Everything That Happened at the 2024 Golden Globes
With Hollywood finally picking itself back up from multiple strikes and the Golden Globes embracing the future after several years of upheaval, the Golden Globes 2024 had an opportunity to mark a fresh start on many fronts. Honoring many of the biggest films and shows of last year, from Barbie and Oppenheimer to the final season of Succession, this was the first major awards show of the season—and the first chance for many top contenders to test out their red-carpet glam and, if they’re lucky, their acceptance speeches.
As the dust settles, we know a few things for sure: Oppenheimer seems to be the frontrunner in several categories, having taken home the most awards of the night, including best picture (drama), best director (Christopher Nolan), and best actor (Cillian Murphy). Barbie, its partner in box office dominance, had a more muted night, taking home best original song and the newly-created “cinematic and box office achievement” prize but missing out in the bigger categories. The TV side of the awards were ruled, unsurprisingly, by The Bear and Succession, the most decorated comedy and drama, respectively.
VF was on hand to record everything that happened on Globes night, from host Jo Koy’s poorly received monologue to Lily Gladstone’s emotional best actress speech. Scroll down to relive the night from start to finish—or, because it’s a chronological feed, from finish to start. (Memento director Nolan would approve!)
Lily Gladstone Speaks from the Heart
After her win, Lily Gladstone stopped by the press room and spoke about her decision to open her speech with a few words in the Blackfeet language; as she explained in her speech, her mother, who is not Blackfeet, worked to make sure Gladstone and her classmates learned the language in school. As she explained backstage, “It's often how I introduce myself to a new group of people, especially when it's significant," she explained. "One of the first things we're taught is you say your name, you say where you're from and you say hello to you to everyone, now my friends. So it was one of the more natural things I could do at the moment."
Nolan v. Peloton Reaches an End
After his light-hearted remarks at the New York Film Critics Circle awards dinner in Wednesday turned into a surprisingly robust multi-day news cycle, Christopher Nolan is seemingly eager to put his so-called Peloton feud aside. "Nothing but love for the Peloton.” Nolan said backstage at the Golden Globes when asked if he’d accepted the apology from instructor Jenn Sherman, who complained about Tenet during a class Nolan took. He admitted he hadn’t gotten on his Peloton that day, but “I might later this week.”
Family Ties
While Succession's Matthew McFayden was finishing answering questions solo in the press room, the rest of his show’s cast trickled in—and Kieran Culkin took advantage of the opportunity to move into the front row of journalists and ask a question: “Who is the tallest cast member?” McFayden answered decisively: “I am.” And then Nicholas Braun rushed in, demanding McFayden answer the question again. McFayden relented, agreeing that Braun is indeed the tallest cast member. Tom and Greg forever.
The Crowd Goes Wild
Inside the Beverly Hilton, everyone immediately rose to their feet upon the announcement of Oppenheimer as best picture (drama). The response almost felt automatic—an understanding of this movie as the story of this awards season. With a ton of academy members in the room, this certainly felt like the moment a front-runner was born. The question now is whether Universal’s great hope can maintain that momentum for a few more months.
Lily Gladstone Meets the Moment
Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone may be a fresh face to many of the Golden Globes viewers, but she‘s been celebrated for her performance for almost a year now, since the Martin Scorsese film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May. She talked about the experience then— we can only imagine what an experience it’s been since.
The Best Actor Race Stays Hot
Tonight’s wins for Paul Giamatti and Cillian Murphy tell us, at least, that both Oscar hopefuls can give a good acceptance speech. But we knew that already! And we also knew they had fierce competition to make the final list of 5 best actor nominees at the Oscars — and tonight’s wins may not do much to change that. Sure, in the comedy category Giamatti beat out fellow beloved veteran Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) and Murphy triumphed in drama over Bradley Cooper (Maestro), Colman Domingo (Rustin), Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers), and Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon). But that’s still six frontrunners for five slots, and we couldn’t tell you whether Giamatti or Murphy has the bigger edge after tonight. Genuine suspense in the Oscar race is a rare thing, so lets keep it that way!
Why Keep It in My Mouth If It Is Revolting?
Bella returns! Poor Things wins the Globe for best musical or comedy, besting Barbie—an exceedingly Globesy choice, if we do say so ourselves.
The Legendary Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell
Their supposedly unintentional song and dance routine while presenting best actor in a musical or comedy was one of the highlights of the night — but Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell have already completely taken over the Golden Globes once before, in 2013. A once-a-decade tradition we hope lasts forever!
For what it’s worth, David Canfield says from the ballroom that it really does smell like hot sushi in there.
Next Up, Emmys!
In a very strange quirk of the strike-impacted awards season schedule, the Emmy Awards are happening next week, where tonight’s big winners Succession, The Bear, and Beef are all likely to take home yet another giant pile of awards. The Globes wins won’t impact anything — Emmy voting wrapped up back in August despite the broadcast’s delay— but this is probably a good sign of how popular all three shows remain. If you’re feeling up to date on the state of the race now, why not fill out our Emmy ballot so you’re prepared for the show next week!
Great Success!
What a shocker! Succession wins the Globe for best TV drama, for all its tall, tall men—and its (sniff) final season.
It’s What’s for Dinner
After wins for Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, we thought that Netflix’s Beef would come out on top in the limited series category—and we were right! Good for us. The show, by the way, was based on a real road rage incident—so creator Lee Sung Jin joked from the podium that first and foremost, he should probably thank that driver.
It’s Been “A Weird Couple of Days” for Jeremy Allen White
Yes, he knows everyone in the world has been looking at his underwear, and no, Jeremy Allen White is not used to it. Asked backstage at the Golden Globes about his newly launched Calvin Klein ads, White admitted, “I promise it's been a weird couple of days. It's bizarre doing a Calvin Klein ad and now it is even more bizarre having it come out. But everything feels okay for now.” Holding his second Golden Globe for The Bear, White said that while he’s proud of the frenzy around the ad campaign, “This is a prouder moment. Pride full in both, but this is more pride.”