The bar wasn’t set too high for the Golden Globes on Sunday night. After hosting last year, Joe CoyCommemoratively bombed, MC this year, Nikki Glasercan hardly do worse. But she wasn’t content to simply do better. After rehearsing her opening monologue at dozens of club appearances over the holidays, she killed in the countdown, cracking up the stars at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., and winning over audiences on social media. The rest of the night went more or less smoothly, with a mix of expected and surprising winners. But it wouldn’t be an awards ceremony if there weren’t some truly off-kilter moments. Here are the highs and lows as we saw them.
Best host: Nikki Glaser
When Glazer began putting together her Golden Globes monologue in early December, she told her writing staff, “Don’t be afraid to be weird.”
You saw evidence of that in his brilliant monologue on Sunday, which included the kind of hard-hitting punchlines he’s known for, including a good insult to Paramount+ and the impact of Sean Combs’ arrest at the after-party. A joke. But there was also an impression. Adam Sandler announcing Timothee Chalamet’s name. It was just pure stupidity — even Sandler joined in. Glazer doesn’t usually show expressions, but she committed and it went really well, adding to the celebratory, fun tone to end the night.
If there was one joke that got crushed in every test run, it was probably when he mentioned a few nominees: “‘Wicked,’ ‘Queer,’ ‘Nightbitch,'” then added that “Just not the stuff Ben Affleck screams after sex.” On Sunday, it struck again. – Jason Zinoman
Glazer’s night started on the red carpet in a billowing strapless gold ball gown. For her first stage appearance, she changed into a silver sleeveless gown. By 8:30, she was on her third outfit of the night. An hour into the ceremony, she was in dress number 5 (a sequined pink-sleeve stunner). By the end of the night, she had donated what seemed like 47 more. Was it all missing? We’d love to see Demi Moore’s viral cheat. Yellow “female” coat. – The whole ocean
Most refreshing development: The unexpected winner
So far, it’s been an interestingly unpredictable awards season, and although the Globes have certainly given out plenty of hardware to already strong contenders like “Emilia Perez“and”brutal,“It still feels like a wide-open field. In the acting races, unexpected wins by the likes of Demi Moore, Fernanda Torres and Sebastian Stan delivered some of the most captivating speeches of the night and added to the Oscars’ already competitive categories. made even more difficult to predict and a complete shutout.”Anura“Joe went high-flying on Sunday, meaning there’s little to decide this season, a fun development after years in which the eventual Oscar winner was predetermined long before the Globes weighed in.” The results were looking. – Kyle Buchanan
The least refreshing development: The retro red carpet look.
Given that Hollywood award shows celebrate the art of role-playing, it probably shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise that the dominant trend on the 2025 Globes red carpet was … retro role-playing. Ariana Grande does her best Audrey Hepburn impression in 1966 Givenchy couture. Selena Gomez channeled Jackie Kennedy in ice blue Prada and a stylized bob; And Nicole Kidman and Margaret Qualley played great. Catherine Deneuve Bouffant – All in a sea of mostly traditional tuxedos.
You could call it a return to classicism, or a throwback to the past, or the legacy of Joan Rivers, who instilled a fear of satire in celebrities everywhere. But when Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro arrived in new-fangled Balmain and Dior versions of their classic 1950s ball gowns, it wasn’t hard to wish that the stylists and designers working behind the scenes were facing forward instead of back. Start, and convince them. To get clients to take some more (unscripted) risk. – Vanessa Friedman
See all the looks from the red carpet.
Most motivational speech: Demi Moore
While the Globes have no direct bearing on Oscar nominations, members of the Academy are certainly paying attention, and Demi Moore, who “substance“She may have put herself in the best actress category with her impassioned speech. Both poignant and relatable, Moore spoke movingly about her career struggles spanning more than 30 years. , including stating that she was a “popcorn actress”, adding that she received the “bonkers” script for “The Substance” at a very low point in her career, thinking That she is done.
