It’s never a Dry January at the Golden Globes, where award season momentum is made and destroyed — and celebs pound down free Moët Champagne like they’re at a West Orange wedding and not actually famous millionaires.
Sunday night’s film nominees are more eclectic than usual, thanks in part to the release schedule shakeup in the aftermath of 2023’s dual Hollywood strikes and a revamped voting body. But there are A-List stars aplenty to gawk at: Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Pamela Anderson, Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
The TV honorees feature the usual heavyweights — “The Bear,” “Hacks,” “Only Murders in the Building” — alongside Globes newcomers “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Shōgun” and “The Day of the Jackal.”
After last year’s hosting debacle with Jo Koy, the LA ceremony will hopefully get back on track with the popular stand-up comic Nikki Glaser at the helm. And, when the envelopes are opened, a few surprises should be in store, too.
Here are The Post’s critics’ picks for which movies and TV shows will win on Sunday, Jan. 5, on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m.
MOVIE PREDICTIONS by JOHNNY OLEKSINSKI
Motion Picture – Drama
Predicted winner: “The Brutalist” Brady Corbet’s fantastic movie is the only nominee that feels like a bona fide, grand ol’ awards contender — sprawling, hard-hitting, thematic and brilliantly acted. The closest possible upset, the very good “Conclave,” seems tiny by comparison.
“Conclave“
“Nickel Boys”
“September 5”
Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Predicted winner: “Anora“ In the past, I would’ve called “Wicked.” But the Globes’ voting body has recently changed to be more internationally based and, well, qualified. Overrated “Emilia Pérez” could also take the stage. But expect a repeat of last year when poor “Barbie” lost to “Poor Things.”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Wicked“
Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Predicted winner: Angelina Jolie (“Maria“) It’s Angie v. Nicole here. Both are terrific, but the sexually charged “Babygirl” might be too edgy even for the Globes to go all the way with. So my pick is Jolie being classy-ish as Maria Callas.
Pamela Anderson (“The Last Showgirl“)
Nicole Kidman (“Babygirl“)
Tilda Swinton (“The Room Next Door”)
Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”)
Kate Winslet (“Lee”)
Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Predicted winner: Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”) Brody could win (most are predicting he will), but timing and enthusiasm lean in Chalamet’s favor: The name on everybody’s lips right now is Timmy as Bob Dylan.
Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”)
Daniel Craig (“Queer”)
Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”)
Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”)
Sebastian Stan (“The Apprentice”)
Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Predicted winner: Mikey Madison (“Anora”) Two here are definitely not winning: Adams and Zendaya. Of the remaining trio, 25-year-old Madison has the best shot. The Globes love a breakout, and she’s radiant as a stripper who goes on a whirlwind journey through NYC.
Amy Adams (“Nightbitch”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”)
Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”)
Demi Moore (“The Substance”)
Zendaya (“Challengers”)
Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Predicted winner: Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”) From indie road trip to horror to showbiz farce, these performances — and movies — couldn’t be more different. What works in Eisenberg’s favor is his role’s size, and the fact that he also directed and wrote the film.
Sebastian Stan (“A Different Man”)
Hugh Grant (“Heretic”)
Gabriel LaBelle (“Saturday Night”)
Jesse Plemons (“Kinds of Kindness”)
Glen Powell (“Hit Man”)
Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Predicted winner: Zoe Saldaña (“Emilia Pérez”) Saldaña is doing the best work of her career in a film the Globes plainly admires.
Selena Gomez (“Emilia Pérez”)
Ariana Grande (“Wicked”)
Felicity Jones (“The Brutalist”)
Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”)
Isabella Rossellini (“Conclave”)
Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Predicted winner: Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”) The same awards body named him Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama just one year ago for “Succession.” Surely, they’ll honor him again for a film performance that’s every bit as good.
Yura Borisov (“Anora”)
Edward Norton (“A Complete Unknown”)
Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”)
Jeremy Strong (“The Apprentice”)
Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II”)
Director – Motion Picture
Predicted winner: Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”) No Spielbergs or Scorseses here. Unusually, none of these directors have ever been nominated in this category before. The Globes will want to seize the opportunity to announce the mega-talented, 36-year-old Corbet as the future of filmmaking.
Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”)
Sean Baker (“Anora”)
Edward Berger (“Conclave”)
Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”)
Payal Kapadia (“All We Imagine As Light”)
Screenplay – Motion Picture
Predicted winner: Sean Baker (“Anora”) Hilarious, wise and multilingual, Baker’s breakneck script is essential to the success of “Anora.”
Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”)
Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold (“The Brutalist”)
Jesse Eisenberg (“A Real Pain”)
Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”)
Peter Straughan (“Conclave”)
Original Score – Motion Picture
Predicted winner: Daniel Blumberg (“The Brutalist”) A lot depends on how hard the Globes ultimately fall for “The Brutalist,” but the exciting score is a major factor of its epicness. The more traditional choice would be “Conclave.”
