Golden Globes 2026 Movie Winner Predictions

Overview of the 2026 Golden Globes

The 2026 Golden Globes are set to crown their winners in multiple movie and TV categories, marking another significant development this awards season. Nikki Glaser returns to host the 2026 ceremony, which takes place on Sunday, January 11, starting at 8 pm ET and can be watched on CBS and Paramount+. With Oscar voting starting the next day, the winners of the Golden Globes will gain momentum to secure Academy Award nominations. The Globes’ shift to become more legitimate in recent years has increased its notoriety, even if last year’s show reminded us just how different the winners can look here and at the Oscars. So, let’s dive into the 15 movie-specific categories and predict the winner of each.

Best Motion Picture — Drama

Nominees: Frankenstein, Hamnet, It Was Just an Accident, Sentimental Value, Sinners, The Secret Agent

This category is filled with expected Best Picture Oscar nominees, but with the presumed frontrunner in a different section, Best Motion Picture – Drama becomes a chance for another film to become a bigger challenger. Hamnet and Sinners are the two strongest contenders here, with the various international films lurking as surprise picks. For me, this seems to be Sinners’ category to lose at the Golden Globes. It has the strength of seven nominations across the board, which is one fewer than Sentimental Value. But the great appreciation for Ryan Coogler’s vampire movie should carry it to a win here.

Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Nominees: Blue Moon, Bugonia, Marty Supreme, No Other Choice, Nouvelle Vague, One Battle After Another

There is no real contest in choosing the winner of Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. One Battle After Another has dominated awards season in a nearly unprecedented fashion, and with it having the most nominations at the Golden Globes of any film, there’s no reason to think One Battle After Another won’t win this category. If an upset is to come, which I wouldn’t predict, Marty Supreme or Bugonia would be the ones to do it from this group it seems. Both have big stars at the forefront and strong support elsewhere. Should either pull off the shocking win over One Battle After Another, the Best Picture race would get a lot more interesting.

Best Motion Picture — Animated

Nominees: Arco, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle, Elio, KPop Demon Hunters, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Zootopia 2

While Pixar has had dominance here in the past, there’s little chance Elio surprises as the victor here. This is KPop Demon Hunters’ category to lose. Sony Animation and Netflix’s animated sensation should walk away with this Golden Globe win with ease, even if the voting body has favored international entries more recently.

Best Motion Picture — Non-English Language

Nominees: It Was Just an Accident, No Other Choice, Sentimental Value, Sirāt, The Secret Agent, The Voice of Hind Rajab

Several different foreign films could win Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language at the Golden Globes. Strong cases could be made for It Was Just an Accident, No Other Choice, Sentimental Value, and The Secret Agent. Sentimental Value’s nomination count may make it the favorite. However, I’m going with It Was Just an Accident for the win here. France’s selection, directed by Jafar Panahi, has gained a lot of support throughout awards season, leading to its four nominations at the Golden Globes. Wins elsewhere are less likely, so this becomes a chance for the Globes to recognize it.

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama

Nominees: Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby), Jennifer Lawrence (Die, My Love), Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Julia Roberts (After the Hunt), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Tessa Thompson (Hedda)

Jessie Buckley is in a prime position to win a Golden Globe to add to her list of accolades for her work in Hamnet. She hasn’t lost any momentum as the frontrunner to win Best Actress at the Oscars, so this would just further cement her status as the one to beat. If the Globes go for a less predictable winner, Jennifer Lawrence could be the choice. She’s a seven-time nominee and three-time winner here, and if she wants a chance to be nominated at the Oscars, a win here would be huge. Otherwise, voters could turn to Reinsve to recognize Sentimental Value. That said, it would be a massive surprise if Buckley lost.

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama

Nominees: Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine), Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)

Admittedly, predicting a winner in this category is tricky. Dwayne Johnson is the biggest star, and the Globes have a history of doing the unexpected and giving huge names wins that otherwise don’t come during awards season. Still, that was more evident in the previous iteration of the award show, making such a win unlikely. For me, this really comes down to Michael B. Jordan or Wagner Moura. The former is the bigger celebrity and attached to a stronger contender overall. But I’m giving the slight edge to Moura, as the Globes are more internationally focused. This win would go a long way toward locking up his Oscar nomination, too.

