Landmark blockbuster Black Panther and nostalgic horror sensation Stranger Things shared the spoils Monday with a real-life hero at the MTV Movie and TV Awards.
Marvel's Black Panther racked up four awards, including best movie. Its star, Chadwick Boseman, won best hero and best movie performance while his nemesis Michael B. Jordan was named best villain.
Boseman, 40, got his hero statuette from presenters Olivia Munn and Zazie Beetz - and promptly gave it to James Shaw Jr., the man who stopped a mass shooter at a Tennessee Waffle House.
"Receiving an award for playing a superhero is amazing but it's even greater to acknowledge the heroes that we have in real life," Boseman said.
He beckoned the 29-year-old on stage and led the crowd in a standing ovation.
"If you don't know James Shaw Jr., he fought off a gunman in Antioch, Tennessee, at a Waffle House. He saved lives," he said.
Shaw singlehandedly wrestled the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from the hands of Travis Reinking as he was allegedly reloading in the middle of a shooting rampage in April.
Four people were killed and two others wounded at the Waffle House restaurant in Nashville, America's country music capital.
But Shaw has been credited with saving many more lives. He suffered a graze wound from a bullet and burns on his right hand from grabbing the hot barrel of the gun.
He was hailed as a hero by the survivors and their family members, but has repeatedly has rejected the label, saying he acted for reasons of self-preservation.
For the second year running, Netflix hit Stranger Things took best show and best actor in a show for Millie Bobby Brown. Noah Schnapp picked up best frightened performance.
Tiffany Haddish hosted, capping her night with the award for best comedic performance for Girls Trip while "scene stealer" went to Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom in The CW's teen drama series Riverdale.
The MTV Movie and TV Awards have been taking a sideways look at Hollywood since 1992, honouring films and their actors with "golden popcorn" statuettes.
The nominees are decided by producers and MTV executives, while the winners are chosen by the public, who vote online.
As a result, the awards have historically recognised commercial favourites, in contrast to the Oscars and other events based on critical or industry acclaim.
MTV reverted to pre-recording the show, filmed on Saturday in a cavernous hangar at Santa Monica Airport in southern California, after broadcasting live last year.
Here is the full list of winners:
MOVIE OF THE YEAR: Black Panther
SHOW OF THE YEAR: Stranger Things
BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE: Chadwick Boseman - Black Panther
BEST ACTOR IN A SHOW: Millie Bobby Brown - Stranger Things
BEST HERO: Chadwick Boseman (T'Challa/Black Panther) - Black Panther
BEST VILLAIN: Michael B. Jordan (N'Jadaka/Erik Killmonger) - Black Panther
BEST KISS: Nick Robinson (Simon) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Bram) - Love, Simon
MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE: Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) - Stranger Things
BEST ON-SCREEN TEAM: It - Finn Wolfhard (Richie), Sophia Lillis (Beverly), Jaeden Lieberher (Bill), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie), Wyatt Oleff (Stanley), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Ben), Chosen Jacobs (Mike)
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE: Tiffany Haddish - Girls Trip
SCENE STEALER: Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl Blossom) - Riverdale
BEST FIGHT: Wonder Woman - Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) vs. German soldiers
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY: Gaga: Five Foot Two
BEST REALITY SERIES/FRANCHISE: The Kardashians
