By Felix Glanville, Film and TV Editor
The Christmas slog of deadlines is truly upon us, film friends. Still, as a wintry treat, we have been given our first glimpse into how the 2026 awards season may play out: the Golden Globes nominees have been announced.
One Battle After Another (2025) became the joint-third most nominated film ever with nine nods, picking up all the major acting categories and a well-deserved best film nomination too. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle was praised by audiences and critics for it's ability to reimagine the 1960s counterculture movement for today. It approaches the US culture war with a liveliness and hostility which leading actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti command with their finest acting chops. Although One Battle struggled at the box office, unable to break even with an absurd target of $300 million, it will undoubtedly strike gold across Hollywood's awards.
Charles Hubbard
However, Anderson's film did not run away with the nominations race. Sentimental Value (2025) picked up eight nominations - with Stellan Skarsgård as the favourite to win in the best male actor in a supporting role. But, a surprise feature for first time Golden Globe nominee Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein (2025) could spoil those sentimental hopes.
Despite being one of the year's earliest releases, Sinners (2025) is rightfully near the top of the film table with seven nominations and will certainly be a staple player this awards season. Ryan Coogler knows Golden Globe success all too well: Black Panther (2019) became the first MCU film to actually attain credible award recognition - not just the odd visual effects nod.
Yet, for the acting categories it was only Michael B. Jordan that made any mark for Sinners and boy does he have a competitive group. Dwayne Johnson could absolutely pick up best male actor (drama) for his portrayal of Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine (2025). This buzz around his performance was the only real high of the film's under achievement in cinemas.
Hailee Steinfeld was also missing from the best female actor (drama) category, but with the likes of Jenifer Lawrence and Jessie Buckley in classic artsy and intense dramas such as Die My Love (2025) and Hamnet (2025), it would be hard to justify Steinfeld's place there.
This year could finally be Timothee Chalamet's. Although we are yet to wait for the release of Marty Supreme (2025), Chalamet is receiving ‘the best reviews of his careers so far’. Going into marketing overdrive, he is is here to prove that he is one of the best. With Chalamet eyeing up best male actor (musical or comedy) at the Golden Globes alongside the likes of George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio it is fair for him to ‘dream big’.
All this and we haven't even approached Wicked: For Good (2025), one of the cinematic powerhouses of the year - in the ranks of F1 (2025) and Sinners. Can Ariana do it? Can she prove that she made the jump from pop-stardom to the silver screen? In many respects Ariana Grande was the standout in a disjointed and slightly flat Wicked sequel - no surprise given the broadway source material.
The nominations contain all the ingredients of Grande's quest for acting silverware, but once again competition is fierce. The best female actor in a supporting role category features recent award darling: Emily Blunt for her role in The Smashing Machine. Wicked: For Good missed out of this year's best musical or comedy category but with One Battle After Another and intensely hyped up Marty Supreme, it would be a little distasteful to put a film that had severe lacklustre elements in best film contention - looking at you Michelle Yeoh.
One major snub was Sydney Sweeney's absence in any acting nominations despite the standing ovation which followed the Christy (2025) premiere at many major film festivals. A sigh of relief perhaps, Sweeney's American Eagle advert caused a deep rapture in online discourse and more than anything, Christy was one of the worst wide releases ever - at a debut of $1.3 million. Despite critics recognising her strong portryal of Christy Salters Martin with nuance and physical vulnerability, nobody saw it and her real-life persona is one the Globes will want to distance themselves from.
The beauty of the Golden Globes is that television also plays a pivotal role. Sky's The White Lotus (2021-) and Netflix's Adolescence (2025) are the obvious frontrunners - with six and five nominations a piece. Legendary Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty are all in it to win big in the acting awards as the television show which captured the cultural zeitgeist gets the recognition it deserves.
The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025) featured among the nominations for best film, non-english language, an intense hybrid of both drama and documentary. Critically lauded, it was a highly anticipated screening at the Bristol Palestine Film Festival at the Watershed - particularly after receiving the longest standing ovation in history at the Venice International Film Festival.
Jenna Baker
Finally, a personal favourite: best original score. Some heavyweights of the film composing world here - Hans Zimmer's electronic and adrenaline inducing F1 (2025); Guillermo del Toro’s long-time collaborator Alexandre Desplat with his richly 19th-century-inspired Frankenstein (2025); and 2023 Golden Globe winner Ludwig Göransson, nominated for his authentic, blues-infused score for Sinners (2025). I wouldn't be surprised if the Globes went for a new pick in favour of Max Richter and his ethereal score for Hamnet - this win would be a long-time coming with Richter's extensive discography.
The Golden Globe nominations offer an exciting picture of what is to come - acting juggernauts fighting head to head, box-office standouts looking to sweep, and many first-time nominees wishing to make their mark at one of the years' biggest award ceremonies. Brace yourself, Hollywood's award season has begun.
Featured Image: Ryan Waldman / Unsplash
Are you surprised with any of the nominations for Golden Globes this year?