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Nominees: Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), Emma Stone (Bugonia), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You)

Another close race in my mind, this category probably comes down to Emma Stone and Rose Byrne. The former is a favorite for this group, as she won this award just two years ago for the second time. Bugonia also has three nominations at the Globes overall, and the film has continued to gain support elsewhere, which could put Stone in a great spot to win. I’m still predicting Byrne will win this category, though. Her performance has been widely acclaimed for nearly a year, and this should be the latest stepping stone for her to get an Oscar nomination.

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Nominees: Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), George Clooney (Jay Kelly), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia), Lee Byung-Hun (No Other Choice), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

In what should be a telling moment for the Oscars 2026 Best Actor category, Timothée Chalamet or Leonardo DiCaprio are vying for the win at the Globes. The other nominees have their supporters, but all signs indicate this is a two-man race. If you subscribe to the belief that One Battle After Another will sweep through awards season, a DiCaprio win here would make sense. However, it is Chalamet who is having his moment right now. Marty Supreme’s success after his massive marketing push has elevated his status, and he’s finally starting to rack up wins after beating DiCaprio and others at the Critics’ Choice Awards. I fully expect Chalamet’s winning ways to continue at the Globes.

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Nominees: Amy Madigan (Weapons), Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good), Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Emily Blunt (The Smashing Machine), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

The Globes should further the miraculous ascent of Amy Madigan’s performance as Gladys in Weapons. What once seemed like a far-fetched hope has now become a much stronger likelihood, as she has won at multiple places ahead of this ceremony on her way to an expected Oscar nomination. That’s why Madigan is my predicted winner. She’s got all the momentum currently. If the Globes deliver a surprise, a win for Ariana Grande would be huge. The same would be true for Teyana Taylor. Really, anyone hoping to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar needs to hope they steal a win from Madigan here.

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

Nominees: Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

While the female version of this category looks locked up, the Globes’ version of Best Supporting Actor is a competitive race. I see it as a three-person duel for the win between Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, and Stellan Skarsgård. Del Toro has been cleaning up with critics groups this season, while Skarsgård was the early favorite to accumulate many wins. The Frankenstein star is the late surprise and biggest riser, especially after winning at the Critics’ Choice Awards. I’m predicting that momentum to continue and Elordi will be the winner.

Best Director — Motion Picture

Nominees: Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein), Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best Director is an easy one to call, with Paul Thomas Anderson heading for the win. He’s been the favorite all season long, and the Globes have a strong history of matching Director with one of the two main Best Motion Picture categories. That could position Ryan Coogler as the upset pick, unless it’s Jafar Panahi instead. But neither are expected to usurp PTA here.

Best Screenplay — Motion Picture

Nominees: Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell (Hamnet), Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident), Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt (Sentimental Value), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

With only one screenplay category at the Globes rather than two (one for Adapted and one for Original), I fully expect either PTA or Coogler to take the win here. Doubling up as the Director and Screenplay winner is possible for One Battle After Another, but I believe Sinners has the edge to win thanks to Coogler’s smart script.

Best Original Score — Motion Picture

Nominees: Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein), Hans Zimmer (F1), Johnny Greenwood (One Battle After Another), Kangding Ray (Sirāt), Ludwig Göransson (Sinners), Max Richter (Hamnet)

Best Original Score should be a chance for Sinners to keep on winning, then. Ludwig Göransson’s score is the favorite in this category for a reason, and it’d be a real surprise if he wasn’t recognized for his exceptional work.

Best Original Song — Motion Picture

Nominees: "Dream As One" (Avatar: Fire and Ash), "Golden" (KPop Demon Hunters), "I Lied to You" (Sinners), "No Place Like Home" (Wicked: For Good), "The Girl in the Bubble" (Wicked: For Good), "Train Dreams" (Train Dreams)

As the Golden Globes, it is only fitting that "Golden" wins the award for best song. KPop Demon Hunters’ mega-popular tune should have no trouble winning here, as Wicked: For Good’s songs haven’t surged and Sinners lucky enough to likely find wins elsewhere.

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Nominees: Avatar: Fire and Ash, F1, KPop Demon Hunters, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Sinners, Weapons, Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2

In just the third year of this award, the Golden Globes are likely to continue recognizing a movie that was financially successful at the box office and made a huge mark on pop culture, as they did by naming Barbie and Wicked winners previously. That is why Sinners has a strong chance to win this category. It was a huge hit at the box office, grossing $368 million worldwide. With the incredible cinematic qualities on display throughout and the cultural impact it had, none of the other films resonated as strongly overall, even if some had bigger viral moments or box office hauls.