Cover Kieran Culkin accepts the Best Actor In A Supporting Role award for ‘A Real Pain’ at the 97th Annual Oscar Awards (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Kieran Culkin accepts the Best Actor In A Supporting Role award for ‘A Real Pain’ at the 97th Annual Oscar Awards (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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If there were an award for great awards show acceptance speeches, Kieran Culkin would have swept them all this season
Kieran Culkin has dominated the Best Supporting Actor category this awards season for his role in A Real Pain, sweeping major honours across multiple prestigious ceremonies. Ahead of his Oscar victory, he received the same accolade at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, and the National Society of Film Critics Awards. And if there were an award for Best Acceptance Speech, Culkin would likely take home that trophy as well.
His speeches strike the perfect balance of gratitude, wit, humour, and self-deprecation—sincere yet entertaining, effortlessly charming yet never overstaying his welcome. Each one is a masterclass in delivering heartfelt thanks while keeping the audience engaged, all within the allotted time. Bonus points for his consistent tributes to his wife and mother, proving that beyond the accolades, he remains grounded in what truly matters.
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2025 Golden Globes Awards
Culkin didn’t miss the chance to poke fun at the Golden Globes’ reputation for free-flowing drinks, joking that a tequila shot he and his wife shared with Mario Lopez was to blame for forgetting his prepared speech. With his signature wit, he called the ceremony “the best date night my wife and I ever have” before expressing gratitude to Jesse Eisenberg, who directed him in A Real Pain.
While thanking his wife, he took a playful detour, delivering a self-deprecating quip about his own “mania” and ongoing therapy. “I’m working on it, I’ve got a therapist now, it’s fine. It’s not fine, it’s a lot of work. We’ll see where that goes.” The moment was classic Culkin—honest, wry, effortlessly charming.
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2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards
If you’ve ever wondered just how heavy the Screen Actors Guild Awards statue is, this year’s winners made it abundantly clear—though Kieran Culkin delivered the most memorable take. The SAG Best Supporting Actor winner turned the moment into stand-up gold, joking, “It is funny that the heaviest of all awards is the one that’s given by actors. It’s like, us what we do, ummmm it means so much” while hefting the trophy.
Never one to miss a comedic opportunity, Culkin also took a playful jab at Adrien Brody, reminding him to keep his acceptance speech within the 45-second limit before quickly backtracking, “There was no reason to take that shot. I love you. It’s a joke. You take your time.” His effortless mix of wit and warmth kept the audience laughing while making for yet another memorable speech.
As always, Culkin made sure to thank director Jesse Eisenberg, though with a twist—crediting Eisenberg’s sister, Hallie, as the real reason he landed his role in A Real Pain. With his signature offbeat charm, he turned what could have been a routine thank-you into yet another memorable moment.
2025 Academy Awards
On Oscar night, while accepting his award, he dropped the F-word twice, gave a shout-out to his Succession co-star and fellow Supporting Actor nominee, Jeremy Strong, and thanked A Real Pain director Jesse Eisenberg, calling him a genius. “I’ll never say this to your face. I’m never saying it again, so soak it up,” he joked.
His speech was witty and funny, the kind you tune in to the Oscars for. But the real highlight was when he told a charming story about how he and his wife made a deal that she would give him four kids if he ever won an Oscar. “I held my hand out, she shook it, and I haven’t brought it up once until just now,” he shared. Then, addressing his wife in the audience, he added, “Jazz, love of my life—ye of little faith—no pressure. I love you. I'm really sorry I did this again. And let’s get cracking on those kids, what do you say?”
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