The 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards represented a pivotal shift in entertainment history, marking the first time the ceremony officially integrated television categories alongside film. Held on May 7, 2017, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the event saw Beauty and the Beast and Stranger Things emerge as the night's biggest winners, while simultaneously debuting groundbreaking gender-neutral acting categories.
The 2017 Rebranding: Bridging the Gap Between Film and Television
For over two decades, the MTV Movie Awards functioned as the younger, more irreverent alternative to the Academy Awards. However, by 2017, the landscape of consumption had shifted dramatically. The rise of "prestige TV" and the dominance of streaming platforms like Netflix meant that audiences were often more invested in serialized television than in theatrical releases. Recognizing this cultural shift, MTV expanded the scope of the ceremony, rebranding it as the MTV Movie & TV Awards.
This transition was not merely a name change; it was a structural overhaul. The inclusion of television content allowed for a more comprehensive celebration of pop culture. By placing a blockbuster film like Logan on the same stage as a cultural phenomenon like This Is Us, MTV acknowledged that the boundary between "movie stars" and "TV stars" had effectively dissolved. This move allowed the network to tap into the massive fanbases of shows like Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, ensuring the ceremony remained relevant in an increasingly fragmented media environment.
Breaking Barriers: The Historic Introduction of Gender-Neutral Categories
Perhaps the most significant legacy of the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards was the decision to eliminate gender-specific acting categories. Instead of awarding "Best Actor" and "Best Actress," the ceremony introduced the unified "Best Actor in a Movie" and "Best Actor in a Show" categories. This made MTV the first major awards show to adopt a non-binary approach to performance recognition.
The cultural impact of this decision was immediate. When Emma Watson won the first-ever genderless "Best Actor in a Movie" award for her role as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, her acceptance speech highlighted the significance of the moment. She noted that acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, an endeavor that does not need to be separated into two different categories based on sex.
Similarly, Millie Bobby Brown took home the award for "Best Actor in a Show" for her portrayal of Eleven in Stranger Things. At just 13 years old, Brown’s win underscored the ceremony's focus on talent and fan connection over traditional industry hierarchies. While some critics at the time questioned whether this move would lead to an imbalance in representation, the 2017 results demonstrated a diverse and balanced field of winners, setting a precedent that other organizations have since explored.
Atmosphere and Hosting: Adam DeVine and the Rainy Red Carpet
The 2017 ceremony was hosted by comedian Adam DeVine, known for his work on Workaholics and Pitch Perfect. DeVine brought a high-energy, musical theater-inspired vibe to the proceedings. The show opened with an elaborate, pyrotechnic-heavy parody of the "Tale as Old as Time" sequence from Beauty and the Beast, featuring DeVine as the Beast and Hailee Steinfeld as Belle, with cameos from Rebel Wilson and Josh Gad.
Despite the high production value inside the Shrine Auditorium, the external elements provided an unexpected challenge. Los Angeles was hit by a rare and severe hailstorm and thunderstorm on the day of the event. The traditionally glamorous "red carpet" became a scene of chaos as celebrities transitioned from sun-drenched arrivals to seeking cover under umbrellas and pop-up tents. The weather didn't dampen the spirits of the attendees, however, and it became a recurring joke throughout the night, adding to the "anything can happen" atmosphere that defines MTV's live programming.
Major Winners: A Night for Fan Favorites
The 2017 winners reflected a mix of critical darlings and massive commercial hits. Because the MTV Movie & TV Awards are determined by fan votes, the results serve as a direct metric of what was actually resonating with the public during that era.
Film Categories
Beauty and the Beast won Movie of the Year, cementing its status as the definitive live-action Disney adaptation of the time. The film’s success at the awards was a harbinger of the continued dominance of "IP-driven" cinema. Meanwhile, Daniel Kaluuya received the "Next Generation" award for his breakout performance in Jordan Peele’s Get Out, a film that had already begun to redefine the horror genre as a vehicle for social commentary.
Television Categories
In the inaugural TV categories, Stranger Things was the undisputed champion, winning Show of the Year. The Netflix series had become a global phenomenon, and its success at the MTV awards highlighted the power of nostalgia-driven storytelling. The win was particularly significant because it beat out heavyweights like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, signaling a shift in the younger demographic's preferences toward streaming-first content.
The Best Kiss and "Best Fight Against the System"
One of the most celebrated wins of the night was for Best Kiss, awarded to Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome for their powerful scene in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight. The win was widely praised for highlighting a vulnerable, groundbreaking moment in queer cinema.
