Golden Globes 2026: 'One Battle After Another' and 'Hamnet' Dominate the Night
Hollywood’s awards season officially kicked off Sunday night with the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. The star-studded event, held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, saw Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet emerge as the evening's biggest winners.
Comedian Nikki Glaser hosted the ceremony for the second year in a row, delivering a sharp opening monologue that poked fun at A-list celebrities and the industry’s recent business deals. The broadcast aired live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, marking a high-energy return for the awards show often called "Hollywood's Party of the Year."
Key Takeaways
- Top Film Wins: One Battle After Another won Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), while Hamnet took home Best Motion Picture (Drama).
- Directing Duo: Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director and Best Screenplay for One Battle After Another.
- Television Stars: The Pitt (HBO Max) won Best Drama Series, and The Studio (Apple TV+) won Best Comedy Series.
- Historic Categories: For the first time, a Golden Globe was awarded for Best Podcast, which went to Amy Poehler’s Good Hang.
- Hosting Success: Nikki Glaser received praise for her second solo hosting turn, successfully balancing humor with the ceremony's fast-paced schedule.
Big Wins on the Big Screen
One Battle After Another entered the night with a leading nine nominations and walked away with four major trophies. In addition to the top comedy prize, Teyana Taylor won Best Supporting Actress for her emotional role in the film. During her speech, she gave a powerful message to young girls, stating, "Our light does not need permission to shine."
On the drama side, the period piece Hamnet beat out heavy favorites like Sinners. Lead actress Jessie Buckley was named Best Actress in a Drama for her performance. Other notable acting wins included Timothée Chalamet, who won Best Actor in a Comedy for Marty Supreme, and Wagner Moura, who took home Best Actor in a Drama for his role in the political thriller The Secret Agent.
TV Standouts and Surprises
Television awards were split among several streaming giants. Netflix’s harrowing series Adolescence was a force in the limited series categories, winning four awards including Best Limited Series and Best Actor for Stephen Graham.
In the series categories, Noah Wyle won Best Actor in a Drama for The Pitt, leading to a heartwarming onstage reunion with his former ER co-star George Clooney. Seth Rogen won Best Actor in a Comedy for The Studio, a show that ironically features a fictional version of the Golden Globes. "I thought the only way I would get to hold one is to create a show to give myself a fake one," Rogen joked during his acceptance speech.
A Controversial Omission
A minor controversy shadowed the event when it was revealed that the award for Best Original Score would not be shown during the live TV broadcast due to time constraints. The winner was instead announced online, a move that famous composer Hans Zimmer called "ignorant" on social media. Despite this, the rest of the show focused on celebratory reunions and the introduction of the new Podcast category.
Background and Context
The 83rd Golden Globes represent a continued era of stability for the awards. After years of organizational changes and a move to CBS, the show has reclaimed its spot as a major predictor for the Academy Awards. The inclusion of new categories like Best Podcast and the "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement" award (won this year by Sinners) shows the organization's effort to stay relevant with modern audiences.
What Experts Are Saying
Industry analysts believe tonight's results have completely reshaped the Oscar race. "Paul Thomas Anderson has been a critical favorite for decades, but the momentum behind One Battle After Another feels different," said one entertainment reporter. "It’s rare to see a film sweep Director, Screenplay, and Picture categories at the Globes. It makes him the clear frontrunner for March."
Critics also noted that the television wins for The Pitt and Pluribus (which saw Rhea Seehorn win Best Actress in a Drama) show that voters are moving away from established hits toward fresh, high-concept storytelling.