Summary
The Golden Globes have always been a fun and exciting night for movies and television, offering fans a glimpse into Hollywood as the year’s best projects are honored in a grand spectacle. Acting as one of the biggest awards precursors to the Oscars, the Globesoffer stars the chance to add to their résuméin awards season, increasing an actor’s chance of winning an Oscar.
While gaining a win or two is common for nominated films, many movies can go on to sweep the night, picking up several awards, including Best Motion Picture and a myriad of acting honors, with a select circle of legendary movies being famed for sweeping the highly publicized ceremony.
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Wins
Among historical figures of the 20th century, not many have resonated with audiences and the public like Mahatma Gandhi, the activist who helped achieve the removal of British power in India,with the biopicGandhibeingan inspiring movie that thoroughly examined the historical icon. Chronicling Gandhi’s journey, which saw him empowering the people of India against British rule,Gandhibecame a fan favorite on the awards circuit, no less at the Globes.
At the 40th Golden Globes, the visceral biopic won 100% of the awards it was nominated for, proving to be a crowd-pleaser that acted as an educational movie depicting the life of one of history’s most notable figures.
Christopher Nolan
Cast
Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh
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Few movies over the last decade have achieved the acclaim and notoriety of Christopher Nolan’s biopic epicOppenheimer, athree-hour dissection of J. Robert Oppenheimerand the Manhattan Project that would soon alter the world.
Along with its success came the Barbenheimer craze, which catapultedOppenheimerto even more acclaim, with its appearance at the Globes seeing the movie score five wins, dominating at the 2024 Globes. While scoring big in the acting categories, Nolan won his first-ever Golden Globe, a very much-overdue honor considering the director’s tremendous impact on cinema in the 21st century.
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In all of cinema, no movie has been as well regarded as thequintessential mob epicThe Godfather, with Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece enshrining itself as a legendary piece of American art. At its essence,The Godfatherfollows the trajectory of the Corleone family, revolving around the passing of the torch from father to son, as death, deceit, and love become constant themes surrounding the family’s new leader, Michael Corleone.
Upon release,The Godfatherexcelled not only at the box office, but at the Globes, securing five wins, establishing it as an awards darling that enticed both critics and audiences alike.
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Few war epics have reached the pinnacle thatLawrence of Arabiaachieved in the 1960s, withthe sword and sandal movie emergingas an influential piece of art that has inspired filmmakers even in the modern era. Brimming with impressive visuals, masterful performances, and authentic set pieces, the journey of British Officer T.E. Lawrence and his heroic contributions in the Middle East during WW1 proved riveting.
Like such epics in the 20th century,Lawrence of Arabiatranscended its time, winning several awards at both the Globes and the Oscars, securing six wins out of nine at the former, with it being recognized for its undoubted quality across the board.
As one of the only three movies to secure six wins in one night at the Globes, the often underrated and overlooked crime dramaMidnight Expressstunned audiences and critics upon release with its riveting performancesand brilliant score carrying the film.
Examining the journey of its protagonist, Billy Hayes, the student gets sent to a Turkish prison for smuggling contraband, with Billy and his new prison acquaintances planning a grand escape. The brutality and pure rawness depicted in the prison break drama managed to resonate with the Globes' voting body, making the movie one of the most successful in the ceremony’s storied history.
Lead by the incomparable Jack Nicholson,One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nestis a revolutionary and inspired piece of filmmaking that has remained a mainstay in the annex of Hollywood history. After acting insane to avoid prison, Randle McMurphy is moved to a psychiatric hospital, where a nurse reigns supreme, keeping its inhabitants strictly in check, causing issues for the new patient.
The now-legendary movie managed to achieve a complete sweep at the Globes, winning six out of six nominations, with the exceptionally well-acted black comedy led by Nicholson altering cinema due to the exploration of themes that remain poignant even today.
In a grand sweep,La La Landdecimated and dominated the competition at the 74th Golden Globe Awards, going seven for seven on the night, establishing itself as a major player in Hollywood history. The LA musical follows the relationship oftwo creatives who yearn for each other’s lovebut also the advancement of their careers, with its gorgeous visuals and stimulating musical numbers being a grand extravaganza for audiences.
A movie based on Hollywood and the entertainment industry always thrives in awards season, withLa La Landcontinuing the trend, with its Globes haul including acting and director wins. At the same time, its astonishing and grandiose score emerged victorious, eventually leading to a win on the infamous Oscar night that sawLa La Landembroiled in a controversy for the ages.
