Golden Globes 2025: The Best, Worst and Wildest Moments

The Golden Globes threw in a few fresh wrinkles this year, but don’t worry: They were just as wild and unpredictable as ever.

The 82nd annual awards ceremony, which aired Sunday night on CBS, spiced things up with a new host — comedian Nikki Glaser (check out her monologue here) — and some snazzy new graphics. It also gave us surprising winners, inspiring speeches and painfully awkward moments. But to be fair, those are all kind of why we tune into the Globes in the first place, aren’t they?

More from TVLine

ADVERTISEMENT

From Zoe Saldaña’s beautiful acceptance speech to Sofia Vergara full-on heckling Jodie Foster, it was definitely a night to remember… for better or worse. Read on to see the best and worst moments from the 2025 Golden Globes, and then hit the comments and tell us: What did you think of the annual kudoscast?

BEST: The Sandman gives the people what they want

BEST: The Sandman gives the people what they want
BEST: The Sandman gives the people what they want

After gently ribbing A Complete Unknown’s Timothée Chalamet, host Nikki Glaser had something of an epiphany: “Your name sounds like something Adam Sandler would say!” You know, in that goofy voice he does in every one of his movies. Glaser then attempted a Sandler impression, before asking the man himself if he’d give it a try — and lo and behold, the Sandman obliged! — Ryan Schwartz

BEST: Zoe Saldaña’s passionate acceptance speech

BEST: Zoe Saldaña’s passionate acceptance speech
BEST: Zoe Saldaña’s passionate acceptance speech

Saldaña is a movie mega star, of course, but her Globe win for Emilia Pérez was her first, and it was touching to see how emotional she got when she heard her name called. She gave a speech full of breathless gratitude, fighting back sobs as she shared the spotlight with her co-stars — and flaunting her perfect Spanish in the process. She even dipped into French while thanking her director Jacques Audiard: “Merci beaucoup… You’re so French, and so chic! I love it!” — Dave Nemetz

WORST: Get to know your presenters! (Too well!)

WORST: Get to know your presenters! (Too well!)
WORST: Get to know your presenters! (Too well!)

This year’s Globes telecast did have some slick new innovations, like the arrows pointing to each nominee’s location in the room, but we could’ve done without the wordy “fun facts” accompanying each winner and presenter’s name as they took the stage. We had to squint to read the factoids in that tiny font, and then announcer Kevin Frazier trying to pile on more factoids as each winner walked to the stage felt like information overload. Just let us look at their pretty dresses! — D.N.

WORST: And the nominees are… who again?

WORST: And the nominees are… who again?
WORST: And the nominees are… who again?

We understand being dazzled by the sheer star wattage on display at the Globes, but the producers seemed to lose focus a bit while showcasing the nominees for Best Male Actor in a TV Drama. Gary Oldman was shown on screen for his nomination for Slow Horses… and then, puzzlingly, he remained on screen while the announcer read Eddie Redmayne’s name and then Hiroyuki Sanada’s name, with Oldman’s confused face above Sanada’s name. Sanada was later revealed to be the winner… and thankfully, Oldman didn’t get up on stage to accept the award. — D.N.

BEST: Tadanobu Asano’s infectious joy

BEST: Tadanobu Asano’s infectious joy
BEST: Tadanobu Asano’s infectious joy

The Shōgun actor scored a win for best male TV supporting actor over such luminaries as Harrison Ford and Javier Bardem, and his surprise and exuberance was so much fun to behold. (He looked genuinely shocked to win!) Asano laughed as he introduced himself to the Hollywood crowd, immediately winning them — and us — over with his awestruck speech, calling the Globe trophy “a big present” to take home to Japan and raising his arms in victory: “I’m so happy!” — D.N.

BEST: You’re gonna be… pope-ular?

BEST: You’re gonna be… pope-ular?
BEST: You’re gonna be… pope-ular?

“There were so many great movies this year — from Wicked to Conclave,” Glaser pointed out. And that gave her an idea — a potentially terrible idea, we thought, as the comedian donned Glinda’s wand, a mitre, and broke out into song. “You… will… be… Pope-ular!” she began. “You’re gonna be Pope-ular.” But before she got any further, she turned and responded to the totally real person in her ear: “What, this sucks? This whole thing sucks? I’m embarrassing myself in front of Elton John?” She definitely had us for a minute. Well done, Glaser! Well done! — R.S.

BEST: A crafty surprise

BEST: A crafty surprise
BEST: A crafty surprise

Forget artistic vision or deep wells of talent: Anyone who’s ever been on a TV set knows that a robust selection of snacks and meals is what actually gets a series made. So how great was it when Colin Farrell, who took home the statue for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Made-for-TV Movie, made sure to give The Penguin’s craft services team an extended shout-out in his speech? — Kim Roots

BEST: Sofia’s sour grapes

BEST: Sofia’s sour grapes
BEST: Sofia’s sour grapes

We love a good sore loser at a Hollywood awards show, so we thoroughly enjoyed Sofia Vergara full-on heckling Jodie Foster after Foster beat her out for Best Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Made-for-TV Movie. Vergara stood up as Foster took the stage, crying out: “No! No! Not again! Gimme one!” (Foster also won the Emmy over Vergara last year.) Foster was gracious, expressing gratitude for her Hollywood community, “especially you, Sofia,” and we know Vergara was kidding… but jokes always contain a kernel of truth, you know. — D.N.

BEST: Mario Lopez trumps God

BEST: Mario Lopez trumps God
BEST: Mario Lopez trumps God

Glaser’s mid-telecast tally of leading thank-you speech mentions was amusing enough in that Cast & Crew and Moms were both outpacing God. But then for Access Hollywood’s Mario Lopez to outscore the “creator of the universe”? Sacrilegious, on multiple levels. — Matt Webb Mitovich

AWKWARD: ‘Hey, Dwayne!’

AWKWARD: ‘Hey, Dwayne!’
AWKWARD: ‘Hey, Dwayne!’

According to Dwayne Johnson, he and Fast and the Furious co-star Vin Diesel have put their long-standing feud to rest. But you’d never know it based on the awkward laughs in the room when Diesel came out to present the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and took a moment to acknowledge his ol’ pal Dwayne. You could cut the tension with a knife! — R.S.

WORST: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

WORST: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
WORST: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

This year’s Globes had an interesting set-up, with presenters standing at an angle rather than facing the audience head-on. But it led to some weird moments where we could see people taking photos backstage and stars sneaking back to their seats while the presenters were speaking. Hmmm, seems like there’s a pretty good reason why presenters usually face the audience, actually! — D.N.

BEST: It’s an honor just to be nominated. Really!

BEST: It’s an honor just to be nominated. Really!
BEST: It’s an honor just to be nominated. Really!

After Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek Pinault ran down the list of nominees for Best Female Actor in a Drama, but before they announced a winner, The Diplomat’s Keri Russell could be seen mouthing something to the effect of “Please not me!” And moments later, she got her wish: When Anna Sawai’s name was read aloud, Russell seemed positively elated for the Shōgun star — and for getting to avoid giving an acceptance speech. — R.S.

Golden Globes 2025
Golden Globes 2025

Golden Globe Awards: 2025 Winners List

ADVERTISEMENT

View List

Best of TVLine

Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.