Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen"
Best Comedy / Game Show
"Floor Is Lava"
"Impractical Jokers"
"Kids Say the Darndest Things"
"Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out"
"Ridiculousness"
Best Real-Life Mystery or Crime Series
"Catfish: The TV Show"
"Evil Lives Here"
"Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer"
"Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness"
"Unsolved Mysteries"
Best International Series
"Acapulco Shore"
"Geordie Shore"
"Love Island (ITV)"
"¡Nailed it! México"
"RuPaul's Drag Race UK"
Which reality television stars are nominated at the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards?
Reality television shows are nothing without their casts, which often include some big personalities. This year's nominees include reality personalities from Netflix, Bravo, MTV, and VH1 shows. Check out the nominees below.
Best Fight
Chrishell Stause vs. Christine Quinn ("Selling Sunset")
Jackie Goldschneider vs. Teresa Giudice ("The Real Housewives of New Jersey")
Kandy Muse vs. Tamisha Iman ("RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked")
Kourtney Kardashian vs. Kim Kardashian ("Keeping Up With The Kardashians")
West Law Roach vs. Guest Judge Dominique Jackson ("Legendary")
Best Host
Nicole Byer ("Nailed It!")
Rob Dyrdek ("Ridiculousness")
RuPaul ("RuPaul's Drag Race")
T.J. Lavin ("The Challenge")
Tiffany Haddish ("Kids Say the Darndest Things")
Breakthrough Social Star
Addison Rae
Bretman Rock
Charli D'Amelio
Jalaiah Harmon
Rickey Thompson
Best Reality Cast
"90 Day Fiancé"
"Jersey Shore Family Vacation"
"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta"
"RuPaul's Drag Race"
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta"
Who are the stars suspected to be the big winners?
Since fans vote for the winners at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, it's easier to make predictions about the outcome based on the most popular movies, shows, and pop culture moments from the last year.
One winner who seems to be a certainty is Chadwick Boseman, who is posthumously nominated for Best Performance in a Movie for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." The late MCU star has a very large and loyal fan base likely hoping to see redemption for his Oscar loss in April. The winner for Best Performance in a Show will likely be a toss-up between Elizabeth Olsen for "WandaVision" and Anya Taylor-Joy for "The Queen's Gambit." Both shows were massive successes for Disney+ and Netflix respectively, and we'd be surprised to see anyone else take home the golden popcorn.
We're also expecting to see Regé-Jean Page take home the trophy for Breakout Performance for his work on "Bridgerton," while Best Duo will likely go to Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan for "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." Best Movie is definitely a toss-up, as all the nominees are great films. But our best guess is that "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" will win, since it's the only comedy in the bunch, and the genre is long overdue for a victory. A comedy hasn't taken home the award for Best Movie since "Wedding Crashers" won, all the way back in 2006.
Will there be any special honorees this year?
It's a tradition for the MTV Movie & TV Awards to honor a few celebrities every year with a special award. Since 2005, the ceremony has named one entertainer to honor with the Generation Award, which is chosen by MTV and not by the fans. The first Generation Award went to Tom Cruise, and most recently was given to Dwayne Johnson in 2019. Others who have received this special award include Ben Stiller (2009), Reese Witherspoon (2011), Robert Downey Jr. (2015), and "The Fast and Furious" cast (2017). At this time, MTV has not revealed who their 2021 honoree for the Generation Award is.
Another honor given during the awards ceremony is the Trailblazer Award, which was first given out in 2012 to Emma Stone. The award recognizes an entertainer who inspires and blazes "new paths for themselves and others." Past winners include Channing Tatum (2014) and Jada Pinkett-Smith (2019). There is no word yet on who the Trailblazer for 2021 will be, or if a Trailblazer Award will be given out at all, as it has skipped years before.
MTV has also given out three Comedic Genius Awards in 2013, 2015, and 2016, to Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, and Melissa McCarthy, respectively. It's unknown at this time if they will grant this award again, and if it will be given during this year's ceremony.
How can I watch the MTV Movie & TV Awards?
There are several different ways for you to watch the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards. If you have cable, you can tune in to the show live on MTV when it airs on Sunday, May 16 at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Subscribers to YouTube TV and Hulu Live can also watch the show through the platform of their choice at the same time.
The MTV app will also be airing the Movie & TV Awards live, but you will need to enter your cable subscription username and password to be able to watch. The ceremony will also be available for streaming on the app after the ceremony concludes.
The "MTV Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted" show, which will air on Monday, May 17, can be watched through the same channels.