In a significant boost to its Oscar campaign, Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another has emerged as the frontrunner with nine nominations at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. This achievement not only cements its status as a major contender this awards season but also provides a timely victory for Warner Brothers amid its ongoing acquisition deal with Netflix.
Among the Australian nominees, Jacob Elordi stands out with two nominations: one for Best Supporting Male Actor in a Film for his role in Frankenstein, and another for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series for The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Sarah Snook also received recognition for her performance in the limited series All Her Fault, filmed in Melbourne, while Joel Edgerton was nominated for Best Male Actor in a Drama for Train Dreams.
Major Contenders and Industry Shifts
One Battle After Another has secured nominations for its ensemble cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, and Chase Infiniti, as well as for Anderson’s screenplay and direction. The film is competing in the Globes’ category for Comedy and Musicals. Close behind is Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, a Norwegian drama that garnered eight nominations, including nods for actors Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas.
The nominations arrive amid a potentially transformative moment in Hollywood, as Netflix has announced a $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery. If approved, this merger could significantly alter the landscape of the entertainment industry, placing one of its most storied studios under the control of the streaming giant.
Streaming Giants and Traditional Studios
Both Netflix and Warner Brothers are prominent players in this year’s awards season. Alongside One Battle After Another, Warner Brothers’ Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, has been nominated for seven awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan and Best Director for Coogler. Netflix’s slate includes Jay Kelly by Noah Baumbach, with nominations for George Clooney and Adam Sandler, and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which received five nominations.
Netflix leads with 35 nominations, while Warner Bros follows with 31, showcasing their dominance in both film and television categories.
The proposed acquisition has raised concerns within the industry about Netflix’s intentions for Warner Brothers’ theatrical releases. Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, has promised a commitment to theatrical distribution for many Warner titles, but the leading trade group for exhibitors has labeled the deal as an “unprecedented threat.”
Independent Films and Notable Snubs
Despite the dominance of major studios, independent film company Neon has emerged as a formidable force, securing 21 nominations, including five of the six international film nominees. However, some high-profile studio films were notably snubbed. Wicked: For Good received five nominations but was overlooked for Best Comedy or Musical, a category it was expected to be a strong contender in.
Instead, the nominees for Best Comedy or Musical include One Battle After Another, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, and two films by Richard Linklater: Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
New Categories and Future Prospects
As the Golden Globes continue to evolve beyond their scandal-plagued past, this year marks the introduction of a Best Podcast category. The inaugural nominees include Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess, and NPR’s Up First.
Among the star-studded nominees are Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love, and Julia Roberts for After the Hunt. The ceremony, hosted by Nikki Glaser on January 11, will also honor Helen Mirren with the Cecil B. DeMille Award and Sarah Jessica Parker with the Carol Burnett Award.
The Golden Globes continue to be a key indicator of industry trends and a celebration of cinematic and television excellence. As the awards season progresses, the impact of these nominations will be closely watched by both industry insiders and audiences worldwide.