Volker Bertelmann (“Conclave”)
Kris Bowers (“The Wild Robot”)
Clément Ducol, Camille (“Emilia Pérez”)
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross (“Challengers”)
Hans Zimmer (“Dune: Part Two”)
Motion Picture – Animated
Predicted winner: “The Wild Robot” For the most part, 2024 was a weak year for animation. Gorgeous “Wild Robot” bucked the trend.
“Flow”
“Memoir of a Snail”
“Moana 2”
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
Predicted winner: “Wicked” I feel “loathing!” for this category, because it makes zero sense. It’s a classic Globes ploy to ensure some hot stars are seated. Logically, the prize should go to “Inside Out 2,” the year’s highest grossing film, right? Not that simple, I’m afraid. I suspect “Wicked” (No. 6 internationally) wins because it’s both financially successful and an Oscar contender.
“Twisters”
Motion Picture – Non-English Language
Predicted winner: “Emilia Pérez” Just because it’s the most nominated musical or comedy film of all time at the Globes doesn’t make it an “Oppenheimer”-like juggernaut. The feat does, however, mean it will win this award.
“All We Imagine As Light”
“The Girl with the Needle”
“I’m Still Here”
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”
“Vermiglio”
TELEVISION PREDICTIONS by LAUREN SARNER
Series – Drama
Predicted winner: “Shōgun” The gritty historical drama about feudal Japan has been a sensation. It swept the Emmys, bringing home an eye-catching 18 trophies. There’s no reason to think this trend won’t continue at the Globes. It’s a period piece that’s swiftly (and deservedly) become an awards powerhouse.
“The Diplomat”
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
“Squid Game”
“Slow Horses”
“The Day of the Jackal”
Series – Musical or Comedy
Predicted winner: “The Bear” A somewhat controversial choice, as “The Bear” keeps getting nominated in the “comedy” category, even though the tense, emotionally harrowing character-driven story is definitely a drama. The aimless third season was also the show’s worst. Nevertheless, it’s a critical darling, and that doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon. The other comedy nominees are better choices (and real comedies), but “The Bear” has staying power. Plus, awards are slow to react when shows dip in quality.
“Abbott Elementary”
“The Gentlemen”
“Hacks”
“Nobody Wants This”
“Only Murders in the Building”
Actor – Drama
Predicted winner: Eddie Redmayne (“The Day of the Jackal”) Every so often, the Globes makes an unexpected swerve – look no further than 2015, when the then-freshman series, “The Affair,” took home the “best drama” trophy in an upset, beating out more heavyweight series like “Game of Thrones,” “Downton Abbey” and “The Good Wife.” Although Redmayne is a big name, “The Day of the Jackal”’s leading man might seem like a random win. But, he has been getting enough quiet buzz that I predict Redmayne’s performance in it will be this year’s version of “The Affair;” a win that isn’t undeserving per se, but makes many viewers go, “huh?”
Donald Glover (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”)
Jake Gyllenhaal (“Presumed Innocent”)
Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”)
Hiroyuki Sanada (“Shōgun”)
Billy Bob Thornton (“Landman”)
Actress – Drama
Predicted winner: Anna Sawai (“Shōgun”) Sawai took home the Emmy for her role as Toda Mariko in the Japanese historical drama. Her performance is strong, and her recognition is deserved. While it’s mildly possible she’ll get knocked out by Kathy Bates or even Keira Knightley as a dark horse, I predict the show will keep dominating, and she’ll take home a Golden Globe for it, too.
Kathy Bates (“Matlock”)
Emma D’Arcy (“House of the Dragon”)
Maya Erskine (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”)
Keira Knightley (“Black Doves”)
Keri Russell (“The Diplomat”)
Actress – Musical or Comedy
Predicted winner: Jean Smart (“Hacks”) This category is especially stacked, and it could be a close race. But, Smart is the likely winner. The industry veteran delivers a powerhouse performance, and the awards have been (rightfully) eating it up. She won in 2022 for her role as aging comedian Debrah Vance, and she’ll likely win again this year.
Kristen Bell (“Nobody Wants This”)
Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”)
Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”)
Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Kathryn Hahn (“Agatha All Along”)
Actor – Musical or Comedy
Predicted winner: Adam Brody (“Nobody Wants This”) While Brody might get edged out by a “business as usual” win (Jeremy Allen White, since the Emmys and Globes love throwing trophies at “The Bear”), I still predict it will be Brody. The rom-com was one of the year’s buzziest new shows, and it marked something of a renaissance for Brody, whose previous best known role was a nerdy-cute teenager on “The O.C.” Hollywood loves a comeback story and a story of a career’s second act. It’s Brody’s time to shine.
Ted Danson (“A Man on the Inside”)
Steve Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Jason Segel (“Shrinking”)
Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”)
