‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Hamnet’ Divide Top Honors at a Business-Like 83rd Golden Globes

LOS ANGELES — On January 11, 2026, the 83rd Golden Globe Awards convened at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, kicking off the heart of the awards season. The night saw the top film honors split between two distinct cinematic forces: Chloé Zhao’s historical drama Hamnet took home Best Motion Picture – Drama, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another claimed Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Meanwhile, Japan’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Arc (Part 1), which had garnered significant attention with its nomination, ultimately missed out on a win.

However, the prevailing atmosphere of this year’s ceremony was not the raucous “party of the year” vibe of decades past. Instead, the evening felt somewhat administrative—a “room temperature” affair that prioritized function over flair. Here is a look back at the ceremony, highlighting the major winners and the critical reception from the ground.

Major Categories Dominated by ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Hamnet’

The undeniable driving force of this year’s film division was Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest opus, One Battle After Another. The film demonstrated overwhelming strength, sweeping the Musical/Comedy category for Best Picture, while also earning Anderson the statuettes for Best Director and Best Screenplay. The film’s dominance extended to the acting categories, providing huge momentum heading into the Academy Awards.

On the Drama side, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet triumphed as Best Picture. The film also secured a Best Actress (Drama) win for Jessie Buckley, solidifying its reputation as a high-quality literary adaptation with formidable craft.

In the Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language category, the Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent emerged victorious, besting stiff competition from French and South Korean heavyweights.

Timothée Chalamet: A Speech in Startling Contrast to His Role

The Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy went to Timothée Chalamet for his portrayal of a professional ping-pong player in Marty Supreme.

What captured the room’s attention, however, was the tone of his acceptance speech. Throughout the film and its promotional tour, Chalamet had embodied a brash, confident character—complete with orange-tinted skin and an arrogant swagger. Yet, upon taking the stage, he was surprisingly subdued.

“My father always taught me never to forget gratitude,” Chalamet said, clad in a somber all-black ensemble. “Even if I had gone home empty-handed today, I would have been grateful just to be here.” He offered sincere thanks to director Josh Safdie and his co-stars. While some critics described the speech as “sleepy as a wedding toast” and lacking momentum, industry insiders view it as a calculated display of “humility” aimed squarely at the older demographic of Oscar voters.

TV Categories: ‘The Studio’ and ‘The Pitt’ Take Top Prizes

In the television sector, the awards were distributed among fresh hits. The Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy went to The Studio, while the medical drama The Pitt (Pittsburgh Emergency Room) secured Best Television Series – Drama.

Of particular note was the dominance of Adolescence in the Limited Series category. The show proved its critical weight with wins for both lead actors, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty. Additionally, Rhea Seehorn finally took home the Best Actress (Drama) trophy for Pluribus, charming the audience with a heartwarming speech that served as one of the night’s emotional highlights.

A “Lack of Fervor”: Host Nikki Glaser’s Performance Under Scrutiny

Comedian Nikki Glaser returned to host for the second consecutive year, but her performance yielded mixed results.

Sticking to “safe zone” material—such as standard jabs at Leonardo DiCaprio’s dating life and George Clooney’s commercials—Glaser struggled to raise the voltage in the room. While there was a moment of live-TV tension when she confronted DiCaprio directly (“We know nothing about you other than your dating life!”) and brought up his trivial “favorite food is pasta” quote, the monologue largely remained within the realm of the predictable.

Furthermore, the broadcast was marred by production gaffes. Critics pointed out the display of betting odds (via Polymarket) during commercial bumpers and a commercial break cutting into the Best Original Score announcement, casting doubt on the “prestige” of the ceremony. While the night was not a “disaster level” event comparable to Jo Koy’s past hosting stint, it critically lacked “swagger”—especially necessary for a show competing for viewership against an NFL playoff game.

The 83rd Golden Globe Awards: Select Winners List

FILM

• Best Motion Picture – Drama: Hamnet

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: One Battle After Another

• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

• Best Actor – Drama: Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)

• Best Actress – Drama: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)

• Best Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

• Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

• Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

• Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

• Best Original Song: “Golden” (Kpop Demon Hunters)

• Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language: The Secret Agent (Brazil)

• Best Motion Picture – Animated: Kpop Demon Hunters

• Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: Sinners

TELEVISION

• Best Television Series – Drama: The Pitt

• Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy: The Studio

• Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Adolescence

• Best Actor – Drama: Noah Wyle (The Pitt)

• Best Actress – Drama: Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)

• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy: Seth Rogen (The Studio)

• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy: Jean Smart (Hacks)