Golden Globes 2025 Brings Forward Daring Stories to Be Told

Hollywood’s biggest night got a bold shakeup at the 82nd Golden Globes, where two daring, genre-defying films stole the spotlight. Brady Corbet’s sprawling 215-minute postwar epic The Brutalist and Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical thriller Emilia Pérez walked away with the night’s top honors, setting the stage for a highly unpredictable awards season.

The Globes, still navigating their comeback after years of controversy and reinvention, spread the love across several films. Yet, these two audacious projects — both resisting easy labels — emerged as the evening’s strongest statements.

Cinematic Rebellion Takes Center Stage at Golden Globes

The Brutalist, a visually sumptuous drama filmed in 70mm VistaVision, won the Best Film Drama award. The ambitious epic also earned Corbet the Best Director trophy and Adrien Brody Best Actor for portraying a mid-century architect navigating the haunting echoes of war. The film’s unconventional format — complete with an old-school intermission — was initially deemed unmarketable, but Corbet’s acceptance speech made it clear that artistic risks are worth taking.

“I was told this film was un-distributable,” Corbet confessed on stage. “No one was asking for a three-and-a-half-hour film about a mid-century designer in 70mm. But it works.”

Standing alongside his mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy, and co-star Brody in the press room, Corbet’s win was a testament to uncompromising vision’s power.

Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez, a genre-bending Spanish-language musical about a Mexican drug lord’s gender-affirming journey, claimed Best Film, Comedy or Musical. The Netflix-backed film also secured wins for Best Non-English Language Film, Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, and Best Original Song for the haunting ballad El Mal.

Director Jacques Audiard stepped aside to spotlight Karla Sofía Gascón, the film’s groundbreaking transgender lead. Draped in a vibrant orange gown, Gascón delivered one of the night’s most powerful messages.

“The light always wins over darkness,” she said. “You can put us in jail. You can beat us up. But you can never destroy our soul, existence, or identity.”

Her voice trembled, but her conviction was unwavering. “I am who I am. Not who you want.”

A Night of Comebacks and First-Timers

While A-list names like Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, and Angelina Jolie graced the room, many of the evening’s trophies went to under-the-radar performances. Among the most surprising victories was Demi Moore, who won her first-ever Golden Globe for her daring turn in The Substance.

Playing a fading Hollywood star willing to undergo a radical youth restoration procedure, Moore’s fearless performance edged out frontrunner Mikey Madison of Anora.

“I’m just in shock,” Moore admitted, visibly emotional. “I’ve been doing this for over 45 years, and this is the first thing I’ve ever won as an actor.” The win marked a poetic full-circle moment for the 62-year-old actress, who last received a Globes nomination in 1991 for Ghost.

Another jaw-dropping triumph came from Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, who took home Best Actress in a Drama for her searing performance in I’m Still Here. The film, based on the true story of a family grappling with the disappearance of political dissident Rubens Paiva in 1970s Rio de Janeiro, also featured Torres’ mother — legendary actress Fernanda Montenegro.

“She was here 25 years ago,” Torres reflected. “This proves that art can endure even through life’s hardest moments.”

Stories That Dare to Be Told At Golden Globes

Sebastian Stan’s transformative role in A Different Man earned him Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Musical. Portraying a man with a facial deformity who undergoes radical reconstructive surgery, Stan used his speech to advocate for films that challenge audiences.

“These are tough subjects, but they’re necessary,” he said. “We can’t be afraid to look away.”

As the night wrapped up, the message was clear: 2025’s Golden Globes belonged to films that pushed boundaries — both on screen and off. In an era of uncertainty, these stories prove that the boldest voices are often the ones we need most.