But at 62, Moore’s fortunes turned around and the stars in the room cheered him on, some even giving him a standing ovation. “Thinking about those moments when we don’t think we’re smart enough, or pretty enough, or thin enough, or successful enough, or basically not enough,” said Moore, a woman who He said, “Just put the measure down. Stick it.” – Nicole Sperling
Most Sincere Speech: Tadanobu Asano
Many Golden Globe nominees have stayed at the Beverly Hilton before. And though the globes are now. A more serious operation than beforeactors still treat Jeet with varying levels of reverence. It featured Tadanobu Asano’s acceptance speech for “Shogun”. It was his first win, on his first nomination, and it showed. “Maybe you don’t know me,” he began. “I’m an actor from Japan. My name is Tadanobu Asano. Wow!” His teammates stood up and cheered him on. And as he smiled and held up his award, he added: “This is a great gift for me!” He certainly looked like he meant it. – Matt Stevens
Strangest honor: Box office success
The “Cinematic and Box Office Achievement” award debuted in 2024, and this year it surprisingly went to “Wicked.” The official criteria is that it is the “most acclaimed, highest grossing and/or most viewed” feature, which basically defines each nominated film. But it will have grossed $150 million worldwide, with a minimum of $100 million, the dictionary definition of a blockbuster. (“Wicked” finished 2024 with more than $680 million worldwide.)
It’s a strange award to give out, and its presenter Vin Diesel, in his preface, cited his own “Fast and Furious” series and the work of Steven Spielberg (who invented the summer blockbuster with “Jaws”). , I made it even weirder by contradicting 1975). But handing over a golden statuette to celebrate a bank making a film at the box office is just a small participation trophy, no matter how entertaining the film is. To quote Don Draper: “That’s what money is for.” – Alyssa Wilkinson
The biggest lesson is not learned.
Amid an onslaught of ads for weight-loss injections and various pharmaceutical creams, pills, drops and supplements, Nikki Glaser took some routine shots at the Hollywood trend for plastic surgery. “I love where you have your cheekbones!” He had the audience in awe of his opening monologue.
But unlike other hosts, she admitted that she too was getting her tweaks. Claiming with air quotes that he had started healthy habits like “drinking more water”, he said: “I love how meditation takes your eyelids off” – aka the usual tic. goes An upper bluff. “I learned nothing from ‘The Substance,'” he added.
That film, a feminist body horror story, won Demi Moore her first Globe for playing an aging starlet who finds a strange way to rejuvenate herself, only to be Added to the Hall of Mirrors. – Melina Ryzic
The Best and Worst Innovations: Telecast Entertainment Facts
Hey, did you know that Mindy Kaling was named after the TV show “Mork and Mindy”? Or that Zoe Saldaña’s karaoke song “Piece of My Heart”? The Golden Globes are all gone.”Pop-up videoDuring the telecast, sharing these “facts” about the winners and presenters via on-screen text. At first, the addition seemed semi-clever, but it all became too much when the announcer shared more facts that we had to read. Even if you’re celebrity obsessed, this turned out to be TMI. – McAdoo Murphy
I found the Golden Globes trivia refreshingly awkward. Awards season fun facts can feel so canned: who spent time with whom to prepare for a role, when was the nominee’s last big win. TMI or not, my night was made a lot better by learning that Demi Moore is an avid doll collector who has a separate residence housing over 2,000 vintage dolls. – Annie Aguirre
Best Advice: ‘Hacks’
The Globes are a notoriously boozy affair, but after “Hacks” won for best television comedy, series co-creator Paul W. Downs warned against giving his star a drink to celebrate. The show is currently in production for its fourth season, and a 6 a.m. call time the next morning awaited the cast and crew.
“So if Jean Smart asks you for a shot, please don’t give it to him, okay?” Downs said. “Kate Winslet, I’m watching you, wherever you are. Give her water.” The camera cuts to Winslet, who shakes her finger at Downs. “Just a little shot,” Downs shrugged. Maybe one.” – Esther Zuckerman
Most Supporting Presenter: Elton John
Elton John reacted like a proud parent when he announced that Trent Reason and Atticus Ross had won best original score for “Challengers,” of course, apparently squealing with genuine joy. He was a good stand-in for those of us in the audience who were thrilled to see this great, uplifting musical triumph. When Reznor and Ross took the stage, John could be seen smiling eagerly behind them, as if he had just won himself over. – Calina Moore
Weirdest camerawork ever
For an obviously glamorous event, the show itself looked terrible on screen. The presenters were filmed in terrifying close-up, giving everything a stiff and casual look. The panning camera work during some of the acceptance speeches made it feel like the red carpet slow-mo booth had stepped out of its enclosure. And the presenters didn’t face the entire theater, but turned directly to the camera. Seth Rogen called her out, saying, “It’s inappropriate. It’s weird. This whole half of the room can see my bald spot. I would have filled it in. I said no, but now I regret it.” — Margaret Lyons