2025 Golden Globe Nominations: A Year of Surprises and Snubs

The 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations are finally here, bringing with them the usual mix of expected wins and shocking snubs. The ceremony, airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ on January 5, 2025, promises to be a night of celebration and perhaps, a few unexpected upsets.

This year’s voting, tabulated by KPMG, yielded a record-breaking 10 nominations for Emilia Pérez, a Netflix comedy-drama that has been the subject of much social media discussion. This, however, is not to say that the awards went completely according to the script. Many high-profile films and television shows were overlooked, while others received nominations few predicted.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: A Battle of the Underdogs

The nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama generated perhaps the most buzz. Both Kate Winslet, for her work in Lee, and Pamela Anderson, earning her first-ever Golden Globe nomination for The Last Showgirl, represent a win for actors who campaigned aggressively for their modestly-reviewed films despite lacking widespread awards buzz. This victory came, however, at the expense of performances that garnered more critical acclaim, including Saoirse Ronan's turn in The Outrun and Marianne Jean-Baptiste's powerful lead in Hard Truths.

The absence of these critically-acclaimed performances serves as a reminder that while critics' opinions hold sway, Golden Globe voters often forge their own path.

A Shocking Omission: Saoirse Ronan and Marianne Jean-Baptiste

The fact that Ronan, despite The Outrun struggling for US traction, and Jean-Baptiste, fresh off wins from the New York and Los Angeles film critics groups, were overlooked represents a significant setback. The Globes have featured every eventual lead-acting Oscar nominee in recent years, highlighting the impact of this snub.

The Complete Overlooked: Sing Sing and Dune: Part Two

While some surprise nominees rose to the occasion, others were surprisingly absent. Sing Sing, despite momentum from Gotham Awards and AFI’s Top 10 list recognition, only garnered a best actor nomination for Colman Domingo. The film's glaring omission from the Best Film – Drama and Best Supporting Actor categories for Clarence Maclin is a significant blow to its award campaign.

The high profile Dune: Part Two, while gaining a best-drama nomination and a score nomination for Hans Zimmer, shockingly missed out on a nomination in the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category, a category filled with films like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Alien: Romulus. This unexpected omission is further compounded by the snub of director Denis Villeneuve, who was nominated for the first Dune installment.

Underdog Triumphs: Unexpected Nominations That Made Waves

Amidst the snubs, a handful of surprises created exciting waves of discussion. The Substance, starring Demi Moore, exceeded expectations by securing a nomination for Best Screenplay and earning a director nomination for Coralie Fargeat. This success extended to Margaret Qualley, whose supporting role nomination was unexpected, given Moore's dominant lead performance.

Similarly, The Girl With the Needle, a Danish drama, outperformed anticipated international contenders, proving that the Globes remain open to films from diverse backgrounds. The film's nomination is timely, and suggests that it may even secure a spot on the Oscars short list.

A Remarkable Achievement: Payal Kapadia's Director Nomination

Payal Kapadia's Best Director nomination for All We Imagine as Light is particularly significant. While the Globes boast an international voter body, directors from outside the US and Europe are rarely nominated. Kapadia's achievement is a major breakthrough.

The Television Landscape: Snubs and Surprises Abound

The television categories also had their share of unexpected wins and losses. Allison Janney, appearing only in the final two episodes of The Diplomat, earned a nomination for her commanding performance. The series itself saw further success with nominations for Best TV Drama and Best Actress for Keri Russell. However, the complete absence of Fallout, despite its Emmy success and high viewership, was a notable omission. Even Walton Goggins's performance failed to secure a nomination.

Another unexpected win came from Ewan McGregor, who received a nomination for A Gentleman in Moscow, a quiet series that saw its awards-season impact from the unexpected nominations.

The Final Verdict: A Golden Globes to Remember

In conclusion, the 2025 Golden Globe nominations have presented a unique blend of expected choices and surprising omissions. From record-breaking wins for Emilia Pérez to the unexpected triumphs of The Substance and The Girl With the Needle, the awards highlight both the unpredictable nature of awards shows and the incredible range of talent in film and television. As the awards season continues to unfold, the surprises and snubs of this year's Golden Globes will undoubtedly shape conversations and expectations for the coming months, culminating in the ultimate prize: the Oscars.

The Golden Globes Awards Ceremony will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, January 5, 2025.