The red carpet has been rolled up and the champagne flutes are finally empty. Honestly, looking back at the Golden Globes 2025 nominees and eventual winners, it’s clear that the "New Globes" era isn't just a marketing pivot—it's a total vibe shift. We've spent years watching the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) play it safe with predictable A-list picks.
This year? Not so much.
People are still scratching their heads over some of the calls made at the Beverly Hilton. If you were expecting a clean sweep for the biggest blockbusters, you probably left disappointed. It’s kinda fascinating how the ceremony has transformed into this weird, wonderful mix of international prestige and "how did that win?" moments.
The Brutalist and the Drama Heavyweights
The race for Best Motion Picture – Drama was basically a cage match. You had the visual spectacle of Dune: Part Two and the historical weight of September 5, yet the trophy went to The Brutalist.
Brady Corbet’s three-and-a-half-hour epic about a Hungarian immigrant architect didn't just win; it dominated. Adrien Brody took home Best Actor for his role as László Tóth, reminding everyone why he’s a powerhouse. He was up against some serious names, too. Ralph Fiennes in Conclave was a favorite for many, and Timothée Chalamet’s turn as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown had the "Discover" feed buzzing for months.
But it was Fernanda Torres who pulled off the night's biggest upset.
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She won Best Actress (Drama) for the Brazilian film I’m Still Here. Most pundits had their money on Angelina Jolie for Maria or Nicole Kidman for Babygirl. Torres’ win felt like a genuine shift toward honoring international craft over domestic stardom. It’s the kind of move that makes the Golden Globes 2025 nominees list feel actually relevant again.
Who Got Shoved Aside?
- Denzel Washington: He was nearly a lock for Gladiator II until the momentum shifted toward Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain.
- Angelina Jolie: Her transformative opera performance in Maria was supposed to be her big comeback win.
- Dune: Part Two: Despite being a technical marvel, it walked away with surprisingly little hardware in the major categories.
The Musical or Comedy Chaos
If the Drama category was about "Prestige," the Musical or Comedy side was about "Pure Energy." Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez was the talk of the town, and for good reason. It’s a queer musical about a cartel leader undergoing gender-reaffirming surgery.
It’s bold. It’s risky. It’s exactly what the Globes used to avoid.
Zoe Saldaña grabbed the Best Supporting Actress win here, beating out heavy hitters like Ariana Grande (Wicked) and Selena Gomez. While Karla Sofía Gascón didn't take the individual acting trophy—that went to Demi Moore for her career-best work in The Substance—the film itself won Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.
Why Wicked Fans Are Confused
The box office juggernaut Wicked was a weird case. It won the "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement" award, which basically feels like a consolation prize for movies that make a billion dollars but don’t win the "real" awards. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were both among the Golden Globes 2025 nominees, but they were largely shut out of the winners' circle.
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It tells you something about the current voting body: they’re prioritizing the "art" in "commercial art" more than they used to.
Shōgun and the TV Takeover
TV was a bit more predictable, mostly because Shōgun is an absolute juggernaut. It won Best Drama Series and swept the acting categories with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai.
Honestly, it wasn't even close.
The real drama was in the Limited Series category. Baby Reindeer continued its weird, dark, viral success by winning Best Limited Series, with Jessica Gunning taking home Supporting Actress. Richard Gadd’s project started as a Fringe show and ended up beating out The Penguin and Ripley.
Wait, what happened to Colin Farrell?
Actually, Farrell did win Best Actor in a Limited Series for The Penguin. It was a rare "big name" win in a night that mostly favored the underdogs.
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The Mystery of the New Categories
The Globes introduced a "Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television" category recently, and Ali Wong took it home for Single Lady. It’s a smart move. It brings in the Netflix crowd. But there was some grumbling about the snubs here, too. Seth Meyers and Adam Sandler were both nominated, and seeing them lose to Wong shows the Globes are looking for what's "current" rather than just honoring legacy.
Important Stats to Remember
- Emilia Pérez: 10 nominations, 4 wins.
- The Brutalist: 3 major wins (Picture, Actor, Director).
- Shōgun: Swept all its nominated categories.
- Hacks: Beat The Bear for Best Comedy Series—a massive upset for Jeremy Allen White’s crew.
What This Means for the Oscars
The Golden Globes are often called the "Oscar bellwether," but that's a bit of a lie. The voting bodies don't overlap. However, the momentum is real.
Because Adrien Brody and Fernanda Torres won here, they now have the "narrative." They’re the ones people will be talking about during the Academy voting period. If you’re a betting person, The Brutalist just became the frontrunner for Best Picture.
It’s also worth noting that the Globes are getting way better at being "international." Winning Best Non-English Language Film used to be a side-note; now, movies like Emilia Pérez are winning the top prizes against English-language blockbusters.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to keep up with the conversation before the next big ceremony, you've basically got a homework list. Start with The Brutalist if you have the stamina for a long film. Then, hit Emilia Pérez on Netflix to see why the musical genre is being reinvented.
Keep an eye on the smaller winners. The Globes have always been a bit chaotic, but the Golden Globes 2025 nominees proved that the chaos is now focused on finding the best talent, regardless of how many followers they have on Instagram or how much their movie made at the Monday matinee.
Check the streaming schedules for Shōgun and Hacks—they’re the benchmark for where TV is headed. The era of the "safe" Hollywood win is dead. We're in the era of the bold, the weird, and the wildly international.