Golden Globes 2025 Winner Predictions
Well, the Golden Globes are today. Fuc—I mean hooray. New voting body, new rules, and still a messy array of tastes in quality that is difficult to predict. It is amusing to anticipate which films or performers will be nominated for the Golden Globes, as opposed to witnessing which films or performers ultimately win the aforementioned award. Even though many people are going to get drunk at the ceremony, it's all fair game now. But what do I think is taking home the top planetary prize, and why? Let's not dilly-dally and get into the nitty-gritty of what I predict will win the Golden Globes.
BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Will Win: The Brutalist - The Brutalist has been that bitch since its debut at this past Venice where it took the Silver Lion award. After that, the word of mouth has been nothing but positively roaring. There are many categories for representation, including actor, director, score, and screenplay. Since there are so many international voters, this film regarding the Jewish immigration experience win would be a thoughtful, fervent demonstration of their fresh, sophisticated taste. Remember, they're still on a healing their image journey.
Backup: Conclave - Though Conclave hasn't been sweeping any award bodies yet, it's beloved status amongst the public has made it very well regarded. However, the Globe voting body consist of older folks. I can only assume they aren’t the ones to be making Cardinal memes on tiktoks. Despite its cross-generational love, it's not a film that'll simply make the cut but would be a runner up.
It would be nice to see: Anything that is not September 5 or A Complete Unknown - As much as I'd love to see Nickel Boys, I don't think a film as out there and distinctly pertains to the Black experience will hit the org's voters especially considering Best Picture is the ONLY nomination the movie has. They aren't that based and proved that easily. That said if September 5 and A Complete Unknown are left in the dark, I'll be pleased as punch.
BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Will Win: Anora - It's Anora. Sean Baker’s girl has been sweeping so far in numerous places, and the Globes sometimes love to gear towards the movies that would make for obvious front-runners. Presently, Anora is that girl to do so. I know Emilia Pérez got a maximized number of nominations; the organization has to be aware of its backlash and don't want to see them regress to their worst selves again.
Back-up: Emilia Pérez - It got the most nominations. It's just obvious. Even in places where two nominees shouldn't happen, how else is Selena Gomez is going to show up at the awards show. Ugh, losers. Moving on!
Would be nice to see: The Substance - An anti-Hollywood movie as bold and gory as that getting a top prized win will make the Globes the most based within the awards race thus far.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Will Win: Mikey Madison (Anora) - She's a front-runner, guys. Globes love to vote for the obvious statistically winning top contender. I don't know what else to say. Look at this poster.
I mean....come on. Points were made. I rest my case, your honor.
My Backup: Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) - I don't see the Globes giving up an opportunity to make history. The first trans actress to win a Golden Globe? Hell yea! It'll do nice for their healing image tour. Also, Gascón is great and carries that film tenfold. Look, I may be Emilia Pérez's biggest opp, but I want to see its lead get some gold. It's called containing multitudes.
Would be nice to see: Mikey Madison. Refer back to “Will Win”
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Will WIn: Glen Powell (Hit Man) - Unlike most of the other nominations, Powell's performance is an actual leading vehicle where the lead shines throughout with his charisma, and nobody — not an ensemble or two missionaries or his own erratic cousin — takes his shine away from him. Also Glen Powell, *Zoolander voice* so hot right now.
Back-up: Sebastian Stan (A Different Man) - See reason before this, but added more humility and extensive makeup.
Would be nice to see: Glen Powell - I mean, I love Hit Man. It would rock. If only Netflix pushed him more during this year’s award season!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) - I mean, if you’ve seen The Brutalist, you know. His portrayal of László Tóth is truly extraordinary, akin to witnessing a time capsule portrait of a person who once existed rather than a character performance. Brody’s performance had me questioning my friend during my screening, "Is this based on a real person? No? Are you sure?" And I still don't believe it! Much like Madison, Brody has been the unequivocal front-runner right now, so, frankly, duh, there's no doubt he ain't winning tonight.
Back-up: Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) - Conclave has so many ding-dang nominations. It’s an easy bet that Fiennes performance as the most disgruntled cardinal ever is just transcendent. Plus, it's such a safe pick, too.
It would be nice to see: Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) - I love Sing Sing and his performance is his career best performance to date. Plus, it would change his trajectory to a major contender.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Will Win: Angelina Jolie (Maria) - Legacy performance. Jolie’s portrayal of Maria Callas is great, and there are plenty of European voters in the organization. I can imagine what her performance will do for them, similar to what Renée Zellweger's performance as Judy Garland in Judy did for Americans. But with Maria, that’s an actual good movie I can get behind.
My Backup: Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here) - I uuuh, still haven't seen I’m Still Here, but I can see the Globes take a shot and vote for a non-obvious American-geared performance, and it would rule.
It would be nice to see: Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) - It would mean the organization is kinky AF, and I am here for it.
