BIG IMPACT: Bret McKenzie says he is delighted at reaction to a song he wrote for the Muppets movie.

Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame has won a Critics' Choice award, beating out Mary J Blige and Elton John.

McKenzie took home the award for best song for his work on The Muppets, for which he was musical director.

He was nominated for his songs Life's a Happy Song, Man or Muppet, and Pictures in My Head and was up against Elton John and Lady Gaga for their song Hello Hello in the movie Gnomeo & Juliet and Mary J Blige for her song The Living Proof in The Help.

The awards began at the Hollywood Palladium at 2pm New Zealand time today.

The Muppets missed out on best comedy, which went to Bridesmaids.

McKenzie hit worldwide fame alongside Wellingtonian Jemaine Clement in the award-winning US comedy series Flight of the Conchords.

Hollywood Reporter says best supporting actress has gone to Octavia Spencer, best supporting actor to Christopher Plummer, best acting ensemble to the cast of The Help, and Rango won best animated feature.

The awards are voted on by the more than 250 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Hollywood Reporter says.

The judges pride themselves on being a predictor of eventual Academy Award nominations and wins.