‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,’ ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ & More Nominated for 2026 Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP: Full List
The Movies for Grownups Awards, hosted by AARP, are set to spotlight films that resonate with audiences over 50, and this year, classic rock biopics are taking center stage. Notable nominations include *Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere*, a biopic chronicling a significant period in Bruce Springsteen’s life, which has earned a nod for Best Period Film. The film’s director, Scott Cooper, is also nominated for Best Director, highlighting the film’s artistic merit. Another rock-themed contender is *Becoming Led Zeppelin*, a documentary that delves into the legacy of the legendary band, which is vying for Best Documentary. These nominations reflect a broader trend of recognizing the cultural significance of music legends and their impact on generations.
The Movies for Grownups Awards celebrate storytelling that resonates with older audiences, emphasizing the importance of representation in film. This year’s Best Picture nominees include *Hamnet*, *A House of Dynamite*, *One Battle After Another*, *Sinners*, and *Train Dreams*, showcasing a diverse range of narratives. AARP CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan remarked that these nominations demonstrate how powerful storytelling transcends age, reinforcing the idea that experiences of older adults deserve recognition and celebration. The ceremony will take place on January 10 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, with Alan Cumming returning as host. The event not only honors cinematic achievements but also raises funds for the AARP Foundation, which aims to enhance financial resilience among older adults.
The awards are set against a backdrop of significant nominees in various categories, including Ethan Hawke for Best Actor for his role in *Blue Moon*, and a mix of seasoned actors like Helen Mirren, Sean Penn, and Dwayne Johnson vying for accolades. The documentary category also features personal narratives, such as Ben Stiller’s homage to his parents in *Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost* and Mariska Hargitay’s exploration of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, in *My Mom Jayne*. With a blend of music, personal stories, and powerful performances, the Movies for Grownups Awards continue to highlight the rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with audiences of all ages.
Prepare to feel old, even if you’re young: Movies about classic rockers are now contenders for Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP — which is the official (if ungainly) name of the show.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
, the biopic about a pivotal period in the life of
Bruce Springsteen
, is nominated for best period film, while its director, Scott Cooper, is up for best director.
Becoming Led Zeppelin
, a doc about
Led Zeppelin
, hard rock gods of the late ‘60s and ‘70s, is nominated for best documentary.
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The Movies for Grownups Awards honor films and television projects that celebrate the voices and stories of those who are 50-plus. This year’s contenders for the top award, best picture/best movie for grownups, are
Hamnet, A House of Dynamite, One Battle After Another, Sinners
and
Train Dreams
.
Kathryn Bigelow, director of
A House of Dynamite
, and Paul Thomas Anderson, director of
One Battle After Another
, are up for best director, along with Cooper, director of the aforementioned Springsteen biopic, Guillermo del Toro (
Frankenstein
) and Spike Lee (
Highest 2 Lowest
).
Ethan Hawke
is nominated for best actor for playing lyricist Lorenz Hart in
Blue Moon
. The film is set on the night of the opening of the groundbreaking musical
Oklahoma!
, which was created by Hart’s former collaborator Richard Rodgers and his new lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.
Other nominees include Helen Mirren, recently announced as the 2026 recipient of the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award; two-time Oscar winner
Sean Penn
; and
Dwayne Johnson
, aka The Rock.
Two documentaries directed by current stars that look at the lives of their parent(s) are also nominated for best documentary. They are
Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost,
Ben Stiller
’s film about his parents, the great 1960s comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and
My Mom Jayne
, actress Mariska Hargitay’s look at her mother, 1960s sex symbol Jayne Mansfield. The remaining nominees for best documentary are
Cover Up,
a look at investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, and
Riefenstahl
, about controversial filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl.
In the best TV series or limited series category, nominations go to
Adolescence, Hacks, The Pitt, The Studio,
and
The White Lotus
.
“These nominees prove that powerful storytelling transcends age,” Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO of AARP, said in a statement. “At AARP, we believe representation matters—not just for audiences, but for the industry itself. By honoring these actors and creators, we’re shining a light on the richness, depth, and diversity of experience that deserves to be seen and celebrated.”
The annual Movies for Grownups Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. Alan Cumming, the Tony- and Emmy Award-winning host of TV’s
The Traitors
, will return to host the show, which will be broadcast by PBS’
Great Performances
on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7/6c.
The annual awards show raises funds for AARP Foundation, which works to strengthen older adults’ financial resilience.
Here’s the complete list of 2025 nominees for the Movies for Grownups with AARP Awards:
Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups
Hamnet
A House of Dynamite
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best Actress
Laura Dern,
Is This Thing On?
Jodie Foster,
A Private Life
Lucy Liu,
Rosemead
Julia Roberts,
After the Hunt
June Squibb,
Eleanor the Great
Best Actor
George Clooney,
Jay Kelly
Leonardo DiCaprio,
One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton,
Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke,
Blue Moon
Dwayne Johnson,
The Smashing Machine
Best Supporting Actress
Regina Hall,
One Battle After Another
Amy Madigan,
Weapons
Helen Mirren,
Goodbye June
Gwyneth Paltrow,
Marty Supreme
Sigourney Weaver,
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro,
One Battle After Another
Delroy Lindo,
Sinners
Sean Penn,
One Battle After Another
Michael Shannon,
Nuremberg
Stellan Skarsgård,
Sentimental Value
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson,
One Battle After Another
Kathryn Bigelow,
A House of Dynamite
Scott Cooper,
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Guillermo del Toro,
Frankenstein
Spike Lee,
Highest 2 Lowest
Best Screenwriter
Paul Thomas Anderson,
One Battle After Another
Noah Baumbach and Emily Mortimer,
Jay Kelly
Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett, and Mark Chappell,
Is This Thing On?
Julian Fellowes,
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
James Vanderbilt,
Nuremberg
Best Ensemble
A House of Dynamite
Jay Kelly
Nuremberg
One Battle After Another
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Best Intergenerational Film
Eleanor the Great
The Lost Bus
Rental Family
Rosemead
Sentimental Value
Best Period Film
Dead Man’s Wire
Marty Supreme
Nuremberg
Sinners
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Best Documentary
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Cover Up
My Mom Jayne
Riefenstahl
Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost
Best Foreign-Language Film
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choi
Nouvelle Vague
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Best TV Series or Limited Series
Adolescence
Hacks
The Pitt
The Studio
The White Lotus
Best Actor (TV)
Walton Goggins,
The White Lotus
Stephen Graham,
Adolescence
Gary Oldman,
Slow Horses
Pedro Pascal,
The Last of Us
Noah Wyle,
The Pitt
Best Actress (TV)
Kathy Bates,
Matlock
Kathryn Hahn,
The Studio
Catherine O’Hara,
The Studio
Parker Posey,
The White Lotus
Jean Smart,
Hacks
