Golden Globes 2025: 'Emilia Pérez,' 'The Brutalist' dominate
January 6, 2025
Just five days in to the new year, Hollywood's awards season kicked into high gear on Sunday evening, with the 82nd annual Golden Globes. Along with predictable winners, especially in the television categories, there were a couple of surprises.
"Emilia Pérez," a Spanish-language musical about a transgender Mexican cartel leader, won for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. The Golden Globe for best motion picture, drama went to "The Brutalist," a three-and-a-half-hour low-budget epic about a Hungarian-born architect who manages a successful career in the United States.
Winning films deal with hot-button topics
Both films were among the most nominated heading in to the awards ceremony. "Emilia Pérez" was nominated in ten categories, and won a total of four, including the main category. It also took home awards for best non-English language motion picture, best original song and best supporting actress, which went to Zoe Saldana.
"The Brutalist" was nominated in seven categories, and took home three awards including best drama. Its star, Adrien Brody, won a best actor award and its director, Brady Corbet, won in the best director category.
The winners' speeches and the jokes delivered by presenters and host, comedian Nikki Glaser (the first solo female host), were largely free of political commentary. But it was notable that the big winners were films addressing trans people and immigration, topics often seized on by populist politicians in several countries to drum up support.
Indications for the Oscars race?
The Golden Globes, which are voted on by entertainment journalists from around the world working for non-US outlets, are often seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards, given to films. Nomination voting for those awards, also known as the Oscars, starts on Wednesday, and there's a good chance voters will be influenced by what they saw on Sunday night.
Some film actors eligible for this year's Oscars wisely used the Globes ceremony for campaigning. Demi Moore, who took home her first-ever Golden Globe for her performance in "The Substance," about an aging actress who goes to gruesome lengths to save her career, spoke in her acceptance speech about how long she's been in the business, and the discouragement she's overcome.
Unexpected wins and shutouts
Another unexpected win went to Fernanda Torres, who won the best drama actress award for her performance in "I'm Still Here," a drama based on a true story set during Brazil's military dictatorship. It's been a huge hit in its home country, where it has also been the target of a far-right boycott.
The hit musical "Wicked" had been up for four awards, but only won for cinematic and box office achievement.
In the television categories, the Japanese-language series "Shogun" continued its awards success, winning in the best limited series category as well as acting awards going to cast members Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada and Tadanobu Asano.
Past big winner "The Bear" was nominated in five categories, but won only for its star, Jeremy Allen White as best actor.
This article was edited by Sarah Hucal.