CATE Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey were among the big ­winners at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, taking honours for Best Actress and Actor.

Best Film went to Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave and the all-star American Hustle, about 1970s corruption which earlier received 10 Oscar nominations, was named Best Comedy Film, with Amy Adams winning Best Comedy Actress.

The 281-member Broadcast Film Critics' Association, the largest film critics' organisation in the US and Canada, also gave the film its Best Acting Ensemble prize at the event in California.

McConaughey was honoured for his role in the indie hit, Dallas Buyers Club.

Leonardo DiCaprio won Best Comedy Actor for The Wolf of Wall Street, setting the pattern early for the awards which virtually mirrored the top winners at the recent Golden Globes.

Blanchett was honoured for Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine. Sandra Bullock also won Best Action Actress for her role in Gravity.

Lupita Nyong'o, who plays slave Patsey in 12 Years a Slave, won Best ­Supporting Actress.