The 2026 Golden Globes: ‘One Battle After Another’ vs. ‘Hamnet’ Begins - The Big Picture Recap

Podcast: The Big Picture

Published: 2026-01-12

Duration: 1 hr 13 min

Guests: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey

Summary

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins react to the 2026 Golden Globes, dissecting the wins of 'One Battle After Another' and 'Hamnet'. They question the purpose of the awards show and debate whether 'Hamnet' is a true Best Picture contender.

What Happened

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins delve into the results of the 2026 Golden Globes, highlighting the dominance of 'One Battle After Another', which swept categories like Best Musical or Comedy, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Paul Thomas Anderson and Tiana Taylor delivered memorable speeches that night, with Taylor winning Best Supporting Actress for her role.

The hosts discuss the surprising victory of 'Hamnet' in the Best Motion Picture Drama category, pondering its potential as an Academy Awards contender. They note that 'Hamnet' is gaining traction as an industry film that resonates with Academy voters, especially with its poignant tagline, 'Love has no equal'.

Chloe Zhao's speech was a standout moment, touching on themes of love and vulnerability. Her words, inspired by Paul Meskel, struck a chord with audiences, reflecting a personal and emotional depth that Sean Fennessey believes will be remembered.

Nikki Glaser hosted the event, injecting humor and satire into the proceedings. Her comedic jabs at CBS News and Kevin Hart were part of a lively presentation that included musical numbers and play-by-play commentary, which drew mixed reactions from viewers.

The episode touches on the international influence in this year's voting, with a notable number of international nominees and winners. This trend highlights the growing recognition of global cinema at traditionally American-centric awards.

Notable wins also included Timothée Chalamet for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Musical or Comedy and Rose Byrne for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Stellan Skarsgård's win over Benicio del Toro in the supporting actor category was unexpected, with Skarsgård emphasizing the importance of cinema being experienced in theaters during his speech.

The Golden Globes also featured unusual elements like Polymarket odds and cross-promotional segments, such as UFC fighters introducing stars from 'Heated Rivalry'. These moments sparked discussions about the commercial nature of the show and its role as a marketing platform for films.

Overall, Sean and Amanda express skepticism about the predictability and lack of chaos in the current state of award shows, advocating for more diversity and differentiation in nominations and winners to keep the events engaging for audiences.

Key Insights