At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, two bold and unconventional films — Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist and Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez — emerged as the night’s top honorees, each pushing boundaries in their respective genres.

Big Wins for The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez

The Brutalist, a 215-minute postwar epic by Corbet, took home the prestigious Best Film – Drama award, solidifying its place as one of 2024’s most ambitious projects and positioning it as a major contender at the upcoming Academy Awards. The film also earned Best Director for Corbet and Best Actor for Adrien Brody. Corbet, reflecting on the film’s unconventional nature, shared, “I was told this film was un-distributable. No one wanted a 3.5-hour movie about a mid-century designer in 70mm. But it works.”

Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez, a genre-bending Spanish-language trans musical by Jacques Audiard, triumphed in the Best Film – Comedy or Musical category. The film also earned multiple honors, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, Best Song for “El Mal,” and Best Non-English Language Film. The movie’s transgender star, Karla Sofía Gascón, delivered an emotional speech, saying, “The light always wins over darkness… You can imprison us, beat us, but you can’t take away our soul, existence, or identity.”

Surprising Actor Wins

The actor category saw several surprises, with Julianne Moore securing her first Golden Globe after 45 years in the industry. Her performance in The Substance, a film about a Hollywood star’s attempt to regain her youth through an experimental process, beat out frontrunner Mikey Madison of Anora. Moore, visibly moved, said, “I’m just in shock… Thirty years ago, a producer told me I was a ‘popcorn actress.'”

Another unexpected winner was Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, who claimed Best Actress – Drama for her role in I’m Still Here, a true-story drama about a family coping with the disappearance of a political dissident in 1970s Rio de Janeiro.

Sebastian Stan also won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical or Comedy for A Different Man, where he portrays a man undergoing a physical transformation. Reflecting on the challenges of making such films, Stan remarked, “These are tough subjects, but they’re necessary. We can’t be afraid to look away.”

Nikki Glaser’s Globes Debut

Comedian Nikki Glaser hosted the ceremony, opening with a witty promise: “I’m not here to roast you.” Glaser delivered a fresh and entertaining monologue, marking a major improvement over last year’s host, Jo Koy. While the humor may not have reached the legendary heights of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Glaser’s performance was well-received. She also delivered a memorable line to Hollywood’s elite: “You could really do anything… except tell the country who to vote for. But it’s OK, you’ll get ’em next time… if there is one. I’m scared.”

A Win for Wicked

The evening also honored Wicked, Jon M. Chu’s record-breaking adaptation, which has grossed nearly $700 million at the box office. Chu, accepting the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, called for “a radical act of optimism” in art, emphasizing the power of uplifting storytelling.

Culkin and ‘Conclave’ Take Top Honors

Kieran Culkin, already a Golden Globe winner for Succession, secured another win for his role in A Real Pain directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Culkin, who called the Globes “the best date night” for him and his wife, thanked her for putting up with his “mania.”

Peter Straughan’s screenplay for Conclave, a papal thriller, took Best Screenplay, while the wordless animated parable Flow won Best Animated Film, triumphing over mainstream blockbusters like Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross claimed the Best Score award for their work on Challengers.

TV Highlights

Television took center stage with several repeat winners. Shōgun, the Emmy-winning series, claimed four awards, including Best Drama Series and acting awards for Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, and Tadanobu Asano. Hacks also took Best Comedy Series, with Jean Smart winning Best Actress, while The Bear earned Best Actor for Jeremy Allen White. Baby Reindeer triumphed as Best Limited Series.

Other notable TV winners included Ali Wong for Best Stand-Up Performance, Jodie Foster for her role in True Detective, and Colin Farrell, who was honored for his transformative performance in The Penguin. Farrell humorously remarked, “I guess it’s prosthetics from here on out.”

The 82nd Golden Globes were a night of unexpected victories, strong performances, and powerful statements from both film and TV. From boundary-pushing films like The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez to surprise actor wins and thought-provoking moments, the ceremony marked a significant step in the ongoing reinvention of the Globes after its turbulent history.

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The road to the 97th Academy Awards is heating up as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its shortlists in 10 categories on Tuesday. Notable contenders in documentary, international feature, original song, and score are now one step closer to Hollywood’s most coveted honor.

Two musicals, “Emilia Pérez” and “Wicked,” have emerged as strong contenders, earning recognition in multiple categories.

“Emilia Pérez” Shines Bright

Netflix’s daring transgender drug-lord drama, “Emilia Pérez,” leads the charge with mentions in international feature, original score, sound, hair and makeup, and two original songs—“Mi Camino” and “El Mal,” the latter performed by Zoe Saldaña.

“Wicked” Gains Momentum

The highly anticipated adaptation of the Broadway hit “Wicked” is also making waves. While ineligible for original songs due to its source material, the film secured spots in hair and makeup, original score, sound, and visual effects.

Spotlight on Original Songs

This year’s original song category features an eclectic mix of artists:

• Pharrell Williams for “Piece by Piece”
• Lainey Wilson for “Out of Oklahoma” from “Twisters”
• Elton John and Brandi Carlile for “Never Too Late”
• Robbie Williams for “Forbidden Road” from “Better Man”

Diane Warren, a 15-time nominee, is eyeing her 16th nod for her song in “The Six Triple Eight.” Nicholas Britell’s “Winter Coat,” performed by Saoirse Ronan in “Blitz,” and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Tell Me It’s You” from “Mufasa: The Lion King” also made the cut.

