Director Paul Thomas Anderson's raucous revolutionary saga "One Battle After Another" won the top honor in the comedy category at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, while director Chloe Zhao's Shakespearean drama "Hamnet" pulled off a surprise win by beating "Sinners" to win the award for best picture in the drama category.
One Battle After Another won Best Motion Picture – Comedy, Best Supporting Actress (Tejana Taylor), and Best Director and Best Screenplay, all of which went to Anderson. He became only the second filmmaker in Golden Globe history to win the awards for picture, director and screenplay in the same year as a producer. Before him, only Oliver Stone had achieved the feat for Born on the Fourth of July.
At an awards ceremony that went almost entirely according to expectations, the final award of the night was the biggest surprise. While “One Battle After Another” had been the clear favorite throughout the awards season, most saw its closest competition as the Jim Crow-era vampire thriller directed by Ryan Coogler.
But "Hamnet," a speculative drama about William and Agnes Shakespeare based on Maggie O'Farrell's best-selling novel of the same name, won in the drama category, shortly after lead actress Jessie Buckley won the award for best actress in a drama film, the AP reports.
It was a big night for Warner Bros., the studio behind “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to be sold to Netflix in a deal worth $83 billion, while Paramount Skydance made its own competing offer to shareholders.
In his speech after winning the award for best director, Anderson praised Warner co-chairman Michael Deluca.
"He said he wanted to run a studio one day and let filmmakers make whatever they wanted," Anderson said. "That's how you get 'Sinners.' That's how you get 'Weapons.' That's how you get 'One Battle After Another.'"
The final awards ceremony brought on or next to the stage some of the most talented contemporary filmmakers — Anderson, Zhao and Ryan Coogler — along with Steven Spielberg, the producer of “Hamnet.” Regardless of who won what, it was a moving moment of solidarity and a shared sense of purpose, writes the AP. Zhao fondly recalled her days at Sundance Labs, where she and Coogler were in the early stages of their careers.
"As students, let's keep our hearts open and continue to see each other and allow each other to be seen," Zhao said, as Kugler smiled from the front row.
The film "Sinners" won awards for best music and for film and cinematographic achievement. The victory in the category of cinematic success was particularly notable, ahead of franchises such as "Avatar: Fire and Ash", as some reports after the premiere rated "Sinners" as only a moderate success.
Still, “Sinners” ultimately grossed $278 million in the United States and $368 million worldwide, making it the most commercially successful original film in the last 15 years.
"I just want to thank the audience for coming," Kugler said. "It means everything to me."
After years of scandal and subsequent rehabilitation, the Golden Globes and host Nikki Glazer put on a star-studded ceremony that also saw awards go to streaming hit "KPop Demon Hunters" (best animated film and song), Seth Rogen's meta-triumph with "The Studio," and the first podcasting award, given to Amy Poehler's "Good Hang."
Many Oscar favorites also celebrated. Timothée Chalamet won his first Golden Globe for “Marty Supreme,” after four previous nominations. The 30-year-old actor is considered a serious contender for his first Oscar. Fellow nominees, including Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney, stood to applaud him.
"My father instilled in me a spirit of gratitude growing up: always be grateful for what you have," Chalamet said. "It allowed me to leave this ceremony empty-handed, with my head held high, grateful to be here. I would be lying if I didn't say those moments made today even sweeter."
Nikki Glazer started without hesitation
The Golden Globes, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, began with a highly political introduction by host Nikki Glazer and an early award for the evening's favorite — “One Battle After Another.” Hosting the ceremony for the second year in a row, Glazer opened the evening with a self-aware satire.
"Yes, the Golden Globes — without a doubt the most important thing happening in the world right now," she said.
In a quick, winning opening monologue, in which she hit familiar targets — the ages of Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriends or Kevin Hart's height — Glazer touched on even the most current topics.
Speaking of Warner Bros. being “for sale,” she started the bidding at five dollars. Alluding to the Epstein documents, she suggested that the award for best editing should go to the U.S. Department of Justice. “Most editing,” however, she said, goes to CBS News’ new Barry Weiss — a jab at the Paramount Skydance-owned network that broadcasts the Globes.
The brilliance and gloom of the Golden Globes
Political tensions and industry uncertainty marked the atmosphere ahead of Sunday's ceremony, the AP reports. Hollywood is coming off a disappointing year at the box office and is anxiously awaiting the fate of one of its most storied studios, Warner Bros. After the deadly shooting in Minneapolis, in which an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed American citizen Renee Goode, several guests wore "Be Good" badges.
The Golden Globes, previously awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have no direct connection to the Oscars. After being sold in 2023 to Todd Bowley's Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, part of Penske Media, the Globes are now decided by about 400 voters. The Oscars are voted on by more than 10.500 professionals.
Still, in the shifting tides of awards season, a good Golden Globes speech can boost an Oscar campaign. Among the winners on Sunday were Rose Byrne for best actress in a comedy or musical (“If I Had Legs I'd Kick You”), as well as Vagner Moura, the Brazilian star of “The Secret Agent,” for best actor in a drama. Kleber Mendonça Filho’s political thriller also won for best international film.
"I think if trauma can be passed down through generations, so can values," Moura said. "That's why I dedicate this to everyone who sticks to their values in difficult times."
Other winners included the favorite in the supporting actor category, Stellan Skarsgård, who won for the Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value.” It was the first major Hollywood film award for the 74-year-old veteran actor, who received a standing ovation.
"I wasn't ready for this because, of course, I thought I was too old," Skarsgård said.
Wins for "The Studio" and "Adolescence"
In the television categories, “The Pitt” won the award for best drama series, while Noah Wyle also won, passing his former “ER” co-star Clooney on his way to the stage.
Netflix's series "Adolescence" won four awards: for best mini-series, as well as acting awards for Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham and sixteen-year-old Owen Cooper.
Other winners include Ria Seehorn for "Pluribus" and Jean Smart for "Hacks."
However, the most comical, but also the most touching, award of the evening went to the series "The Studio", winner of the award for best comedy.
Seth Rogen's Hollywood satire includes an episode dedicated to the drama surrounding a night at the Golden Globes. (Sample line: "I remember when the Golden Globes red carpet really meant something.") Rogen also won the award for best actor in a comedy.
"This is really weird," Rogen said, laughing. "We were just pretending to do this. And now it's really happening."
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