Actors Sam Claflin (L) and Josh Hutcherson pose in the press room of the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California on Monday. Photo: CFP

Young adult favorite The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was voted "movie of the year" and scooped top acting honors at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, reflecting the irreverent ceremony's appeal to young fans.

The second installment of the hugely popular Hunger Games books beat out this year's Oscar best picture winner 12 Years a Slave in online voting that continued through much of the show.

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson won best female and male performances for their roles as Katniss and Peeta, the two youths fighting to give hope to an oppressed society.

At the unbuttoned awards ceremony in downtown Los Angeles hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien, awards were also given for best shirtless performance, which went to Zac Efron, and best kiss, a three-way smooch between Will Poulter, Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts in the comedy We're the Millers.

There were also serious moments in the show. Hutcherson remembered his Hunger Games cast mate Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died of a drug overdose earlier this year.

"I know that if Philip were here, he would think this is really cool," said Hutcherson.

In one of the night's upsets, Tris, played by Shailene Woodley in Divergent, won favorite character of the year, coming from behind in last-minute voting to surpass Lawrence's Katniss. They each received over 9 million votes.

O'Brien, 50 years old and noticeably older than most award winners and audience members, kicked off the show by trying to break the record for the most celebrity cameos in his intro, notching up 50. Among them were Taylor Swift, and Internet sensation Grumpy Cat.