Hollywood's glitterati will descend upon the 83rd Golden Globes ceremony this weekend, a pivotal event set to shape the trajectory of this year's Oscars race. For the second year running, the night will be steered by comedian Nikki Glaser, who returns as host after earning plaudits for her 2025 performance.
The Frontrunners and Fierce Contenders
Paul Thomas Anderson's epic comedy thriller, "One Battle After Another," enters the ceremony as the undeniable favourite, boasting a commanding nine nominations. The film, with an estimated budget of $130 million, stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an ageing revolutionary confronting his past. Having already swept top honours from critics' circles in New York and Los Angeles, as well as the National Board of Review and Critics Choice awards, it is the season's clear frontrunner. Anderson, despite a storied career, has never won a Globe or Oscar, but is strongly tipped to take home the best director prize this Sunday.
While DiCaprio secured his 15th career Globe nomination for his role, the award for best actor in a comedy or musical is widely predicted to go to Timothée Chalamet for his performance in the high-energy ping-pong caper "Marty Supreme." The 30-year-old actor has been forthright about his awards ambitions, calling this his finest work to date. His promotional efforts have helped propel the film to a robust $60 million at the global box office in under a month, making it A24's biggest UK release.
Sure Bets and Potential Surprises
Perhaps the safest prediction of the night is for Irish actor Jessie Buckley to claim her first Golden Globe for her portrayal of Shakespeare's grieving wife in Chloé Zhao's adaptation of "Hamnet." Buckley's performance, described by the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw as "unselfconsciously beguiling," has captivated critics. The 36-year-old star, who became a mother after filming, has spoken movingly about the emotional weight of the role.
In the best drama film category, the race is tighter. While "Hamnet" is a strong contender, it faces formidable competition from Ryan Coogler's genre-bending blockbuster "Sinners," which has seven nominations. The $368 million smash hit could see its star, Michael B. Jordan, become only the fourth Black actor to win best actor in a drama, and Coogler the first Black director to win the category. Coogler recently described making the film as "renewing my vows" with cinema.
Host with the Most (Restraint)
Returning host Nikki Glaser, known for her raucous and roast-style comedy, has already revealed one celebrity who is off-limits for her jokes. "You cannot make fun of America's sweetheart," Glaser stated in a CBS interview, referring to Julia Roberts. She noted that any material about Roberts has been meticulously fine-tuned to avoid alienating audiences.
The outcomes of Sunday's ceremony will send powerful signals through the industry ahead of the Oscar nominations announcement on 22 January. With major studios like Warner Bros, behind both "Sinners" and "One Battle After Another," enjoying a successful awards season, the night will also highlight the enduring power of auteur-driven cinema in the streaming era.
