The 83rd Golden Globes - A Quick Review and Takeaways
Monday, January 12, 2026 at 8:24AM
NATHANIEL R in Best Actress, Golden Globes, One Battle After Another, P.T. Anderson, Wagner Moura

by Nathaniel R

A very happy ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER team. Photo: AP PHOTO

 

The 83rd Golden Globe awards have come and gone. Did you have a good night? You probably did if you are a fan of One Battle After Another (and who isn't?). It cleaned up with four Globe awards: Picture (Comedy), Director, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress. My boyfriend hadn't yet seen it so sat down to finally do that about eight hours before the show. I said to myself "just watch with him until Teyana's exit since it's been awhile since you've seen it". Alas, no such luck for the long task list on the fridge. I couldn't tear myself away. I literally kept saying "okay just one more scene" and then the credits were rolling. It is just as riveting and spontaneous-feeling on repeat viewings (despite the absurdly high levels of obviously planned craftsmanship on display) even though you know every thing that's going to happen. The Globes party was a bit more subdued than general given the ubiquity of black gowns, non-aggressive political asides, and 'just grateful to be doing this job' kind of weary-artist acceptance speeches. But the best thing about the night was that everyone felt a bit like winners: Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, and The Secret Agent, for example, certainly can't complain (or shouldn't) about the results given their key wins and the enthusiasm in the room for those films. More to come once we have more time  but for this quickie post, brief comments on some (most) of the wins...

 

Best Motion Picture – Drama

As the last prize of the night -- the order is somewhat scrambled to me the next morning so perhaps I'm misremembering -- this felt a wee bit like an afterthought surprise or a surprise 'compliments of the chef' dessert; the love in the room for both The Secret Agent and Sinners felt more palpable throughout the evening. Hamnet is incredible so it's nice to see them get something outside of Buckley's trophies. 

 

 

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

One thing that's always interesting about the Globes is that you can imagine different outcomes (or not) if you switch campaigns. If you really think about it One Battle After Another and Sinners could have completely swapped categories like they were playing The Parent Trap: Globes Edition and people probably wouldn't have noticed/minded given One Battle After Another's dramatic heft (though yes it is very funny) and Sinners significant musical elements. OBAA would have won either category so it's interesting that they chose to campaign in this one. In the new era of the Globes though it's clear that they're not really that obsessed with musicals anymore so we wonder if the name might change to just Best Motion Picture (Comedy).

 

 

Best Motion Picture – Animated

No animated picture has been able to catch up with the enthusiasm that KPop Demon Hunters generated months ago and has maintained ever since. They haven't even been able to generate it in small  doses. 

 

 

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement 

Yes, it's a dumb category but at least they aren't voting on it purely based on numbers which would make it even dumber. If you rearrange these titles based on domestic box office gross, it goes like so (at this writing), with Sinners only in fourth place...

 

  1. Zootopia 2 $424 million
  2. Wicked For Good $341 
  3. Avatar Fire and Ash $321
  4. Sinners $279 
  5. MI Final Reckoning $197
  6. F1 $189
  7. Weapons $151 
  8. KPop Demon Hunters $ n/a

 

... So even if this category becomes the "prize that a critically beloved blockbuster can win when it isn't going to win Best Picture" at least that contributes to our dream of more 'spread the wealth' awards nights and seasons. And of those either nominees only Weapons arguably deserved the win as much if you consider "box office achievement" being less a deeper question than 'how much money did you make' -- both films were not guarantees to become audience sensations. they weren't borrowing popularity from a previous hit and had to drum up audience enthusiasm from scratch and in Weapons case without even a bankable star.

 

Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language

The Secret Agent has been an obvious contender for some time but it's only now starting to feel like a real threat for Oscar wins and not just nominations. Can Brazil go for a second consecutive win on Oscar night? Wouldn't that be something! I'm feeling a little sad for Sentimental Value and No Other Choice (both of which I prefer) as the former probably won't win and the latter is still vulnerable to a snub on Nomination Morning.

 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama 

As much as I looooove Buckley in Hamnet I was hoping for a left field surprise here (since the Oscar is obviously hers regardless) like a rare chance to see Renate or Tessa make a victory speech. But it was not to be.

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Does this count as a surprise? After Moura's miss at the SAG nominations (with the misfortune of arriving in a year where the always rotating nominating committee was allergic to subtitles) it does feel like a small one. We thought Michael B Jordan would prevail but in hindsight this win makes perfect sense. 

