The 2025 Golden Globes felt different. Maybe it was the energy in the Beverly Hilton, or maybe it’s just that we finally had a year where the "big" movies actually felt like movies people watched. Honestly, the night belonged to a mix of gritty indie darlings and that massive historical epic everyone’s been streaming.
If you’re looking for the short version of who won Golden Globes 2025, the answer is basically The Brutalist and Shōgun. They didn't just win; they dominated.
The Movie Winners: Drama and Heartbreak
The biggest trophy of the night—Best Motion Picture, Drama—went to The Brutalist. It’s a 215-minute behemoth, and while that sounds like a lot, the HFPA (or whatever we're calling the voting body these days) clearly fell for its scale. Adrien Brody took home Best Actor in a Drama for his role in the film, and his speech was one of those "I’ve been here before but this feels new" moments.
But the real shocker? Fernanda Torres.
She won Best Actress in a Drama for I’m Still Here, making history as the first Brazilian actress to snag that specific win. People were rooting for Angelina Jolie in Maria, but Torres was the heartbeat of the category.
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Comedy and Musicals got weird (in a good way)
In the Musical or Comedy categories, Emilia Pérez was the one to beat. It's a musical about a cartel leader undergoing gender-affirming surgery—not exactly your standard Mamma Mia fare. It won Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, and Zoe Saldaña snagged a supporting win for it too.
Then there was Demi Moore.
Watching her win Best Actress for The Substance felt like a long-overdue "welcome back" from Hollywood. She’s 62, she looks incredible, and she’s finally getting the flowers she deserved decades ago. Sebastian Stan also picked up a win for A Different Man, proving he’s more than just a guy in a Winter Soldier suit.
Shōgun and the TV Takeover
Switching over to the small screen, it wasn't even a fair fight. Shōgun basically cleared the table.
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It won Best Drama Series, and its leads, Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, both took home the top acting prizes. If you haven't seen Sawai's performance yet, go fix that. It’s subtle, devastating, and easily the most deserved win of the night.
The Bear is still hanging around, obviously. Jeremy Allen White won again (because of course he did), but in a bit of a twist, Hacks took the trophy for Best Comedy Series. Jean Smart is a legend, and her win for Best Actress in a Comedy over some younger heavy hitters was a highlight for anyone who appreciates actual comedic timing.
The Limited Series Winners
- Baby Reindeer won Best Limited Series. Richard Gadd's story was everywhere this year, so this wasn't a huge surprise, but it still felt heavy.
- Jodie Foster won for True Detective: Night Country. She’s at a point in her career where she seems to be having genuine fun, and it shows.
- Colin Farrell took home a win for The Penguin. Seeing him transform into Oz Cobb was a trip, and the Globes clearly agreed.
What Most People Missed
The "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement" award went to Wicked. It’s a newer category meant to honor the movies people actually pay to see in theaters. With over $680 million in the bank by the time the ceremony aired, it was a no-brainer.
Also, Nikki Glaser hosted.
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She was ruthless. After the Jo Koy disaster of the previous year, Glaser actually landed her jokes. She even wore a Pope's hat at one point to riff on Conclave. It was messy, it was funny, and it kept the show from dragging too much.
The Full 2025 Winners List (The Big Ones)
Film
- Best Motion Picture – Drama: The Brutalist
- Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Emilia Pérez
- Best Director: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
- Best Actor – Drama: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Best Actress – Drama: Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here)
- Best Actor – Musical or Comedy: Sebastian Stan (A Different Man)
- Best Actress – Musical or Comedy: Demi Moore (The Substance)
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
- Best Screenplay: Conclave (Peter Straughan)
- Best Animated Film: Flow
- Best Non-English Language Film: Emilia Pérez
Television
- Best Drama Series: Shōgun
- Best Comedy/Musical Series: Hacks
- Best Limited Series: Baby Reindeer
- Best Actor – Drama: Hiroyuki Sanada (Shōgun)
- Best Actress – Drama: Anna Sawai (Shōgun)
- Best Actor – Comedy: Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)
- Best Actress – Comedy: Jean Smart (Hacks)
- Best Actor – Limited Series: Colin Farrell (The Penguin)
- Best Actress – Limited Series: Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)
The 2025 Golden Globes definitely set the stage for the Oscars. With The Brutalist picking up steam, we might be looking at a very long, very artsy Academy Awards ceremony.
If you want to keep up with the race, the next big thing to watch is the SAG Awards. That’s usually where we see if these Globe winners have the "industry" support to go all the way. For now, go watch Shōgun if you haven't, and maybe clear out four hours to finally tackle The Brutalist. It's worth it.