Critics' Choice Awards 2020: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' won big – but Brad and Leo weren't there

SANTA MONICA, California – "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" marked a big win, taking home best picture at the Critics' Choice Awards Sunday night, but Quentin Tarantino was without his film's biggest stars to mark the moment.

Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie were all MIA at the awards show.

Why the absences? "Conflicts," producer Shannon McIntosh told Paste BN backstage.

Pitt won best supporting actor for "Once Upon a Time" early in the night. In the moment, Tarantino urged his 10-year-old star Julia Butters to accept on Pitt's behalf, but the writer/director ended up running up onstage, saying, “I agree with the critics for the very first time!”

When it came time to accept the best-picture prize, Tarantino urged Butters to start speaking while joining her, McIntosh and producer David Heyman at the podium.  

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"Since I didn't fill in for Brad like Quentin wanted me to, he told me that I had better go up and do this one," grinned Butters, before thanking Critics' Choice voters.

Backstage, McIntosh said that they actually had a video ready for Pitt's win, but Tarantino ended up accepting instead.

The Tarantino film took home four Critics' Choice Awards; the others were for original screenplay and production design.

The "Once Upon a Time" stars weren't the only no-shows. Michelle Williams notched another win for her role in "Fosse/Verdon," but wasn't there to pick up her award.

"Unfortunately, Michelle didn’t care enough to show up tonight. We’ll get it to her … I guess," presenter Bradley Whitford deadpanned.

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Contributing: Bryan Alexander