Golden Globes 2026: One battle after another dominates amid social media snubs

The 2026 Golden Globe nominations unveiled a fascinating landscape where critical darlings triumphed over commercial blockbusters, sparking intense social media debate about unexpected omissions and surprising inclusions. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another led with nine nominations, whilst The White Lotus dominated television categories with six nods, signaling a decisive shift in awards season momentum.

Top categories and their nominees

Best motion picture – Drama

• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• It was just an accident
• The secret agent
• Sentimental value
• Sinners

Best motion picture – Musical or comedy

• Blue moon
• Bugonia
• Marty supreme
• No other choice
• Nouvelle vague
• One battle after another

Best television series – Drama

• The diplomat
• The pitt
• Pluribus
• Severance
• Slow horses
• The white lotus

Best television series – Musical or comedy

• Abbott elementary
• The bear
• Hacks
• Nobody wants this
• Only murders in the building
• The studio 

Social media erupts over notable snubs

The nominations sparked fierce online debate about conspicuous absences. Sydney Sweeney’s biographical drama Christy received no nominations despite an intensive campaign, with social media users noting the film’s box office underperformance. “She never had a chance,” one Twitter user remarked, reflecting broader sentiment about the disconnect between marketing push and actual voter interest.

Wicked: For Good, despite its predecessor’s success, missed the best picture musical or comedy category entirely, relegated instead to the cinematic and box office achievement category. The omission surprised fans, though muted social media reaction suggested audiences may be experiencing musical fatigue. Similarly, Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach’s latest, missed the best picture nomination despite securing acting nods for George Clooney and Adam Sandler.

The podcast category’s debut generated controversy, with Joe Rogan’s The Joe Rogan Experience notably absent despite being one of the world’s most popular podcasts. Ben Shapiro’s campaign for The Ben Shapiro Show also failed to translate into recognition, suggesting voters prioritized editorial credibility over audience size.

Surprising inclusions that sparked conversation

Several nominations defied expectations and generated positive social media buzz. Teyana Taylor’s supporting actress nomination for One Battle After Another was celebrated as an “early birthday present” by the artist herself. Amy Madigan’s recognition for Weapons delighted audiences who praised her haunting performance as “Aunt Gladys.”

International performances dominated conversations, with Wagner Moura becoming the first Brazilian male actor nominated in the lead drama category for The Secret Agent. The international film category’s strength – featuring titles from France, South Korea, Brazil, Norway, Spain, and Tunisia – represented the Globes’ most globally diverse lineup in recent memory.

The animated feature category also generated intrigue, with KPop Demon Hunters earning three nominations including best song for “Golden,” suggesting growing recognition of Korean cultural influence in global entertainment.

What the nominations mean for social media marketing

For brands and marketers, the 2026 nominations reveal a critical disconnect between social media buzz and awards recognition. Films dominating online conversation – particularly blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash and mainstream biographical dramas – failed to secure top-tier nominations, whilst critically acclaimed international and independent films swept categories despite generating comparatively modest social media engagement.

This pattern suggests awards voters increasingly prioritize artistic merit over online virality, challenging brands to recalibrate how they measure campaign success. The lukewarm social media response to Wicked: For Good‘s snub, compared to the rapturous reception of the original film, demonstrates how quickly online enthusiasm can dissipate, particularly when content doesn’t match audience expectations.

The ceremony airs January 11 on CBS and Paramount+, hosted by returning emcee Nikki Glaser. Whether the Globes’ embrace of international cinema and arthouse fare translates to mainstream television audiences remains to be seen, though the nominations have undeniably reset expectations for awards season ahead.