The 2025 Golden Globes were on a mission to make the audience, presenters, winners and host laugh, cry and sometimes awkwardly smile throughout a night filled with plenty of record-breaking moments. From host Nikki Glaser’s mean jokes and the viral “holding space” Wicked meme to Zoe Saldaña’s tearful acceptance speech and Hacks co-creator hoping Jean Smart doesn’t take any shots, here are some of the night’s most memorable moments.
Nikki Glaser Didn’t Hold Back on Her Jokes
OK, so she wasn’t that mean. Yet comedian Nikki Glaser nonetheless had some cutting jokes when making her debut as the host of the Golden Globes. Glaser managed to walk the line between mocking many celebrities in the room while stopping short of going into Full Roast Mode. Some of her targets included Timothée Chalamet, Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, Wicked and Joker 2. She also made a couple political jokes (such as one about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.). Read more here. — James Hibberd
‘Hacks’ Co-Creator Paul W. Downs Urges Partygoers to “Not Give” Jean Smart a Shot
Hacks took home the award for best comedy series at the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday night. “We’re honored to be in this room with all of these storytellers,” Paul W. Downs, one of the show’s creators said while accepting the award. “Thank you to our amazing cast, our incredible crew and of course, our brilliant writers.” “We do have to shoot tomorrow and we have a call time of 6 a.m., so if Jean Smart asks you for a shot, please do not give it to her,” he said, before joking, “Kate Winslet, I’m looking at you. Wherever you are, give her water.” Read more here. — Lexi Carson
‘Wicked’ Was Still “Holding Space” Throughout the Golden Globes
Wicked may not have swept the major award categories at the 2025 Golden Globes but it still was at the center of jokes and moments during Sunday’s show. The Jon M. Chu-directed box office hit went into the night with four nominations, including best picture, musical or comedy. The film’s stars Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, and Ariana Grande, who plays Galinda/Glinda, were nominated for best actress and best supporting actress, respectively. … In her opening monologue, host Nikki Glaser included a reference to Wicked’s viral “holding space” interview, when reflecting on the recent election. “I’m not here to roast you. And how could I? You’re all so famous, so talented, so powerful. I mean, you could really do anything — except tell the country who to vote for. But it’s OK. You’ll get them next time!” Glaser then jokingly told Grande, “I’m scared. Ariana, hold my finger?” The star jokingly held Erivo’s nail instead as she did in the viral interview. Grande also mouthed and gestured to her Erivo saying, “I’m holding hers.” Read more here. — Lexy Perez and Nicole Fell
Zoe Saldaña Gets Emotional During First-Ever Golden Globes Win
Emilia Pérez star Zoe Saldaña got tearful while accepting her prize for best supporting actress in a motion picture at the 2025 Golden Globes. “My heart is full of gratitude,” Saldaña said from the podium at Sunday’s ceremony about her first-ever Golden Globes win. She went on to thank the Netflix film’s cast and crew, including director Jacques Audiard, star Karla Sofía Gascón and fellow category nominee Selena Gomez: “This is a first time for me, and I’m just so blessed that I’m sharing this with Selena and Karla and Jacques and all of my fellow nominees. I’m in awe of you.” Saldaña, who earned her first Golden Globe nomination for the film, praised her fellow nominees for their support. “All I have witnessed is just us showing up for each other and celebrating each other, and it’s just so beautiful,” she said. Read more here. — Ryan Gajewski
Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara Were Full of Jokes
Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara couldn’t resist talking up their Canadian acting roots when appearing on stage at the Golden Globes on Sunday night. But the work they pretended to reminisce about wasn’t family-friendly. The duo riffed about having earned trophies like the “Golden Antler” and “Beaver” as they presented the best female actor in a limited series or TV movie prize. “You see, in Canada, we don’t have America’s puritanical roots. So pornographic films are as lauded as much as non-pornographic films,” Rogen observed from the Golden Globes stage. Read more here. — Etan Vlessing
Colin Farrell Jokes He Has No One to Thank After Golden Globes Win
Colin Farrell took home the Golden Globe for best actor in a limited or anthology series or a motion picture made for television for his role in The Penguin on Sunday night. After being presented the award by Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, Farrell first quipped that he had no one to thank. “No one to thank on this when I did it all by myself,” he joked. “Just a raw, pared-away performance.” Farrell proceeded to express his appreciation for everyone who helped bring the series to life. “Too many people to thank. You all know it takes a village, whether it’s on the small screen or the big screen,” he says. “I’m here on the backs of the talents of so many people through the years. Maybe this one more than others because of Mike Marino, who designed the makeup, [and] his extraordinary makeup team.” Read more here. — Carly Thomas
Kieran Culkin Is Taking Shots With Mario Lopez at the Golden Globes
Kieran Culkin was feeling loose as he accepted his 2025 Golden Globe award on Sunday night — for a good reason. “My wife and I did a shot of tequila with Mario Lopez. Definitely feeling that. The whole speech is gone,” Culkin, who shares two children with wife Jazz Charton, said to laughs. “Terrific Kieran, you’re doing fine.” Culkin took home the statue for best supporting actor in a film for A Real Pain, from director and co-star Jesse Eisenberg. The actor noted that the first awards recognition he ever received was a Globes nomination he got “when I basically was a kid.” Read more here. — Aaron Couch
‘The Brutalist’ Director Delivers “Controversial” Statement During Acceptance Speech
The Brutalist writer-director Brady Corbet pushed for more autonomy for filmmakers while accepting the award for best drama movie at the 2025 Golden Globes. “I’m incredibly moved,” said Corbet, who also won for best film director earlier in Sunday’s ceremony. He then quipped, “I prepared one speech, not two.” As it turned out, Corbet still had plenty on his mind. “I just wanted to leave everyone with something to think about: Final-cut tiebreak goes to the director,” he told the crowd. “It’s sort of a controversial statement. It shouldn’t be. It shouldn’t be controversial at all. I was told that this film was un-distributable. I was told that no one would come out and see it. I was told the film wouldn’t work.” Read more here. — Ryan Gajewski
Find the complete list of 2025 Golden Globe winners here, and the night’s red carpet looks here.
Golden Globes producer Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.
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