BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The nominations for the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, unveiled in the pre-dawn hours of Monday by actors Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall, have sparked a mix of elation and disappointment across Hollywood as the awards season ramps up for 2026. The ceremony, set for January 11 at the Beverly Hilton and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+, will celebrate achievements in film, television, and the newly introduced Best Podcast category. Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the event comes after a series of lifetime achievement honors on January 8, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Helen Mirren and the Carol Burnett Award for Sarah Jessica Parker.
While the Golden Globes, often dubbed 'the party of the year' by Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne, handed out nods across 28 categories, several high-profile projects and individuals were notably absent, fueling discussions about voter preferences and campaign strategies. According to Deadline, the nominations followed closely on the heels of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards on Sunday, where films like One Battle After Another earned top honors, including Best Film for director Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Actress for Teyana Taylor, and Best Actor for Stellan Skarsgård. That momentum carried over somewhat, with One Battle After Another securing multiple Globe nods, but not all recent critical darlings fared as well.
One of the most talked-about snubs was for Wicked: For Good, the sequel to the blockbuster musical adaptation of the Wizard of Oz tale. The film received nominations for its original score, director Jon M. Chu, lead actresses Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and even a Box Office Achievement nod, yet it was overlooked for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Deadline described the omission as puzzling, noting, 'So, Globes voters really liked every part of the resolution of the Wicked Witch of the West saga but the actual movie itself? Talk about a cowardly lion …' The first Wicked film had been a box office juggernaut, but its follow-up's awards trajectory now appears uncertain heading into Oscar season.
Director Kathryn Bigelow and her Netflix thriller House of Dynamite also drew widespread surprise with zero nominations, despite the film's high-profile cast and premise involving nuclear war scenarios. Deadline highlighted the exclusion as 'a very intentional detonation in the face of the streamer and the film’s helmer,' pointing to Bigelow's Oscar-winning pedigree from The Hurt Locker. Netflix, which is reportedly in talks for a potential merger with Warner Bros., had heavily promoted the project, but voters seemed unmoved. Separately, Donald Trump praised Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in recent comments, confirming a meeting and noting that a combined Netflix-Warner Bros. entity 'would have very big market share that could be a problem,' according to reports from the Motion Picture Association.
In the television realm, HBO's The Last of Us faced an 'apocalypse' of sorts, receiving no nominations despite its previous acclaim and strong viewership. Similarly, Apple TV+'s The Studio and HBO's White Lotus were shut out, as was the limited series Adolescence from a potential Warner Bros.-Netflix partnership. Creator Taylor Sheridan, known for hits like Yellowstone, saw his Paramount+ series Landman, starring Billy Bob Thornton, overlooked entirely. Deadline quipped that leaving out Landman felt like 'making it personal,' given Sheridan's track record of audience favorites that often bypass awards recognition.
The new Best Podcast category introduced controversy and snubs of its own. Prominent figures like Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire and Joe Rogan of The Joe Rogan Experience campaigned aggressively but came up empty-handed. Shapiro, who 'showed up for the opening of almost every envelope and panel show in town and dropped a lot of dough on ads,' according to Deadline, was particularly vocal in his push for recognition. Rogan, described as the 'podcast king' with a massive listenership across political divides, also failed to secure a nod, despite the category's aim to attract big names to the red carpet. Reader comments on Deadline reflected divided opinions, with one user stating, 'Ben Shapiro deserves ZERO awards,' while others questioned the category's selections altogether.
Actress Sydney Sweeney, fresh off her role in Christy, mounted a robust campaign but landed no nominations beyond her usual fare. Likewise, Kristin Scott Thomas was absent from nods for her role as Diana Taverner in the fifth season of Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, which did earn a nomination for Gary Oldman. Deadline noted the 'real lack of spy craft' in overlooking her 'cold water disparaging zingers.' In film, Katherine Lanasa, an Emmy winner for The Pitt, found herself without a Globe mention this time around.
Not all news was disappointing, however. Rhea Seehorn finally broke through with a nomination for her lead role in Pluribus, after years of snubs for her Emmy-nominated work on Better Call Saul. Deadline called it 'sweet' recognition, saying, 'Not really a surprise that the Pluribus lead has received the respect she so deserves this morning.' Musician Nick Cave earned a nod for his 'aching score' for the film Train Dreams, adding to his eclectic resume that includes novels, poetry, and decades of music with the Bad Seeds. The nomination was praised as a fitting honor for the artist's multifaceted contributions.
Australian actor Jacob Elordi picked up a surprise nomination for his role in the miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a project seen by few but evidently appreciated by voters. This came alongside extensive nods for Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, in which Elordi also starred. Deadline highlighted it as 'a bit out of the box in the best way for the Globes.' Meanwhile, films like Sinners and One Battle After Another saw their recent L.A. critics' successes partially validated, with the latter continuing its strong awards run.
The Box Office Achievement category stirred additional debate with a nomination for James Cameron's Avatar: Fire & Ice, slated for release next Friday, December 20, 2025. The film has yet to hit theaters, prompting questions about the nomination's basis. Deadline speculated, 'Was the list put together by AI or just bad math?' Commenters echoed this, with one suggesting, 'It could have went to Minecraft or Lilo & Stitch,' implying it might have been included to fill slots. Other box office contenders, including the Wicked sequel, which reportedly scared up $63 million domestically and $109 million worldwide in its opening, also received nods.
Broader context for the nominations includes the Golden Globes' evolution under new ownership by Penske Media Eldridge, a subsidiary of Deadline's parent company Penske Media Corp., with production by Dick Clark Productions. The event aims to reclaim its status post-scandals involving the former Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Final ballots will be sent to voters on December 19, with submissions due back on January 3, allowing campaigns to intensify over the holidays.
As Hollywood digests the results, the snubs highlight ongoing tensions between critical acclaim, commercial success, and voter tastes. For instance, while Blue Moon earned a nod for Ethan Hawke and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You for Rose Byrne—both fresh from L.A. critics' wins—other projects like Sinners were left out despite buzz. Seth Rogen's television work also got a boost, positioning him for potential Emmy crossovers.
Looking ahead, the January 8 Golden Eve gala will precede the main ceremony, focusing on Mirren and Parker's honors. With Netflix's potential Warner Bros. merger in the backdrop—projected to generate $6.6 billion in annual APAC revenues, per the Motion Picture Association—the awards could underscore shifting industry power dynamics. Trump’s comments on Sarandos add a political layer, though officials have not elaborated further.
The nominations, available in full on the Golden Globes website, set the stage for a competitive race. As campaigns gear up, expect more analysis on how these early indicators predict Oscar outcomes. For now, the bruised egos from Monday's announcements serve as a reminder that even in an era of 'everyone gets a trophy,' not everyone does—at least not at the Globes.
In related news, the Kennedy Center Honors featured Glaser as host, further cementing her rising profile ahead of the Globes. Hollywood insiders predict a lively ceremony, with the podcast category potentially evolving in future years to better reflect the medium's influence.