The 2025 Golden Globe Awards saw The Brutalist and Emilia Perez as the evening’s standout winners, with both films earning top honors at the prestigious ceremony held on Sunday. The awards, spread across a diverse range of international productions, signal a broadening of cinema’s reach on the global stage.
The Brutalist, an epic drama about a Hungarian Holocaust survivor, was awarded the top prize for Best Motion Picture – Drama, propelling the film into contention for the upcoming Academy Awards. The film’s star, Adrien Brody, took home the Best Actor award for his poignant portrayal of the lead character, a Jewish architect who escapes Nazi persecution and starts a new life in the United States. The film also garnered Best Director for Brady Corbet, who, despite initial doubts about its appeal, proved the power of storytelling through its ambitious, three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Corbet shared his thoughts on the film’s success, acknowledging the skepticism surrounding its length but expressing pride in its resonance with audiences.
“It’s a story no one was asking for, a three-and-a-half-hour film about a mid-century designer,” said Corbet. “But it works.”
Meanwhile, Emilia Perez, a surreal narco-musical directed by Jacques Audiard, claimed four awards, making it the most recognized film of the night. Set in Mexico, the film tells the story of a male drug lord who transitions into a woman. The film’s overwhelming success at the Globes included Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Non-English Language Film, Best Original Song, and Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldana. Saldana’s win edged out her co-star Selena Gomez, further solidifying her place in Hollywood’s spotlight.
Karla Sofia Gascon, who plays the titular role of Emilia Perez, also delivered an emotional acceptance speech, highlighting the film’s themes of identity and resistance. “You can maybe put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, our resistance, our identity,” Gascon, a transgender actress, said during her speech.
The Golden Globes, known for their ability to help films gain momentum leading up to the Oscars, showcased several other noteworthy performances. Fernanda Torres won Best Actress in a Drama for her role in I’m Still Here, a harrowing family drama set against the backdrop of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s.
Brody’s win was particularly notable as it marked a significant career comeback. More than two decades after winning an Oscar for The Pianist, Brody’s portrayal of a Holocaust survivor once again earned him critical acclaim. “It feels like a new beginning,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Demi Moore also achieved a career milestone, taking home the Best Actress in a Comedy award for her role in The Substance, a satirical body horror film that critiques societal pressures on women as they age. Reflecting on her journey, Moore shared a poignant moment from her past, revealing that a Hollywood producer once dismissed her as “a popcorn actress” early in her career.
The Golden Globe winners are selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which consists of 334 journalists from 85 countries—far fewer than the 9,000 voters who select the Academy Award nominees. Recent reforms have expanded the HFPA’s voting body and addressed criticisms regarding diversity and ethical practices, aiming for a more inclusive and transparent process.
In the television categories, Shogun, FX’s historical epic set in feudal Japan, claimed the prestigious Best Drama Television Series award. The series also won acting honors for Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada, both of whom were first-time Globe winners. On the comedy side, Hacks earned Best Comedy Television Series, with Jean Smart winning Best Lead Actress in a Comedy for the second time for her role as a complex female stand-up comedian.
Other notable television wins included Jeremy Allen White for his acclaimed role in The Bear, Jodie Foster for True Detective, and Colin Farrell for his transformative performance in The Penguin.
As the Golden Globes season wraps up, both The Brutalist and Emilia Perez have emerged as clear frontrunners for the Academy Awards in March, their victories providing crucial momentum as the film world turns its attention to the Oscars.
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