A Thirsty Side Note: Everyone at my party was suddenly horny when this category arrived and yes this is a deliciously handsome batch of men. 

 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy  

In ye olden times Hudson would have taken this win with ease. And she's so charming in Song Sung Blue that I half expected she would win even in this new era. But Byrne continues to hold strong and will certainly be Oscar nominated. A couple of months ago it felt like Byrne was in at least a small danger of being one of those 'wins the critics awards but is stiffed by mainstream awards'. The real question is how many of these women will make Oscar's five-wide list (Oscar lists are usually handily more reflective of Globes Drama lists but this year it feels like the "Comedy" nominees have a 50/50 shot at dominating on Oscar nomination morning. I know Claudio is a detractor of Hudson's performance but I think she's the best she's ever been in that role.

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy 

Chalamet is looking more and more like the Oscar winner -- though Hawke and Moura now (!!!) are potential spoilers. I was just so happy to see Lee Byung-Hun at the Globes even though I knew he wouldn't win (sigh). If I could only nominate five thespians in total for an all purpose "Best Acting 2025" list Lee Byung-Hun would be on it. That's how great his performance is. 

 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

While the CCA went for Madigan, the Globes went for Taylor. Wouldn't it be exciting if SAG goes another way altogether... than we'd have a real nail-biter like we haven't seen since 2007. I still regularly think about how undeniably exciting that race was in Best Supporting Actress and yet the correct choice was eventually made (Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton). 

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture 

Same thing here. Elordi won the CCA, Stellan the Globe (he's not even nominated with SAG). It will be a real nail-biter on Oscar night if Penn or Del Toro wins SAG.

 

 

Best Director – Motion Picture

PTA will finally get this flowers this year and we're just thrilled about that.

 

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture 

PTA gave a wonderful speech here about writers being "magpies" with a shout out to his film's Shayna McHale ('Junglepussy' in the film) from whom he stole that great scribbled  line "this pussy don't pop for you". That line from Perfidia (Taylor) gives the movie such a cold hard slap that it knocks us straight into Act Two, 16 years later. 

 

Best Original Score – Motion Picture 

I must have been making a guest a drink or going to the bathroom or something because I completely missed this win from the frequently winning Swedish composer. What an excellent list of composers though, right?

 

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

For the longest time I thought that "I Lied to You" from Sinners would have an easy win in this category on Oscar night. It still could triumph but "Golden" has been a real juggernaut at awards shows (and in the real world). It feels like a long time since a #1 pop hit has also been winning movie awards but perhaps I'm forgetting something obvious.

 

Best Television Series – Drama  

 

 

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Hollywood sure loves thinking about itself!

 

 

Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Adolescence continues to be undefeated.

 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama  

Rhea seems overwhelmed onstage and nothing like her character... which is always a nice surprise when you aren't familiar with an actor but love their performance. 

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama 

Everyone seems to love Noah Wyle. It was cute to see George Clooney congratulate him. 30 year ER alumni reunion right in the prime seats at the Globes.

 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy 

Smart immediately cut off my rant about her winning every year with the glorious quip "I'm a greedy bitch". Still, I would love to see Kristen Bell, or Natasha Lyonne have a chance to give speeches for such great work.

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy  

I wanted Adam Brody to take this but I know it's not the kind of performance that wins awards (unshowy and he makes it look easy) so it's nice that he's nominated! 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

A thrilling deserved win but sadly Michelle wasn't there to give a speech.

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

 

 

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

I am sad that we're never going to get to see a Parker Posey acceptance speech because imagine how a-ma-zing that would be. She seemed really happy for Doherty though. This is when I remind everyone of her classic viral comedy clip as an actress teaching a class on acceptanche speeches.

A note to the side: The night before the Globes I had the privilege of seeing Carrie Coon do "Bug" on Broadway so I knew she wouldn't be there. 

 

 

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

Not really a huge fan of kids winning awards for acting (outside of "young actor" categories) and since Adolescence has won so much already was this really necessary?  

 

 

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

Bless Wanda Sykes for her hilarious diss of Gervais by way of thanking the trans community in her acceptance 'on his behalf'. Gervais is such an asshole and he's been so hateful on the Globes over the years that it really starts to feel like the Globes have a humiliation kink. WHY are they still honoring him? 

 

Best Podcast

It's always a treat to see Poehler, one half of the greatest Golden Globes Host of All Time... ... sorry Nikki Glaser. 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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