This year's Golden Globes showed that, after years of turmoil, the awards are once again trying to fulfil their traditional role as a reference point for the film and television scene. At the same time, they signalled a broader view of the entertainment industry. Alongside strong film and series titles, podcasts received an award for the first time.
Film awards: One Battle After Another and Hamnet dominate
In the best motion picture musical or comedy category, One Battle After Another with Leonardo DiCaprio won. Paul Thomas Anderson's film about a burnt-out revolutionary in a divided American society also won Golden Globes for directing and screenplay, strengthening its Oscar position. The award for best motion picture drama went to Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, an intimate story about Shakespeare's family after the loss of a son. Jessie Buckley was named best actress in a drama film.
Performances: familiar names and global reach
Timothée Chalamet was named best actor in a comedy or musical for Marty Supreme. The best actor award in a drama film went to Wagner Moura for the Brazilian film The Secret Agent, which deals with memory and generational trauma during the military dictatorship. In supporting roles, Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value) and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) also won.
Television categories: realism and satire
The best drama series award went to Urgent, set in a hospital environment. In the comedy category, The Studio won, a satirical look behind the scenes of the film industry. Acting awards went to the cast of Adolescence, including Owen Cooper, who became the youngest winner in his category, as well as Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty.
Podcasts win for the first time: a new signal from the Globes
The major novelty of this year's ceremony was the introduction of a Best Podcast category. This step is seen as a game-changing moment and confirms that podcasts have definitively become a full part of the cultural mainstream. The nominees included a wide range of formats, which only shows how diverse the podcast ecosystem is today.
Alongside the winner, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, the nominees included the openly conversational Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, the culturally influential Call Her Daddy, the motivational The Mel Robbins Podcast, the comedy show Smartless and the news format Up First. Together they represent podcasts as a space for personal conversations, humour, self-improvement and everyday orientation in the world. They also confirm that the jury assessed above all reach, continuity and cultural significance, rather than genre or political stance.
The Golden Globes after their transformation
The overall picture of this year's Golden Globes is fairly consistent. After years of scandals and questions about their credibility, the awards are trying to redefine their role. A reformed jury, a broader range of genres and geographies, and an openness to new media suggest that the goal is not a revolution, but gradual adaptation. The Golden Globes thus remain first and foremost a traditional film and television event, one that is beginning to realise that storytelling no longer ends on the silver screen.
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