The 2025 Golden Globes were a thrilling event filled with hilarious commentary, heartfelt speeches, and some surprising upsets. Hosting this prestigious event was Nikki Glaser, most recently known for her roast of Tom Brady.

Glaser wasted no time, starting out with a joke about Ozempic, following it up with one about herself. The vibes of this award show were lighter, laughter echoed throughout the room on many occasions, even the very serious Harrison Ford was caught cracking a smile. Not only did Glaser stun the crowd with her wit, every time she would return on camera she was in a different glamorous dress. 

As they say, ladies first, and the first award was for Best Female Supporting Actor. This one was a nail biter, so many people wondered who would take home the crown, would it be Ariana for her jaw-dropping performance in Wicked, or maybe the endeared Selena Gomez, maybe Margaret Qualley? No, Zoe Saldaña came out on top, with an emotion filled win that made everyone who witnessed it tear up. Even with her extensive resume, this was her first nomination and first win. Her performance in Emilia Perez was undeniable and more importantly, memorable. 

Next came the award for Best Female Actor for a TV Musical or Comedy. Within this award were queens of comedy, such as Kristin Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Quinta Brunson, and Ayo Edebiri. All of whom had their own quirks that made their comedy unique. The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Only Murders in the Building, Nobody wants this, Agatha All Along, and Hacks all assembled together. Each having their own narrative, humor, and delivery makes it hard to determine who could win. Jean Smart from Hacks came out as the victor. Smart’s leading role shows how multifaceted she is as an actress. Even with her long standing career, this was only her third ever nomination and second win. 

The award for Best Male Supporting Actor was a bloodbath, filled with dominating performances. From the national treasure Denzel Washington, to Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong, Guy Pearce, Edward Norton, and a new face Yura Borisov, the nominees knew it was anyone’s game. Gladiator II was revered for its action packed portrayal of ancient Rome, but The Brutalist was an expansive film with hard hitting topics pertaining to immigration and the American Dream, and the controversial film: The Apprentice portrays Donald Trump’s career. All of these films were highly regarded, even A Complete Unknown, a biographical drama of Bob Dylan’s career. But Kieran Culkin from A Real Pain would take home the award. His acceptance speech was touching, acknowledging his growth over the years and how far he has come since his first Golden Globe award. Kieran Culkin hasn’t had the easiest time rising to fame, many say he was in the shadow of his older brother, Macaulay Culkin, but he doesn’t seem to think so, and is proving himself within the industry. 

One of the more loaded categories was Best Performance by a Male Actor for a TV Drama Series. This award not only had some revered names and expansive resumes, but stellar TV series. Billy Bob Thorton stars in Landman, a series about the oil industry in Texas. This show appealed to everyone across the board, especially with the blue collar workers who related to it and are within the same realm that Landman highlights. Donald Glover, a beloved musician and writer, stars in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, about two strangers brought together in an arranged marriage in order to become spies. The three other nominees were: Eddie Redmayne, Gary Oldman, and Jake Gyllenhaal, all of whom are big household names across a multitude of generations. Redmayne and Oldman are adored for famously starring in the illustrious Harry Potter world; their work outside of that is also extensive. Redmayne became a true household name when he starred in The Theory of Everything, to which he won his first and only Golden Globe. The hearthrob Jake Gyllenhaal rose to fame while still a teenager, he is known for many roles, but he started gaining traction, and adoring eyes after starring in Donnie Darko and Brokeback Mountain. To win in this category would seem like an insurmountable feat, however, Hiroyuki Sanada would prove it can be done. Sanada, the star of Shōgun, not only had to go up against big Hollywood names, but had to battle language barriers and xenophobia in order to get where he is. Sanada has been in the film industry for 50 years, and just received his first nomination and win at the 2025 Golden Globes. 

The winner of the Best Performance by a Supporting Female Actor on TV award did not seem to surprise anyone. Even with battling against the dearly beloved Dakota Fanning and Allison Janney, the fresh face of Jessica Gunning won. Gunning’s performance in Baby Reindeer was perfection, basing her character off of Kathy Bates’ character in Misery, encapsulating what schizophrenia presents as, and making the audience uncomfortable, but in a way that made it hard to stop watching. Baby Reindeer was heavy, due not only to the talk of trauma, stalking, and mental illness, but due to the fact the show was based off of Gunning’s costars own experience with his stalker. Not only did Gunning beat out the other nominees, but this was her first ever nomination and win. 

