As comedian and Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser bravely said two hours into the Sunday, January 5 ceremony: “Alright everybody, we’re in the home stretch, let’s keep this puppy moving.” As with any award show, the prestigious Hollywood industry ceremony can be a long night. That being said, for any pop culture aficionado, it’s an important one in the long and winding road that is awards season.
2024’s great films and TV shows were honored in the multi-hour affair, including Wicked, Emilia Perez, Baby Reindeer, and more. But if you didn’t manage to stick around for the full show – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 big takeaways from the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.
1. Emilia Perez Took Home Big Wins
Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez was the most nominated film of the night with 10 nominations – and it took home an impressive number of prizes as well. The musical from Netflix tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who fakes their own death to undergo gender-affirming care. The film took home Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Zoe Saldana, Best Original Song, Best Non-English Language Film, and Best Comedy or Musical.
Karla Sofia Gascon, who played the title character, ended the night with a powerful speech on freedom and safety for the trans community. “I chose these colors tonight, the Buddhist colors, because I have a message for you: The light always wins over darkness,” she said, referencing her yellow and orange gown. “You can maybe put us in jail. You can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, our existence, our identity. And I want to say to you: Raise your voice for freedom,” she continued. “I am who I am, not who you want. Thank you so much.”
Nikki Glaser Wowed The Crowd!
While awards show hosting is often a thankless job with plenty of room to fail, Glaser took on the task and reinvented it. Rolling Stone Magazine gave her a rave review, writing: “Nikki Glaser Returns the Show to Its Messy, Funny Glory.” The Los Angeles Times also praised her hosting abilities, writing, “In the term of the trade, she killed. Her jokes were good, her delivery tight, and she earned the good time she was clearly having.”
Glaser also made history: donning a sparkly pink dress and a Pope’s hat, she became the first solo woman to host the prestigious award show.
Demi Moore’s Energizing Speech
Actress Demi Moore won Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Film for her role in the buzzy, body-horror film The Substance. Moore played actress Elisabeth Sparkle, who takes a body enhancement drug when she’s told she is aging out of the industry. In a moment that echoed the message of the film, Moore accepted the award at age 62 – marking her first major acting award in the industry.
“I’m just in shock right now. I’ve been doing this a long time, like over 45 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor, and I’m just so humbled and so grateful,” she said in her speech. Moore shared a story about how “30 years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a ‘popcorn actress.’” She explained how this comment affected her view of herself in the film industry, making her feel she couldn’t be recognized for any serious work.
“And that corroded me over time to the point where I thought a few years ago that maybe this was it,” she said. “Maybe I was complete. Maybe I’ve done what I was supposed to do. And as I was at kind of a low point, I had this magical, bold, courageous, out-of-the-box, absolutely bonkers script come across my desk called The Substance, and the universe told me that you’re not done.”
‘Wicked’ Wasn’t As ‘Popular’ With the Voters
While it was truly The Movie ™ of 2024, the cinematic event that was Wicked didn’t sweep its nominations in the way that its fans might have wanted. The movie musical spectacular, which made waves for its impressive box office numbers and extensive press tour, was nominated for four awards that night, including best actress in a comedy or musical, best supporting actress, best comedy or musical, and best cinematic and box-office achievement. The movie’s only win was for best cinematic and box-office achievement. The win is a no-brainer: as of January 5, 2025, Wicked will have grossed $681.3 million dollars worldwide.
‘The Brutalist’ Director’s Emotional Speech
When director Brady Corbet won for his film The Brutalist, it was an emotional moment for him and his family. In his speech, he thanked his cast and crew, as well as his collaborator and co-writer Mona Fastvold, who is also his wife. He also gave a shout-out to his daughter, who was sitting in the audience crying.
In a sweet moment, he mentioned her during his speech, saying, “[She] looks so stunning in that dress of hers tonight that I’m thinking this fiasco that I’ve gotten us all into may have very well been worth it. I love you so much, Ada James.”
Corbet ended his emotional speech with a tribute to actress Aubrey Plaza and her late husband, Jeff Baena, who died on January 3, 2025, at age 47.
“Finally, tonight my heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family. Goodnight,” he said.
As we move further into awards season, the 2025 Golden Globes have set the bar high for unforgettable moments and powerful speeches. With bold performances, emotional wins, and surprises, this year’s ceremony proved once again why Hollywood’s biggest party remains a must-watch event. We can’t wait to see what’s next on the road to the Oscars!