Additionally, the 2017 awards introduced the Best Fight Against the System category. This award was designed to recognize media that challenged social injustices. The inaugural winner was Hidden Figures, the film telling the story of the African-American female mathematicians at NASA. Taraji P. Henson’s acceptance speech emphasized the importance of the film’s message: that when we work together as a human race, we can achieve the impossible.
The Generation Award: Honoring The Fast & Furious Franchise
The MTV Generation Award is typically reserved for an individual actor who has made a significant mark on the industry. However, in 2017, the award was given to an entire franchise: The Fast & Furious. Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Jordana Brewster took to the stage to accept the honor.
The decision to honor a franchise rather than an individual was a nod to the collective chemistry of the cast and the "family" theme that defines the series. During the acceptance speech, Vin Diesel gave a touching tribute to the late Paul Walker, referring to him as "Pablo" and crediting the fans for keeping Walker’s legacy alive through the films. This moment served as one of the emotional anchors of the night, reminding viewers of the deep personal connections fans form with long-running cinematic universes.
Key Statistical and Award Comparisons
To understand the scale of the 2017 changes, it is helpful to look at how the ceremony compared to its previous iteration.
| Feature | 2016 MTV Movie Awards | 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Scope | Film Only | Film and Television |
| Acting Categories | Gender-Segregated (Male/Female) | Gender-Neutral |
| Top Film Award | Movie of the Year (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) | Movie of the Year (Beauty and the Beast) |
| Top TV Award | N/A | Show of the Year (Stranger Things) |
| Host | Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart | Adam DeVine |
| Venue | Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles |
| New Categories | None | Best Fight Against the System, Tearjerker |
Musical Performances and Pop Culture Integration
MTV has always been a music-first network, and the 2017 awards maintained this tradition with several high-profile performances. Big Sean performed a medley of "Jump Out the Window" and "Light," while Noah Cyrus delivered a rendition of "Stay Together."
One of the most energetic segments of the night was the performance of "Hey Ma" by J Balvin, Pitbull, and Camila Cabello, which featured on the The Fate of the Furious soundtrack. The performance brought a vibrant, international energy to the stage, reflecting the global appeal of both the music and the film franchise being honored that night. These musical interludes are essential to the MTV awards' identity, as they blend the worlds of cinema, television, and the Billboard charts into a single cohesive pop-culture event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who hosted the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards?
The 2017 ceremony was hosted by Adam DeVine. He was best known at the time for his roles in the sitcom Workaholics and the Pitch Perfect film series. His hosting style was characterized by high-energy musical numbers and self-deprecating humor.
What was the first TV show to win "Show of the Year"?
The inaugural "Show of the Year" award was won by Stranger Things. The Netflix series beat out a competitive field that included Atlanta, Game of Thrones, Insecure, Pretty Little Liars, and This Is Us.
Why were there no "Best Actress" awards in 2017?
In 2017, MTV moved to a gender-neutral format for all acting categories. Instead of splitting awards by gender, they created unified categories such as "Best Actor in a Movie" and "Best Actor in a Show." This change was intended to focus on the quality of the performance rather than the gender of the performer.
Which movie won the most awards in 2017?
Beauty and the Beast was the dominant film of the night, winning the prestigious "Movie of the Year" and "Best Actor in a Movie" for Emma Watson.
What happened with the weather during the 2017 red carpet?
A surprise hail and thunderstorm struck Los Angeles just as the red carpet festivities were beginning. This forced celebrities to scramble for cover and caused significant disruption to the outdoor pre-show segments, though the main ceremony proceeded as planned inside the Shrine Auditorium.
Recommendations for Viewers and Researchers
For those looking to revisit the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards, the ceremony remains a fascinating time capsule of late-2010s pop culture. If you are researching the evolution of gender representation in media, Emma Watson’s acceptance speech is a primary source of significant value.
For entertainment enthusiasts, watching the 2017 ceremony provides a clear look at the moment when streaming services like Netflix officially "arrived" in the eyes of the youth-oriented mainstream. You can find highlights and specific performance clips on MTV's official YouTube channel or via The Hollywood Reporter’s archives, which provide detailed play-by-play coverage of the night's events. When analyzing the winners, consider the cultural context of 2017—a year defined by a push for more inclusive storytelling and the breaking of traditional industry barriers.
