- Hugh Jackman received the first-ever musical tribute award alongside his “Song Sung Blue” co-star Kate Hudson at the 2025 Gotham Awards.
- Jackman playfully quipped that receiving the honor would make his “Deadpool & Wolverine” co-star Ryan Reynolds “insanely jealous.”
- Director Guillermo del Toro made a powerful statement against the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking while accepting a tribute for his movie “Frankenstein.”
- Other notable moments included Julia Roberts joking about a bathroom break and Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” winning Best Feature.
The 35th annual Gotham Awards in New York kicked off awards season with a night of heartfelt speeches, playful jabs, and powerful statements from Hollywood’s biggest stars. Among the highlights, Hugh Jackman took a friendly shot at his frequent mock rival, Ryan Reynolds.
Jackman and Hudson’s Musical Moment
Accepting the Gothams’ first-ever musical tribute award for their film “Song Sung Blue,” Hugh Jackman and co-star Kate Hudson delighted the audience with a few lines from Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The film itself is about a Diamond tribute band, making the impromptu performance a perfect nod to their work.
During his speech, Jackman couldn’t resist mentioning his “Deadpool & Wolverine” co-star. “This is so cool,” he said, before adding, “This will make Ryan Reynolds insanely jealous.”
Supported in the audience by his girlfriend Sutton Foster, Jackman also had high praise for Hudson, predicting major awards recognition for her performance. “Kate Hudson is not only one of the great stars of our business, she is a consummate actor,” Jackman declared. “I believe this time she is going to get an Oscar.”
Guillermo del Toro Denounces AI
In a more serious moment, acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro used his platform to speak out against the use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. While accepting the vanguard tribute for his monster movie “Frankenstein” alongside stars Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, del Toro was unequivocal.
“Every single frame of this film was willfully made by humans, for humans,” he stated firmly, thanking his entire crew. “I would like to extend our gratitude and say: F— AI.”
His star, Oscar Isaac, added to the film’s timely message, noting the international cast. “Immigrants, we get the job done!” Isaac proclaimed, referencing the famous line from “Hamilton.”
Other Nightly Highlights
The evening was filled with memorable moments. Julia Roberts, accepting a visionary tribute, humorously cut her speech short. “I didn’t realize how long this was going to go on, and I didn’t regulate my water intake,” she quipped. Meanwhile, Adam Sandler provided comic relief with an expletive-filled tangent while presenting a tribute to director Noah Baumbach.
The night’s top prize for Best Feature went to Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was also a big winner, taking home three awards for his film “It Was Just an Accident,” including Best Director and Best International Feature.
Image Referance: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/12/02/gotham-awards-2025/87491453007/