Paul Thomas Anderson’s unconventional revolutionary film One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespeare-inspired drama Hamnet delivered the evening’s most unexpected victory.
One Battle After Another claimed best motion picture in the comedy or musical category, along with awards for best supporting actress (Teyana Taylor) and a rare triple win for Anderson, who took best director and best screenplay. Anderson became only the second filmmaker in Golden Globes history to sweep film, director and screenplay as a producer — a feat previously achieved only by Oliver Stone for Born on the Fourth of July.
While much of the ceremony unfolded as anticipated, the final film awards brought a notable surprise. Although One Battle After Another has been widely viewed as the season’s frontrunner, many observers had expected Ryan Coogler’s Jim Crow–era vampire thriller Sinners to prevail in the drama category. Instead, Hamnet claimed best motion picture, drama, shortly after its star Jessie Buckley won best actress in a drama.
The win capped a strong showing for Warner Bros., the studio behind both One Battle After Another and Sinners. The awards come amid major industry upheaval, as Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to an $83-billion sale to Netflix, while Paramount Skydance has mounted a competing bid.
Accepting the directing award, Anderson praised Warner Bros. co-chair Michael DeLuca for supporting creative freedom.
“He said he wanted to run a studio one day and let filmmakers make whatever they want,” Anderson said. “That’s how you get Sinners. That’s how you get Weapons. That’s how you get One Battle After Another.”
The night also highlighted camaraderie among leading filmmakers. Anderson, Zhao and Coogler — joined by Steven Spielberg, a producer on Hamnet — shared the stage, underscoring a sense of solidarity. Zhao recalled her early days at Sundance Labs alongside Coogler, urging emerging artists to “keep our hearts open” and continue supporting one another.
Sinners did not go home empty-handed, winning best original score and the cinematic and box office achievement award. The latter was notable, as the film prevailed over major franchise releases despite early reports questioning its commercial performance. The film ultimately grossed $278 million domestically and $368 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing original film in 15 years.
“I just want to thank the audience for showing up,” Coogler said. “It means the world.”
The ceremony, hosted for a second consecutive year by Nikki Glaser, marked another step in the Golden Globes’ post-scandal rehabilitation. Glaser opened the show with sharp, self-aware humor that mixed celebrity satire with pointed political jokes, setting the tone for an evening that balanced glamour with industry anxiety.
Amid broader political and economic uncertainty, the Globes reflected a mix of celebration and unease. Hollywood continues to grapple with a sluggish box office and major corporate shakeups, while recent real-world events also cast a shadow over the festivities.
Many Oscar contenders solidified their momentum. Timothée Chalamet won his first Golden Globe for Marty Supreme after four previous nominations, drawing a standing ovation from peers including Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney. Rose Byrne won best actress in a comedy or musical for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, while Wagner Moura took best actor in a drama for The Secret Agent, which also won best international film.
In television categories, The Pitt won best drama series, and Netflix’s Adolescence dominated with four awards, including best limited series and acting wins for Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham and 16-year-old Owen Cooper. The Studio claimed best comedy series, with Seth Rogen also winning best actor in a comedy.
“This is so weird,” Rogen said while accepting his award. “We just pretended to do this. And now it’s happening.”
By the end of the night, the 2026 Golden Globes had delivered both predictability and surprise — reinforcing awards-season favorites while leaving room for unexpected turns still to come.