The award for Best Performance by a Male Supporting Actor for TV seemed almost like a wildcard when the names of the nominees came out, when you look at a deeper level the competition was tough. To go up against a big name like Harrison Ford is daunting. Having to prevail against shows like the long awaited Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Slow Horses, and The Bear, is a huge feat, but just like his co-star Sanada, Tadanobu Asano from Shōgun is living proof it can be done. Asano has not only a career in Hollywood but in Japan as well, he mentioned in his speech he was starting to film back in Japan. Before giving his acceptance speech he introduced himself to the audience because he thought he was ‘unknown’ and people would look at him and wonder what he did to belong there. In his backstage interview with ET he emphasized: “I am Japanese, and this is America, nobody knows me”. The gratitude oozed from Asano, who was still in shock that he won. 

A huge face-off occurred for who would win the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Series – Musical or Comedy. Talk about a laundry list of A-listers. Adam Brody starred as The Rabbi in Nobody Wants This, Jason Segel in The Shrinking, Martin Short and Steve Martin, both of whom star in Only Murders in the Building, Ted Danson in A Man on the Inside, and Jeremy Allen White in The Bear. Big name after big name, who would take the crown? Some may think this was obvious, but those that watched each of these series knew the performance each actor gave and how imperative they were to the show. The incredible Jeremy Allen White, who was unable to make it, won the Golden Globe, making him 3 for 3 with nominations and wins. 

One of the ‘big hitter’ awards is the one for a Best Screenplay – Motion Picture. The parameters and expectations are set excruciatingly high. The screenplay doesn’t only have to peak the board’s interest, it needs to meet the quality standard of writing, have an exceptional character development, impeccable dialogue, plot structure, and it has to impact the film’s narrative in order to even be considered. The films considered were all critically acclaimed and heavy hitting. From The Brutalist, The Substance, Emilia Perez, to A Real Pain, Anora, and Conclave, each film brought a unique story. This category was a tough one, with amazing writers and even better scripts, but ultimately Conclave by Peter Straughan won. Conclave was based on the 2016 novel written by Robert Harris; a political thriller that exposes the process and hidden agenda that coincide with electing a new pope. 

The moment Nikki Glaser was waiting all night for, the award for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television. The cream of the crop comedians were nominated, Adam Sandler, Jamie Foxx, Nikki Glaser, Ramy Yousef, Seth Meyers, and Ali Wong. All hilarious in their own right, Sandler, Foxx, and Meyers capitalized on that and created long standing careers for themselves. Others are still on the up and coming, but making waves in the comedy realm. Ali Wong is doing just that, with her Netflix comedy special Ali Wong: Single Lady, she is making light of her life post divorce. This is Wong’s first nomination and win, marking a memorable night for her and her career. 

The award for Best Motion Picture – Non English Language is always intriguing, and it seems to broaden everyone’s horizons and get them interested in film from abroad. The countries highlighted this year were innumerable, and it was incredible to see. Most of the themes were dark, often depicting life during war, political unrest, or worst case scenarios with jobs. One film dominated the conversation, and it was Emilia Perez. The Director, Jacques Audiard, gave his utmost gratitude for the award. 

Best Performance for Limited Series, Anthology, or Made for TV Movie category was interesting for both male and female actors. The actors gave unforgettable performances, leaving the audience with no idea who could come out on top. Male actors nominated were: Andrew Scott from Ripley, Cooper Koch from Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the heartthrob Ewan McGregor in A Gentleman in Moscow, Kevin Kline in Disclaimer, the man playing himself Richard Gadd in Baby Reindeer, and the Irish stunner Colin Farrell in The Penguin. Each piece was carefully crafted, delivering the desired narrative with ease. Who else but Colin Farrell would take home the award, marking his third win. Farrell’s speech but one of the more memorable ones of the night, explicitly acknowledging the smaller crew members, which is rare. The women’s category was star studded, featuring some top names from Hollywood. As in any womanly fashion, the true crime show True Detective: Night Country with Jodie Foster, won the award. The HBO original takes place in Alaska, following Foster and co-star Kali Reis, searching for research workers who vanished without a trace. Some audience members were surprised, thinking that Cristin Milioti would win for her performance in The Penguin. 