Documentary Features in the Spotlight

Fifteen documentaries advanced to the next round, including:

• “The Bibi Files”
• “Daughters”
• “Dahomey”
• “Frida”
• “Union”
• “No Other Land”

International Feature Film Highlights

Among the 15 international features advancing are:

• “I’m Still Here” (Brazil)
• “Universal Language” (Canada)
• “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Germany)
• “Kneecap” (Ireland)
• “Flow” (Latvia)
• “Dahomey” (Senegal)

Below-the-Line Contenders

Celebrating the technical and artistic crafts, below-the-line categories feature some unexpected nominees:

• “Deadpool & Wolverine” for sound and visual effects
• “Alien: Romulus” for sound and score
• “Dune: Part Two” for visual effects, sound, and hair and makeup, though Hans Zimmer’s score was deemed ineligible due to overlap with the first “Dune.”

Zimmer did, however, secure a spot for “Blitz.” Other notable composers advancing include Danny Elfman (“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”), Kris Bowers (“The Wild Robot”), and Bryce Dessner (“Sing Sing”).

What’s Next?

Shortlists are determined by Academy members within specific branches, employing various methods, including committees and minimum viewing requirements.

The race now narrows as the final five nominees in each category will be revealed on January 17. The 97th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place on Sunday, March 2, airing on ABC and streaming live on Hulu.

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New York – The debut of Wicked and Gladiator II has given the box office a much-needed boost, generating a combined $270 million in global ticket sales and marking one of the busiest weekends for moviegoers this year.

Jon M. Chu’s visually stunning musical Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, earned $114 million in the U.S. and $164.2 million worldwide, according to Universal Pictures estimates. This impressive opening makes it the third-largest of 2024, trailing only Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2, and sets a new record for Broadway musical adaptations.

Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, a sequel to his 2000 Academy Award-winning film, grossed $55.5 million in its opening weekend. Despite a hefty $250 million production budget, the film performed well internationally, adding $50.5 million to its total. While the film’s domestic opening fell slightly short of the $60 million forecast, Gladiator II has shown strength overseas, suggesting a successful global run.

The two films, debuting simultaneously, sparked comparisons to the Barbenheimer phenomenon of last year, when Barbie and Oppenheimer premiered together. However, the impact of Wicked and Gladiator II wasn’t quite as pronounced. The coined term “Glicked” didn’t catch on as well, and the cultural impact was more muted, with fewer people opting for a double feature. Despite this, the strategic timing of the releases benefited both films. Universal’s Jim Orr remarked, “We saw an opportunity to dominate a weekend and get a very large running start into the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Box office trends revealed a gender divide in audiences. Wicked drew a female audience, with 72% of ticket buyers being women, while Gladiator II skewed male, with 61% of viewers being men. According to Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian, “Both films raised awareness and drove ticket sales without harming each other’s performance.”

Both films employed heavy marketing campaigns to draw in audiences. Gladiator II promoted a quirky Airbnb partnership with the Colosseum in Rome and aired a one-minute trailer across 4,000 networks and platforms. Wicked, on the other hand, made waves with a massive branding push, including limited-edition Starbucks drinks, Stanley mugs, and Mattel dolls. The film also had significant celebrity visibility, with cast appearances at major events like the Met Gala and the Olympics.

The box office had been underperforming in recent months, down 11% from last year and 25% from pre-pandemic levels. However, the success of Wicked and Gladiator II is seen as a positive sign, especially with Moana 2 set to debut on Wednesday. David A. Gross, a film consultant, noted, “These two strong openers are invigorating a box office that struggled after a solid summer.”

Looking ahead, Wicked seems poised for long-term success, especially with positive reviews and strong audience reception. The film has already earned an “A” on CinemaScore and is expected to be an awards contender. Universal has also split the film into two parts, with the second installment set for release next November. Each part of Wicked cost around $150 million to make.

Gladiator II also received favorable reviews, particularly for Denzel Washington’s standout performance. However, its audience score was a bit weaker, with a “B” on CinemaScore. While Gladiator II has seen robust international ticket sales, its domestic performance leaves questions about its long-term prospects.

In comparison, Red One, a holiday action-comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, came in third place with $13.3 million. With a hefty $250 million production budget, Red One has underperformed at the box office, though it could still see a return on investment once it hits streaming platforms.

Top 10 Box Office (Friday to Sunday, Estimated Domestic Sales):

1. Wicked – $114 million
2. Gladiator II – $55.5 million
3. Red One – $13.3 million
4. Bonhoeffer: Pastor Spy Assassin – $5.1 million
5. Venom: The Last Dance – $4 million
6. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – $3.5 million
7. Heretic – $2.2 million
8. The Wild Robot – $2 million
9. Smile 2 – $1.1 million
10. A Real Pain – $1.1 million

As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, Hollywood may be on the cusp of a record-breaking season, with Wicked and Gladiator II leading the charge.

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