It was a celebration of Hollywood past and present at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Saturday night, where stars gathered to honor three of the industry’s leading figures — John Carpenter, Charlize Theron and Colman Domingo.
The sixth annual gala brought together actors, filmmakers and fashion personalities, with guests including Demi Moore, Kim Kardashian, A$AP Rocky, Kate Hudson, Jacob Elordi, Sabrina Carpenter and Pamela Anderson. The evening, presented in partnership with Rolex, raised more than $14 million to support the museum’s exhibitions, educational initiatives and public programming.
On the red carpet, horror was a recurring topic of conversation, given the opening of the museum’s new exhibition, “The Horror Show,” and its recognition of Carpenter, the filmmaker behind, among others, “Halloween,” “The Thing” and “Escape From New York.”
For Ray Nicholson, the subject hit particularly close to home.
“My dad was in ‘The Shining,’ so I feel like I really identify with Danny,” said the actor, son of Jack Nicholson, with a laugh, referring to the young boy in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic. “I feel in part like I was growing up in a horror film myself. So it’s too close to home for me often, but I do enjoy it.”
Dressed in a black suit by The Row, Nicholson was looking forward to reuniting with his “The Mosquito Bowl” castmates, including Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård and Tom Francis.
“But my answer that I have to tell is that I’m excited to see Taylor Swift the most, obviously,” he smiled.
“My girlfriend’s a really big fan,” he went on, lowering his voice. “I’m not the biggest fan,” he whispered.
What he didn’t realize was that Swift was standing directly behind him, posing for photographers in a custom light-blue tulle Dior gown by Jonathan Anderson.
“Is she really? Don’t tell me that. You’re kidding,” he said in surprise.
Carpenter, meanwhile, reflected on receiving the Luminary Award, which recognizes artists whose contributions have expanded the possibilities of filmmaking.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he said. “When I was 8 years old, I decided I wanted to be a movie director, and I got to be one. Nothing better in the world.”
He was especially pleased to see horror recognized by a major film institution.
“The fact that horror is being recognized after all these years as a major influence in cinema and is now mainstream rocks,” Carpenter said.
Few were more eager to celebrate him than Robert Rodriguez, who arrived wearing a turquoise bolo tie with his suit, describing the look as his “Texas tuxedo.”
“I didn’t have a tie, so I literally have a bunch of bolos,” he said, explaining that bolo ties were traditionally worn to formal occasions in Texas. “People ignore the fact that I don’t have it buttoned all the way to the top, which is why I never wear a suit.”
For Rodriguez, presenting Carpenter with the Luminary Award was deeply personal.
“He’s the one filmmaker who truly inspired me to be a filmmaker,” he said, recalling growing up in San Antonio in a family of 10 children with little money.
At 13, he became fascinated by the trailer for “Escape From New York,” returning to theaters hoping to see it again. He eventually brought a tape recorder to capture the film’s audio, which he would replay at home while imagining the scenes.
Carpenter’s ability to make successful films independently, outside the studio system, gave Rodriguez the confidence to pursue filmmaking himself. He even adopted Carpenter’s practice of composing his own scores.
“That’s how directly I wanted to be like him,” Rodriguez said. “This is so full circle for me.”
Jamie Lee Curtis also paid tribute to Carpenter, who directed her in the original 1978 “Halloween,” the film that launched her career.
“This man gave me my life. This man gave me my entire career,” Curtis said.
Actress Carla Gugino has become a familiar face in horror, appearing in projects including “Gerald’s Game,” “The Haunting of Hill House” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
“I never would have considered myself a horror fan per se,” she said.
But working in the genre has given her an appreciation for its storytelling possibilities.
“The heightened nature of horror allows us to sort of shine light on certain truths in a different way,” she explained, noting how it can explore complex emotions while still frightening and entertaining audiences.
Gugino also praised the night’s other honorees, particularly Domingo, whom she called “one of the kindest human beings that I know.”
Fashion, as ever, provided plenty of conversation. The timing is part of the gala’s appeal for designers. Coming just weeks after the spring 2027 collections made their way from New York to London, Milan and Paris, the gala gave them another opportunity to bring their latest runway looks to life on some of the world’s most photographed people. Last year, Ayo Edebiri wore Chanel, Monica Barbaro chose Dior and Elle Fanning appeared in Balenciaga, offering a glimpse of how quickly runway fashion can move from the catwalk to the red carpet.
This year’s red carpet leaned into 1950s Hollywood glamour, with pastels emerging as one of the night’s defining trends. Swift’s Dior dress channeled the Hitchcock glamour of “To Catch a Thief”; Gemma Chan wore a pink Prada gown in the same shade as Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1999 Oscars look, while Alexa Demie opted for light green Chanel. Vintage also had its moment, with Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga and Odessa A’zion in Giorgio Armani, two choices that spoke to how insider-driven the red carpet has become.
Structural peplums and three-dimensional embellishments brought fantasy and boldness, especially in Nicolas Ghesquière’s Louis Vuitton designs worn by Chase Infiniti and Sophie Thatcher. Among the standout custom creations was Antonin Tron’s first Hollywood red carpet ensemble for Balmain, a draped delight worn by Elizabeth Debicki.
Iris Law opted for a look from Ann Demeulemeester’s spring 2027 collection.
“I like androgynous, eclectic looks,” Law said of her approach to fashion. “I want something to have an element of boldness, but then also femininity, or modern and vintage. I love contrast.”
Attending the gala for the first time, Law was especially looking forward to the honorees’ speeches.
“I love that you get such an intimate moment with each of these people,” she said. “It’s such an intimate room, and it’s such an honor.”
Amy Homma, director and president of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Academy Collection, embraced the evening’s horror theme in a strapless, custom red Jason Wu gown.
“He completely understood the mood and the theme for this year,” she said of Wu. When the color was described as “slasher red,” she smiled. “I love it.”
The gala, co-chaired by Rodriguez, Tom Ford, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, marked another milestone for the museum, now celebrating five years since opening.
“We’re seeing more and more film artists and the entertainment industry come through to participate and collaborate and want to work with us,” Homma said.