An award that left the audience awe stricken was Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The women within this category are phenomenal, continuously keeping us engaged and watching their every move. Wicked, Challengers, The Substance, the sweeping Emilia Perez, Anora, and Nightbitch, going head to head to win this prestigious award. This category had the endeared Amy Adams, the almighty Zendaya, the amazing Elphaba, Cynthia Arivo, tried and true Demi Moore, Spanish Queen Karla Sofia Gascon, and of course, Mikey Madison. Phenomenal woman after phenomenal woman, how could anyone choose? Some thought Wicked was a shoo-in, and would be uncontested, until the reveal of who Cynthia was going up against. However, it would be the one and only Demi Moore who would come out with the victory. Moore’s reaction to the win was priceless, the shock was palpable. Nobody was prepared for the tear jerking speech that came next; this would prove as Moore’s first win in her entire forty plus year career. Moore explained that she almost gave up, thinking she would never prove herself worthy of awards, but this gave her hope. Her speech struck those in the industry still trying to work their way in, giving air to their wings, telling them to keep going and one day it will happen. 

The Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy was controversial to some, but not in the way one might think. Some of the films put in this category didn’t strike the audience as being a musical or a comedy, making them wonder why they were put there. As with the female version of this award, some think films like The Substance and Heretic were placed in this category due to the fact no one thought it could win under Drama. While that might be true for the female award, the male award proved that theory false, not because a musical or comedy beat those films out, but rather a different psychological thriller. Beating out Hugh Grant, Glen Powell, and a pillar of comedy Jesse Eisenberg, was Sebastian Stan. Stan’s performance in A Different Man was truly memorable, some critics claiming it is the best performance of his career. Stan made an impact speech, using his platform to advocate for those with disabilities, claiming we, as a society, need to be more accepting of those that are different from us. He also made a nod to his role in The Apprentice, saying how tough conversations need to be had surrounding such topics. 

One of the surprises occurred during the Best Animated Motion Picture award. This category had long awaited films like Moana 2, Inside Out 2, and Wallace and Gromit: Vengeful Most Fowl; also holding the adored film Wild Robot, and the Tim Burtonesque A Memoir of a Snail. These films were spectacular, filled with dialogue that made the audience laugh, cry, smile, and used vivid colors, imagery, and sound to help paint a full experience. The winner of this award, Flow, came as a shock to some because it contains no dialogue, just natural sounds from the animals. While the visuals are spectacular, and the movie ends up being quite sad, it still came as a surprise when many were expecting Inside Out 2 to be the stand out. Flow was the first Latvian film to ever be at the Golden Globes, marking it a historic win.

A very moving win came during the Best Director of a Motion Picture award. A heavily male dominated category, and even though women are gaining recognition, a man still came out with the victory. Brady Corbet, the winner and director of The Brutalist came out as the award winner, instantly building up his Oscars chance. The speech following his win touched so many hearts, especially his amazing daughter, who was left in tears with pride for her father. The audience followed suit, seeing the impact he made on his family made him more human, seeing how he can balance his dedication to film and still be an integral part to his family. Being Corbet’s first win, he came unprepared, even admitting he did not think he would win. What really touched everyone, was him being the only person that night to give public condolences to Aubrey Plaza, who just lost her husband to suicide. The awes and claps were louder when he stepped off of the stage; he showed grace, gratitude, and love for not only his crew, but his family and the other stars that paved the way. 

For viewers that might not be as in tune with verbiage within the industry, Best Original Score – Motion Picture means what film has the best collection of original music written to enhance the narrative and emotion. Hans Zimmer, Volker Bertelmann, Kris Bowers, and the iconic duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, were seen as the main contenders for this award. Hans Zimmer, a notable composer, who wrote for Dune: Part Two, was a fan favorite to win, but the duo of Reznor and Ross would triumph. Reznor and Ross wrote for Challengers, featuring the bombshell Zendaya. With Challengers winning best score, one might assume they would be a front runner for the Best Original Song for a Motion Picture award, however this category would prove to be harder than anticipated. With songs from The Last Showgirl, Better Man, Wild Robot, and two from Emilia Perez, the competition began to heat up. Emilia Perez would leave with an award for one of the two songs nominated, ‘El Mal’. 

Another huge surprise came with the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award. Fan favorite after fan favorite were aligned in this category, making the suspense and anticipation even higher. The highest grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, followed closely behind by Deadpool & Wolverine, then Wicked, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Gladiator II, Twisters, Alien: Romulus, and then Wild Robot. By that order one would assume Inside Out would win for Box Office Achievement simply due to numbers, however, the glorious Wicked would win in an upset. Many claim it is due to fans going to see it numerous times, but the same could be said for Inside Out 2. The one thing Wicked has over Inside Out 2 is the adoring, and ever loyal theater fanbase. Wicked is also live-action, so the effects, CGI, and wardrobe need to be flawless in order to achieve the desired narrative. During the acceptance speech made by director John Chu, he stressed how critical the arts are, especially in times like today with tumultuous political climates and constant grim outlooks. Chu’s speech moved the room, receiving nods and applause in agreement from everyone. 

