Jacques Audiard’s bold musical film “Emilia Pérez,” which tells the story of a Mexican drug lord undergoing gender-affirming surgery, topped the nominations for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards with a remarkable ten nods. This places it ahead of other strong contenders like the much-anticipated musical “Wicked,” the papal thriller “Conclave,” and the postwar saga “The Brutalist.” The nominations were disclosed on Monday morning, with Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut announcing the honorees.
After years mired in scandal and restructuring, the prestigious Globes, now decoupled from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are striving to regain their footing. This year’s nominations feature an impressive array of stars, including Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Denzel Washington, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Glen Powell, and Selena Gomez, all receiving nominations. The drama “The Apprentice,” centered around a young Donald Trump, also garnered recognition for its leading performances by Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Trump himself has criticized the series as a derogatory portrayal.
It remains uncertain how the recent presidential election will impact Hollywood’s awards scene. At the Gotham Awards, the new president was neither mentioned nor specifically referenced. Additionally, Stan earned another nomination for his role in the dark comedy “A Different Man.” Although films like “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” are expected powerhouses in the awards circuit, no clear frontrunner has emerged this season—with most contenders being lighter on box office earnings than in past years. Historically, the Globes do not always coincide with the selections of the Academy Awards, a reflection of a broader spectrum of the film industry. Nevertheless, they play a crucial role in enhancing a film’s visibility in award marketing.
Netflix has emerged as a significant player in the nominations, having acquired “Emilia Pérez” following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The streaming platform led all studios with 13 film nominations and 23 in television categories. “Emilia Pérez,” a genre-blending exploration encompassing elements of a narco-thriller, Broadway musical, and trans drama, enabled its three leads—Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Gomez—to be nominated, marking a historic achievement as no comedy or musical has previously received as many Globe nominations.
Brady Corbet’s highly ambitious film “The Brutalist” received seven nominations, including Best Picture and acting honors for both Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce. The project, distributed by A24, is particularly notable for its length of three-and-a-half hours, complete with an intermission. A24 followed closely behind Netflix with a total of 12 nominations. Hugh Grant landed a Best Actor nomination for his chilling performance in the horror film “Heretic.” He expressed gratitude to directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods for providing him with an intense role.
Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” in which Ralph Fiennes portrays a cardinal leading the process to elect a new pope, earned six nominations, including Best Picture and acting nominations for Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini. Sean Baker’s award-winning film “Anora,” featuring Mikey Madison as a sex worker who marries the offspring of a Russian oligarch, also shined with five nominations, including for Best Picture in the comedy or musical category and Best Female Actor for Madison.
Nikki Glaser will host the Globe Awards, bringing her comedic flair to the ceremony. She herself received a nomination for Best Stand-Up Special, as CBS, which began airing the Globes last year, aims for a more successful reception than last year’s host, Jo Koy, whose performance received mixed reviews.
In the race for Best Motion Picture Drama, nominees include “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Nickel Boys,” and “September 5.” Parallelly, the nominees for Best Picture Musical or Comedy feature “Wicked,” “Anora,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Challengers,” “A Real Pain,” and “The Substance.”
Coralie Fargeat’s provocative body horror satire “The Substance,” showcasing Demi Moore’s extreme measures to maintain youth in an ageist Hollywood, garnered five nominations, with nods for both Moore and her younger counterpart, Margaret Qualley. Among animated features, DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot” performed well, securing four nominations, including one for cinematic and box office achievement—a new category that includes contenders like “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2.” Other animated features may struggle against “The Wild Robot’s” impressive showing.
Timothée Chalamet’s film “A Complete Unknown,” an adaptation of Bob Dylan’s story, also celebrated its nominations, which include nods for both Chalamet and Edward Norton, who portrays Woody Guthrie. This year also marks Pamela Anderson’s first Golden Globe nomination for her role in “The Last Showgirl,” where she plays an aging entertainer in Las Vegas, earning praise for her performance. She expressed her dedication to the project, indicating her commitment to making a significant return to the industry.
In the television categories, “The Bear” led the series with five nominations for its third season, including nods for Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri. Competing for attention are FX’s “Shogun” with four nominations and Apple TV’s “Slow Horses,” which also received acting nods. “Only Murders in the Building” dominated the comedy or musical category with nominations for its stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Gomez, who now has dual nominations for both her roles.
While the Golden Globes have faced their share of challenges, improvements have been observed. Following a boycott from much of Hollywood due to revelations regarding HFPA’s lack of diversity, the 2022 ceremony was canceled. The 2024 awards have rebounded, with a positive reception leading CBS to commit to a five-year broadcasting deal following last year’s bump in ratings.
Additionally, last year marked the introduction of two new categories, which remain this year: the cinematic and box office achievement award and the best stand-up comedy performance on television. This year’s lifetime achievement awards are set to be awarded to Ted Danson and Viola Davis. They’ll be celebrated at a gala dinner on January 3, just two days before the Golden Globe ceremony.
