Honestly, the 80th Golden Globe Awards felt like a fever dream. After a year of being off the air because of all that behind-the-scenes drama with the HFPA, the 2023 ceremony had a lot to prove. People were skeptical. Would anyone show up? Would the jokes land? Well, the stars did show up, and the list of golden globe winners 2023 ended up being one of the most sentimental and career-defining rosters we've seen in a decade.
If you just glance at a Wikipedia list, you miss the actual vibe of the night. It wasn't just about who got a trophy. It was about the massive "comeback" energy in the room. You had legends like Steven Spielberg reclaiming his throne, but you also had people like Ke Huy Quan making everyone in the Beverly Hilton—and at home—sob into their drinks.
The Big Screen Heavy Hitters
Let’s talk movies. The Banshees of Inisherin was the night's darling, walking away with three major wins. It took home Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Colin Farrell grabbed the Best Actor award for the same category. Martin McDonagh also snagged the screenplay win. It’s a weird, dark, beautiful movie about two friends stopping being friends on a remote island. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out on some of the best "fecking" dialogue ever written.
On the drama side, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans secured Best Motion Picture – Drama. It felt like the industry giving Spielberg a big hug for telling his own origin story. He also won Best Director, beating out heavyweights like James Cameron and the Daniels. Speaking of the Daniels, their trippy masterpiece Everything Everywhere All at Once didn't take the top film prize, but it absolutely dominated the acting categories.
The Acting Wins That Actually Mattered
Michelle Yeoh. Finally.
Winning Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Everything Everywhere All at Once was more than just a win; it was a 40-year-in-the-making moment. When the playoff music tried to cut her off, she basically told the pianist to sit down because she could beat them up. Legend behavior.
Then there was Ke Huy Quan. His win for Best Supporting Actor was easily the emotional peak of the night. Seeing him wave to Spielberg, who gave him his start in Indiana Jones decades ago, was enough to make even the most cynical critic lose it.
Here's a quick look at the other major film winners:
- Austin Butler (Elvis): Best Actor – Drama. Yes, he still had the accent.
- Cate Blanchett (Tár): Best Actress – Drama. She wasn't there to pick it up, but her performance was undeniable.
- Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever): Best Supporting Actress. This was a massive win for the MCU, proving these performances carry real weight.
Why the Golden Globe Winners 2023 TV Categories Were So Different
TV in 2023 was a battlefield. Abbott Elementary basically swept the comedy side, winning Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy. Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams both got their flowers, which felt right. It’s one of the few shows left that feels genuinely wholesome without being corny.
Over in the drama department, House of the Dragon pulled off a bit of an upset by winning Best Drama Series. Most people expected Better Call Saul or The Crown to take it, but the Game of Thrones prequel proved that dragons still rule the ratings and the awards.
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The White Lotus: Sicily was the other big winner. It took home Best Limited Series, and Jennifer Coolidge gave a speech that was—well, it was pure Jennifer Coolidge. She thanked Mike White for giving her hope, and she accidentally called the Golden Globe an Oscar. Honestly, we should probably just let her call it whatever she wants.
Unexpected TV Highlights
Evan Peters won for his terrifying portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer. It was a controversial win for a controversial show, but his talent is hard to argue with. Zendaya won Best Actress in a Drama for Euphoria, though she wasn't there to accept it either.
Jeremy Allen White also secured a win for The Bear. If you’ve ever worked in a kitchen, you know why that win felt so visceral and earned. The show captures that "yes, chef" anxiety perfectly.
The Weird Stuff That Happened
The host, Jerrod Carmichael, didn't hold back. He opened the show by saying, "I'm here because I'm Black," addressing the HFPA's lack of diversity head-on. It was awkward. It was brave. It was exactly what the room needed to move past the scandal.
Eddie Murphy received the Cecil B. DeMille Award and gave the best advice of the night: "Keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out your f***ing mouth!" The room erupted. It was the perfect way to acknowledge the previous year’s Oscar drama without letting it overshadow the night.
Then there was the music. The "play-off" music was particularly aggressive in 2023. It felt like they were trying to finish the show in record time, which led to multiple stars—including Colin Farrell and Michelle Yeoh—calling out the pianist.
What This Taught Us About the Awards Circuit
The golden globe winners 2023 list served as a massive predictor for the Oscars that followed. It solidified the "Quan-aissance" and put Everything Everywhere All at Once on a collision course with history. It also reminded us that while the Globes are "the party of the year," the industry still takes the craft seriously.
If you're looking to catch up on these winners, start with The Banshees of Inisherin for the writing and The Bear for the stress. Both represent the peak of 2023 storytelling.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist:
- Stream The Fabelmans on Showtime or Paramount+ to see Spielberg's most personal work.
- Binge Abbott Elementary on Hulu if you need something that won't give you a panic attack.
- Watch RRR on Netflix—specifically for the "Naatu Naatu" scene, which won Best Original Song and is pure cinematic joy.
- Check out Argentina, 1985 on Prime Video, which took the Best Non-English Language Film prize.
The 2023 Globes weren't perfect, but the winners were largely deserving, and the speeches reminded us why we love movies in the first place. It was a night of second chances and long-overdue recognition.