Best Limited Series, Anthology, or Made for TV Movie was an interesting category, with dark themes and portrayals dominating. Baby Reindeer, a true story about Richard Gadd’s own stalker experience, the trauma associated, and showing the impact the experience had on himself. Baby Reindeer also dominated the Emmys, receiving six awards for eleven nominations. Gadd also gave a moving speech, touching on how complicated things are continuously happening at this time. Baby Reindeer beat out: Disclaimer, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Ripley, The Penguin, and True Detective: Night Country. 

The winner of Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy also swept at the Emmys, earning three to add on to their previous nine. Comedy dominated in the nominations, with Abbott Elementary, Hacks, The Bear, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, and The Gentlemen. Out of these laugh-factory series, Hacks won. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder’s chemistry and witty banter, as well as the emphasized glitz of Las Vegas, would help prove Hacks worthy of the win. 

The winner for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a TV series – Drama and Best TV series – Drama, were won by the same crew. Anna Sawai, from Shōgun, beat out some of the best of the best from Hollywood, like the never aging Kiera Knightley, adored Kathy Bates, and LGBTQIA+ icon Emma D’Arcy. When Kathy Bates enters a room you can witness the respect shown to her, being a long standing front runner in Hollywood. Anna Sawai’s face when she heard her name matched some of the audience, and viewers from home’s faces; complete shock and near disbelief. The pride shown by her fellow nominees is what everyone wishes for when they win over others, everyone was so proud of her. This is Sawai’s first nomination and win, and in her speech you can see how overcome with joy she was, and how nerve filled her voice was. Shōgun, based on the novel written by James Clavell, is a Japanese historical drama that began as a television mini series, once it gained popularity a second and third season entered pre-production. With its growing popularity, large number of critical acclaim, and record breaking 18 Emmys, it’s no wonder it dominated at the Golden Globes, winning Best TV Series. 

An award that was barely mentioned, and rushed past was Viola Davis winning the Cecil B DeMille award. Now, she was presenting at the show, and mentioned it herself, but this award is prestigious and only granted to those that give “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment”. 

The most touching win came from the Best Female Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama award. This category had Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Pamela Anderson, Tilda Swinton, and a lesser known Fernanda Torres. Torres was going up against the most elite names of the past few decades, not many felt she could win. But she did. This was Torres’ first ever nomination and win, a historic accomplishment. The look of shock upon her face, coupled with the look of pride and celebration by her fellow nominees made it the perfect moment. Tilda Swinton even stood up and applauded. Torres was the first Brazilian to ever win, and only the second nominated; the first being her mother. An amazing story, especially when it can be shared between mother and daughter. 

Best Male Actor for a Motion Picture – Drama and Best overall Motion Picture – Drama were a sweep for The Brutalist. Adrien Brody did what he does best, playing a Jewish man who has to deal with the holocaust. The Brutalist touched on many topics that can also be reflected on today’s world, like immigration, struggle, and the American Dream. Adrien Brody is phenomenal at what he does, but does it compare to that of Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Sebastian Stan, Timothee Chalamet, or Coleman Domingo? To the Golden Globe committee, it surmounted their performance. Brody portrayed a post WWII immigrant with grace, and in his speech pointed to the fact he came from immigrants, and how people should treat each other with more respect. The Brutalist used 70mm cameras, director Brady Corbet, thinking it would reflect the era the film takes place in. The uniqueness of 70mm is what set it apart from other films, giving the vintage feel and reinforcing the post WWII era. The speech given by Corbet after receiving Best Picture the notion that it takes a village to make art, and the efforts of filmmakers are imperative to the times we are in. 

The final award that stirred up controversy with social media was Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Many feel as though the winner was not as worthy of the award as other films. This category had Wicked, A Real Pain, Anora, Challengers, The Substance, and Emilia Perez. Knowing Wicked won the Box Office Achievement award, one would think it would beat everyone else out for Best Motion Picture. Emilia Perez would beat the rest out to take the award. Audience members were also surprised when Emilia Perez was revealed the winner, as most were expecting a different result, predominantly Sean Baker’s Anora. People have taken to social media to complain, voice opinions, and express disappointment in the winner, wishing for Anora, or The Substance to take the big prize home.

Emilia Perez and Shōgun absolutely swept in categories they were nominated for, both coming out with four wins.