The 81st Golden Globe Awards, held on January 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, honored the most outstanding achievements in film and television, marking a celebratory return to prominence for the awards show. After years of controversy and restructuring within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), this year’s ceremony was widely viewed as a significant step toward restoring credibility and embracing greater inclusivity.
Christopher Nolan’s historical drama Oppenheimer emerged as the dominant force in the film categories, earning five major awards. It took home Best Motion Picture – Drama, while Nolan himself received the Golden Globe for Best Director. Cillian Murphy was awarded Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his nuanced performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. Robert Downey Jr. added to the film’s accolades by winning Best Supporting Actor, and composer Ludwig Göransson received the award for Best Original Score, rounding out an impressive sweep for the film.
In television, HBO’s critically acclaimed series Succession led the night with multiple wins in the drama categories. The show, which concluded its final season in 2023, won Best Television Series – Drama. Cast members Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook earned Best Actor and Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama, respectively. Matthew Macfadyen also received recognition as Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for his performance as the scheming yet often endearing Tom Wambsgans.
The evening also made history with a landmark win for Lily Gladstone, who became the first Indigenous actor to take home a Golden Globe. She won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her portrayal in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, a performance lauded for its depth and emotional resonance. Gladstone’s win was widely celebrated as a milestone for Indigenous representation in mainstream Hollywood.
Hosted by comedian Jo Koy and broadcast live on CBS, the ceremony signaled a rejuvenated vision for the Golden Globes. After past criticism over the HFPA’s lack of diversity and transparency, the 2024 event was seen as a renewed commitment to accountability. The return to network television and the evening’s diverse slate of nominees and winners were regarded as positive steps forward for the awards show’s evolving legacy.
The 2024 Golden Globes reflected a year of exceptional storytelling and performance across both the big and small screens. With Oppenheimer and Succession emerging as dominant forces and trailblazing moments like Gladstone’s historic win, the ceremony set a strong precedent for the awards season ahead — celebrating industry excellence while signaling a continued shift toward broader representation and reform.
