The Times BFI 55th London Film Festival Follow Us on Twitter

The Dark Knight triumphs at People's Choice Awards (2009)

The Dark Knight

Story by Jack Foley

THE Dark Knight emerged victorious with most of the top honours at the People’s Choice Awards, claiming all five prizes it was nominated for.

Christian Bale’s Batman and Heath Ledger’s Joker were named the top on-screen match-up, while the record-breaking sequel won best movie, superhero and action movie. The final prize came for the favourite cast, which included Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman and Sir Michael Caine.

Picking up his trophy, Bale said: “On behalf of all of the cast, thank you very much to the fans. Here’s to Heath.”

The awards, which were announced at a lavish ceremony in Los Angeles, on Wednesday (January 7, 2009), are voted for by US fans online, and also include TV and music categories.

Other film winners at the ceremony included Adam Sandler, Kate Hudson, Robin Williams, Hugh Laurie and Reese Witherspoon.

Witherspoon, who won favourite female movie star, described it as a great way to start the new year and, alluding to her most recent performance in festive comedy Four Christmases alongside Vince Vaughn, added: “A couple of years ago, I won a great award for singing in a movie. This year, I won an award for having a baby throw up on me!”

Will Smith took home two awards, as both top male action star and best male movie star, while Kate Hudson won the best leading lady prize. Brad Pitt was chosen as favourite leading man and Angelina Jolie was favourite female action star.

Pixar’s animated classic Wall-E was named best family movie, while The Secret Life of Bees – starring awards host Queen Latifah and Britain’s Paul Bettany – won best independent movie.

In the pick of the TV and music categories, Hugh Laurie’s medical drama House won favourite TV drama, while the top TV comedy was chosen as Charlie Sheen starrer Two And A Half Men.

The Simpsons picked up the prize for favourite TV animated comedy and Dancing With The Stars, the US version of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, was named favourite reality show.

Ellen DeGeneres, who won favourite talk show host, said while clutching her trophy: “I wish I could share this with you. I could throw it on the ground and smash it into a million pieces, and give each one of you a little piece of it.”