The 83rd Annual Golden Globes, held on January 11, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, delivered a dramatic and emotional finale as the Focus Features film Hamnet clinched the coveted award for Best Motion Picture, Drama. The evening, broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ and hosted by Nikki Glaser, saw director Chloé Zhao and producer Steven Spielberg take the stage amid an atmosphere thick with anticipation and surprise—especially given that many had tipped Ryan Coogler’s Sinners as the frontrunner for the night’s top honor, according to Rolling Stone.
As the announcement rang out, Chloé Zhao appeared visibly stunned, rising slowly from her seat with both hands over her mouth before joining Spielberg and the rest of the Hamnet team onstage. The film, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 historical novel, explores the grief and resilience of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they navigate the devastating loss of their 11-year-old son. Rolling Stone described the adaptation as “the most shattering” of 2025, lauding its transformation of Shakespeare’s personal tragedy into a universal portrait of love, loss, and the healing power of art.
Steven Spielberg, who produced the film alongside Sam Mendes, was the first to address the crowd. He offered heartfelt thanks to the Golden Globes voters for the recognition and turned his praise toward Mendes for introducing him to O’Farrell’s novel. “I loved the book, but I felt there was really only one filmmaker on the face of the planet who could tell the story,” Spielberg declared, singling out Chloé Zhao as the “exceptional, exceptional, exceptional” talent capable of bringing the spirits of Agnes, Will, and the natural world to the screen. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Spielberg emphasized the unique vision Zhao brought to the project, stating, “There was really only one filmmaker on the face of the planet who could tell the story of Agnes and Will and the spirits of the earth and the forest, and that was the exceptional, exceptional, exceptional Chloé Zhao.”
Zhao, who was also nominated for Best Director but ultimately lost to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, took the microphone next. With characteristic humility, she asked permission from her film’s star, Paul Mescal, to share a personal anecdote he had told her earlier that day. “He said that making Hamnet made him realize that the most important thing of being an artist is learning to be vulnerable enough to allow ourselves to be seen for who we are now, who we ought to be, and to give ourselves wholly to the world, even the parts of ourselves that we’re ashamed of, that we’re afraid of, that are imperfect, so the people that we speak to, they can also learn to see themselves and fully accept themselves,” Zhao recounted, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
Her words resonated throughout the room, filled with fellow nominees and industry luminaries. Zhao turned to acknowledge the courage and openness of her peers, singling out Ryan Coogler and saying, “I’m looking at you, Ryan Coogler. I see so many of you have become so strong and tender at the same time, and you have shared so much of yourselves in your work to the world. So, I salute your bravery, and I salute your dedication. Let’s do this together. Let’s keep our hearts open, and let’s keep seeing each other, and let’s keep allowing ourselves to be seen.”
The night was doubly triumphant for Hamnet, as Jessie Buckley took home the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama, for her portrayal of Agnes. Buckley’s win was one of several nominations for the film, which also included nods for Best Supporting Actor (Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare), Best Director (Chloé Zhao), Best Screenplay (Zhao and O’Farrell), and Best Original Score (Max Richter). The drama category was fiercely competitive, with other nominees including Frankenstein, It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Sinners.
Hamnet’s win was not only a testament to its creative team but also to the enduring power of adaptation and storytelling. The film’s journey from O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel to the big screen was shepherded by a collaborative production team, with Spielberg and Mendes recognizing the potential for a story that would resonate far beyond the confines of Elizabethan tragedy. The narrative’s exploration of vulnerability, acceptance, and the transformative nature of grief struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. Rolling Stone praised the film for its ability to turn “Shakespeare’s real-life tragedy into a heartbreaking portrait of love, loss, and the healing power of art.”
The ceremony itself was not without its lighter moments. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the award presentation featured a comedic interlude when Don Cheadle humorously crashed the stage to offer "moral support" to presenter George Clooney, poking fun at Clooney’s own loss earlier in the night. The playful banter provided a brief respite from the evening’s emotional highs and underscored the camaraderie that often defines awards season.
Behind the scenes, the 2026 Golden Globes were produced by Dick Clark Productions, a subsidiary of Penske Media Eldridge—a joint venture that also owns The Hollywood Reporter. The event’s seamless broadcast and star-studded turnout further cemented its reputation as one of the industry’s most prestigious and closely watched celebrations.
For Chloé Zhao, the recognition marked yet another milestone in a career already decorated with critical acclaim for films like Nomadland and Songs My Brothers Taught Me. Her ability to infuse deeply personal themes into sweeping cinematic narratives has earned her a devoted following and, now, a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Drama. Spielberg’s faith in her vision, and the willingness of the entire Hamnet team to embrace vulnerability and authenticity, have set a new standard for literary adaptations in contemporary cinema.
As the lights dimmed on the Beverly Hilton ballroom and the industry’s brightest stars mingled in the afterglow of a historic night, one thing was clear: Hamnet’s Golden Globe win was more than just a trophy. It was a celebration of courage, collaboration, and the enduring power of stories that help us see—and accept—ourselves and each other, flaws and all.