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Will Win: Ariana Grande (Wicked) - I keep going topsy-turvy on this because the LA portion of the Globes love Wicked, but the Europeans love Emilia Perez. By far, Grande’s performance as Glinda showed her acting range and comic timing and was by far the more potent performance compared to say Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. I Saldaña shines in the "El Mal” number, but... that’s about it. That said...
My backup: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) - Say it with me, legacy. And the Globes prove that they love that movie, since the maximum award nominations.
It Would be nice to see: Felicity Jones (The Brutalist). If she can beat out all her sing-songy girlies, I would be cackling heavily. Jones is also great in The Brutalist and commands the screen every time she appears. So!
BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
WIll Win: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) - Personally, I think Culkin is the lead of A Real Pain, but whatever. His performance as Benji is a tragic and potent portrayal of a human being and the amalgamation of that family member that you love and hate simultaneously, even though some people can't see him beyond the Roman Roy-isms. It’s the Best Supporting Actor performance that will sweep.
My backup/Would be nice to see: Yura Borisov (Anora) - I mean. Imagine. It ain’t going to happen because Borisov isn’t much of a name, but would be great!
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Will Win: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) - Brady Corbet's direction on The Brutalist is like an epic classic Hollywood style of filmmaking that is unlike anything else done before in a very long time. The Globes can pivot to him easily, for it's an epic over spectacle.
My backup: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) - I don’t want to talk about it. It’s ugh. If globes are not going epic filmmaking, they are going spectacle filmmaking, and those Europeans love Jacques Audiard. Oh, do they love him so.
Would be nice to see: Anyone that isn’t Jacques Audiard - I said I was Emilia Pérez's biggest opp, and I think the direction each of the other nominees takes on their respective films is way beyond this. Coralie Fargeat would be the one that would make me happy, as it would prove that the Globes have taste and aren't afraid to defy genre and gender norms.
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Will Win: Sean Baker (Anora) - If Sean Baker doesn't make it as director, he'll get Best Screenplay. The Globes are known for being diverse with their winners and not doing a big sweep. Because Anora is that Palme d'Or winner, I can see the organization awarding the filmmaker for screenplay.
Backup/Would be nice to see: Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) - And if it ain’t Baker, then it’s Fargeat. I think Coralie Fargeat will find her way somewhere tonight, and this would be a great tag-team for French girlies after Justine Triet took the Globe last year for the same category.
BEST FILM - NON ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Will Win: Emilia Pérez - 10 nominations. That is all. If it ain’t getting Best Picture, it’d be getting this.
My backup/Would be nice: All We Imagine As Light - The fact that director Payal Kapadia made it into Best Director indicates that they loved All We Imagine As Light. Granted, they love Emilia Pérez more, but whatever.
BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED
Will Win: Flow - The Globes have proven to love international animation for a while now. Last year, Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron took the Best Animated Feature category which was a pleasant surprise. Now that internationally made animated movies have become mainstream in the awards conversation like Flow and Memoir of a Snail, I can see Flow taking it. It has been sweeping awards internationally, including the European Film Awards.
Backup: The Wild Robot - It is by far the best American made animated movie of 2024.
Would be nice to see: Anything that is not a Disney movie - Need I say more?
CINEMATIC AND BOX OFFICE ACHIEVEMENT
Wicked - Gelphie's power made money and brought tears to everyone's eyes during Thanksgiving. Additionally, everyone went out for seconds or thirds after seeing it, including non-theater nerds. I mean, it didn’t make as much as Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2, but it's the most memorable film out of the two.
My backup/Would be nice: Inside Out 2 - Inside Out 2 was literally the highest grossing movie of 2024. No ifs and or buts about it. It's great to see an animated film recognized and honored for its merits, Disney distribution aside. Make it a reminder for studios to commission more animated features made for theaters because there is a market for it. Put animators back to work for God's sake. Release their films for theaters. Granted, I don't give two shits about this category, but it would actually mean something if an animated movie received this.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
Will Win: El Mal (Emilia Pérez) - Logistically, El Mal from Emilia Pérez is the strongest original diegetic music sequence in cinema this year. Watch it out of context, it’s a great scene. I will admit that. And when anyone discusses the movie’s best numbers, El Mal is the one that comes to mind. I am confident voters went to this.
Backup: MI Camino (Emilia Pérez) - Back to the diegetic conversation. Plus, wouldn’t it be nice for everyone to use the reaction shots to Selena Gomez for this? That's how they would sound. Man, the longer I make these predictions, the more cynical I feel. God, I hate what award season does to me.
Would be nice to see: Kiss the Sky (The Wild Robot) - I think that’s one of the best original songs of the year, and done with a transcendent sequence to boot.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
My pick/Would be nice: The Brutalist - DA DA DA BWAAAAAAAAAM! Daniel Blumberg's Brutalist score is one of most memorable scores of the year. The utilization of brass instruments not only produces a remarkable sound, but it also enhances the epic nature of the narrative.
Backup: Emilia Perez - I can't write another reason. I don't know, man.
