10 Shocking Entrants at the Golden Globes 2025
- The Golden Globe nominations were announced recently sparking conversations about hits and misses.
- A few popular choices were snubbed from the list whereas some were included despite their stature in the popularity race.
- The award season has certainly created a chaotic environment in the industry but only time will tell who emerges victorious.
With the nominations for the Golden Globes announced recently, the entire industry has taken it upon itself to analyze every bit of information and figure out the nuances of the same. As usual, the speculations about the biggest snubs have taken over Hollywood as people express their dissatisfaction over the fact that some of the greatest ventures were left in the lurk.
At the same time, we have a lot of surprises this year around as well. Films and shows that were completely overlooked by the audiences or that failed to garner the interest of the masses have somehow made it to the nominations, shocking everyone. Here’s a look at the 10 most surprising entrants to the Golden Globes ceremony of 2025.
Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice
A movie riddled with controversies and speculations since the time it was announced, The Apprentice charts the course of a young Donald Trump’s life as he navigates the world of business and politics. The lead is played by Sebastian Stan, who has earned a nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
People are surprised to see his name added to the list, not because he didn’t act well. His performance was completely transformative, in fact. However, the clouds cast over the movie due to the nature of its content along with Trump’s reelection to the White House made it a hush-hush project in Hollywood.
Kate Winslet for Lee and The Regime
The massively talented actress deserves all the awards for her masterful portrayals. Her most recent venture, Lee, has also made it to the Golden Globes despite otherwise failing to garner as much interest from the masses as it may have hoped. The other project she worked on for television – The Regime, suffered the same fate as the audience did not much connect with the project.
Regardless, Kate Winslet has managed to earn two nods from the Golden Globes in the categories Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television.
Nobody Wants This
While the Netflix series was undoubtedly an absolute charmer, people feel Nobody Wants This may not exactly sit well with the likes of The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and The Gentlemen. The show swiftly climbed the ranks and became one of the highest-rated shows on the platform with millions and counting in viewership.
At the same time, the show perhaps was not Golden Globe worthy, especially three nods, Best Actor for both Kristen Bell and Adam Brody along with Best Series in Comedy. People have been surprised with his entrant into the race of honors with only time revealing who takes the cake.
Pamela Anderson for The Last Showgirl
The industry veteran has finally bagged her first Golden Globe nomination with The Last Showgirl, a Las Vegas-based drama surrounding the lead as she copes with her show coming to an end. Anderson has been steadily charting a rise in the industry, having released a documentary on her life recently. She is focused on changing the audience’s perception of her, away from the Playboy covers and other notoriety she’s known for.
Anderson wishes to have a respectable career in the industry and this nod is her first step towards that direction. She has been nominated in the category Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light
The Indian auteur has surprised everyone with this happy nomination for Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language along with Best Director overall. Payal Kapadia is taking India’s name to newer heights as she made history with this incredible movie. Rightfully so, she deserved the nod as the movie garnered immense buzz at the Cannes Film Festival as well.
This poignant tale of two nurses from Mumbai, All We Imagine as Light was named the best international film by the New York Film Critics Circle award as well as the Gotham Awards. Kapadia is the first Indian director to be nominated for the Golden Globes, setting a new standard for the country as well.
The Substance
Though there was no dearth of excitement and anticipation for the movie The Substance, nobody imagined it bagging a whopping five nominations for the Golden Globes. The movie received nods for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Demi Moore), Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Margaret Qualley), Best Director – Motion Picture (Coralie Fargeat), and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture.
The film has managed to create the right buzz that ended up helping it with this deserved nomination slew. Moore is back in the movie business with a bang with Qualley, a rising star, also making a name for herself.
Disclaimer
Another limited series that faded into the background since its release, Disclaimer, has had a resurgence with the Golden Globes recognizing the talent and work behind the project. However, its limited popularity led to everyone assuming it would not find a place in the nominations list. The same has been proven wrong as Disclaimer ended up in three categories.
Cate Blanchett has received a nod for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television, while Kevin Kline is in the running to win for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television. It has been nominated for the Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television as well.
Cooper Koch for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The harrowing tale of the sons murdering their parents in cold blood certainly caught everyone’s attention as the show earned three nominations. Cooper Koch, who played Erik Menendez, has been nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series category. His peers in the same category include the likes of Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, and Andrew Scott.
The drama thriller series quickly became high in viewership as well as popularity, but nobody thought the series was worthy of appreciation and recognition at this level. It seems that the one-take episode did the trick and convinced people of Koch’s untapped potential as an actor.
Yura Borisov for Anora
The Russian actor has been nominated to compete against Denzel Washington, Guy Pearce, Edward Norton, and Kieran Culkin. It will be a shocking turn of events if Borisov takes the trophy home. With that said, his immense potential was beaming on the screen in Anora as the thriller movie gave him enough substance to dazzle and impress.
It’s a huge honor for the Hollywood newcomer who will be battling other veterans of the industry for this prestigious award. Seems like the Golden Globes are ensuring hearty participation from newcomers with many categories giving a nod to at least one newbie in the industry.
Hans Zimmer for Dune: Part Two
While the Oscars and the BAFTAs chose to overrule Hans Zimmer in the captivating Best Original Score – Motion Picture category, the Golden Globes chose to go with the mass appeal and give the audiences what they wanted. Zimmer’s soundtrack for the Dune sequel rocked and has been rightfully given a place on the nomination list.
A happy surprise for sure, fans didn’t expect the composer to make it into the list. Nonetheless, here’s hoping he actually cinches the deserved award as his music truly breathed life into the movie.
