Emilia Perez sets Golden Globe nominations record — even though critics hated it
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Not long after Emilia Pérez premiered on Netflix on November 13, following a brief time in theaters, The Atlantic described it as a "film that stirs strong emotions." It turns out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association agrees, as they were quite impressed with it.
Jacques Audiard's musical in Spanish, featuring a transgender cartel leader played by Karla Sofía Gascón, garnered an impressive total of 10 nominations at the Golden Globe Awards on December 9, 2025. This achievement marks it as the most nominated comedy or musical film ever in the history of the awards.
The movie has been nominated for several awards, including Best Motion Picture in the Musical or Comedy category, Best Director for Audiard, Best Supporting Actress for both Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, and Best Actress for Karla Sofia Gascón. It also received nominations for Screenplay, Original Score, and additional categories.
This strong support for Emilia Pérez has sparked mixed reactions among critics at an event that many consider a key indicator for the Oscars.
In her two-star review for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey expressed skepticism about how Audiard portrays the transgender experience. She stated that he presents Emilia and her previous self as completely separate individuals, suggesting that he views his trans character merely as a symbol to delve into his own ideas about transformation and new beginnings. Loughrey noted a hint of oversimplified gender roles in this approach, implying that it suggests womanhood is synonymous with purity, as if Lady Macbeth was never troubled by her past.
Other critics shared her views, with one referring to it as the "Most Unique Cis Nonsense You'll Ever See." Loughrey contends that Gomez was not suited for the role and lost the "deadpan charm" that makes her so engaging in Only Murders in the Building, even though she earned nominations for both works.
This year saw a notable trend of double nominations, with Sebastian Stan receiving nods in two different categories. He was recognized for his portrayal of the president-elect in Ali Abbasi’s film, The Apprentice, which takes a critical look at Donald Trump, as well as for his role as an aspiring actor dealing with neurofibromatosis in Aaron Schimberg’s dark comedy, A Different Man. Similarly, Kate Winslet earned accolades for her performance in the biopic Lee in the Lead Actress Drama category and for her role in the limited series HBO's The Regime.
Following Pérez, who received seven nominations, is Brady Corbet's ambitious A24 film, The Brutalist. This drama was praised as “the next Godfather” following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. Spanning three decades, the story centers on László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian Jewish architect who endured the Holocaust. After moving to the United States with his wife (Felicity Jones), he encounters the enigmatic Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), whose influence alters the trajectory of his life.
The latest film from Edward Berger, who directed All Quiet on the Western Front, received six nominations. Titled Conclave, it features Ralph Fiennes, who earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Drama for his role as a cardinal who uses a vape and is responsible for selecting a new pope.
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The Golden Globes acknowledged television series once again, with Hulu's *The Bear* leading the way with five nominations, more than any other show. It received nods for Best Musical/Comedy and acting honors for Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Liza Cólon-Zayas.
"Only Murders in the Building" and "Shogun" both picked up an additional four nominations for Hulu, while the new shows "Baby Reindeer," "Disclaimer," and "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" each received three nominations.
Some viewers were puzzled by the nomination of Squid Game for Best Series Drama, given that its second season won’t be released on Netflix until late December.
Last year, the Golden Globes succeeded in creating a lively and uplifting atmosphere, primarily due to the charming celebrities present. Winners like Kieran Culkin, Ali Wong, Emma Stone, Ayo Edebiri, Billie Eilish, and Cillian Murphy gave speeches full of enthusiasm and flair, especially after the audience had a tepid reaction to last-minute host Jo Koy’s clumsy hosting.
The ceremony for 2025 is scheduled for January 5 at the Beverly Hilton hotel located in Los Angeles, California. Comedian Nikki Glaser will be hosting the event for the first time.
