The Golden Globes promised a reinvention this year new voters, new systems, new energy and yes, some things genuinely have changed. But here we are again, staring at a nominations list that somehow manages to feel both brand-new and déjà vu at the same time. The same old shows and the same old faces pop up, reminding us that big budgets and Hollywood familiarity still go a long way come award season.
The real shake-up, though, is behind the scenes. The voting panel has jumped from 85 press members to over 350, with the majority of newcomers arriving via FIPRESCI a global group of film critics and writers. They were brought in after ongoing criticism that the Globes were lacking diversity, which of course led to bias. Unsurprisingly, the nominations now have a very strong international flavour.
Brazil’s The Secret Agent, Iran’s It Was Just an Accident, France’s Nouvelle Vague, and South Korea’s No Other Choicehave all made their mark, with five of the twelve Best Motion Picture categories dominated by non-American films. In other words: you better like subtitles, because they’re here to stay.
And speaking of subtitles, Nouvelle Vague is easily the standout for me. You can read my full review here:
https://overtheshoulder.co.uk/2025/11/19/a-love-letter-to-cinema-falling-for-nouvelle-vague-all-over-again/
But even with this international push, some “safe bets” still sneak in. Only Murders in the Building Season 5? I enjoy the show, but seriously hasn’t it had its moment? Luckily, we also get fresher picks like Adolescence, which pushed its way in purely through originality. A rare and welcome surprise.
Then we have the confusing choices. One Battle After Another in Comedy/Musical? Really? And Avatar: Fire and Ash a movie that hasn’t even been released already nominated for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement? Make it make sense.
And while we’re talking about eyebrow-raising nominations… let’s talk Wicked: For Good. I genuinely don’t think it should’ve been nominated. It was obvious, predictable, and nowhere near as magical as it should’ve been. As much as I love Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, this simply wasn’t their strongest work. Regina Hall or Hailee Steinfeld gave far more deserving performances this year.
That said, I completely agree with Cynthia when she said: “Let’s make sure more Black women are nominated in this category. Being the first is wonderful, but let’s make sure I’m not the last.” She’s right that absolutely matters. And to be fair, we do see more Black actors across the board this year, including Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor, which is great to see.
Something I did love was Nouvelle Vague getting recognised, though honestly, I wanted even more nominations. At least director Richard Linklater is having a good night his other film, Blue Moon, is also in the running.
I’m still confused about a few snubs, though. The boxing drama Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney, should’ve been on this list. It was a brilliant biopic and deserved far more attention.
Stranger Things Season 5 being left out? I just don’t get it. It’s probably my favourite season so far.
And I’m going to say it plainly: I really want Adam Sandler to win something this year. He’s genuinely underrated, and it’s about time people admit it.
In the end though, the ceremony will still be fun. Great outfits, cool presenters, a bit of glitz and a lot of glamour. Maybe that’s the real point of these shows anyway a little escapism while we argue over who did (and didn’t) deserve a nomination.