The 2nd Critics' Choice Movie Awards were presented on January 20, 1997, honoring the finest achievements of 1996 filmmaking.^[1]

(in alphabetical order)

• Big Night
• The Crucible
• The English Patient
• Evita
• Fargo
• Hamlet
• Jerry Maguire
• Lone Star
• The People vs. Larry Flynt
• Shine

• Best Actor:
  • Geoffrey Rush – Shine
• Best Actress:
  • Frances McDormand – Fargo
• Best Child Performance:
  • Jonathan Lipnicki – Jerry Maguire
• Best Director:
  • Anthony Minghella – The English Patient
• Best Documentary:
  • When We Were Kings
• Best Family Film:
  • Fly Away Home
• Best Foreign Language Film:
  • Ridicule • France
• Best Picture:
  • Fargo
• Best Screenplay:
  • The English Patient – Anthony Minghella
• Best Supporting Actor:
  • Cuba Gooding Jr. – Jerry Maguire
• Best Supporting Actress:
  • Joan Allen – The Crucible
• Breakout Artist of the Year:
  • Renée Zellweger – Jerry Maguire
• Lifetime Achievement Award:
  • Lauren Bacall