That reference to the legal battle between the This Ends With Us stars set the tone for the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards, an evening marked by moments of irreverence and maybe even a bit of self-awareness.

The Critics Choice Awards, which were hosted for a third year in a row by Chelsea Handler, has traditionally been a good Oscar bellwether. Last year, eventual Best Picture Oscar winner Oppenheimer scored a leading eight wins here including the marquee Best Picture prize that Anora just snagged.