At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards held on January 5, Emilia Pérez emerged as the star of the evening, sweeping four prestigious awards including best motion picture: comedy or musical. The accolades come as the Spanish-language musical, directed by the acclaimed Jacques Audiard, makes waves not only for its artistry but also for its poignant themes of identity and transformation.
The ceremony took place at the iconic Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Audiard, upon receiving the coveted award, handed the microphone to Karla Sofía Gascón. Notably, Gascón made history as the first trans actress ever nominated for a Golden Globe. Her acceptance speech was nothing short of inspiring, echoing messages of resilience and pride from marginalized communities. "The light always wins over darkness," Gascón proclaimed passionately. "You can maybe put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, or our resistance, or our dignity." She urged everyone to embrace their true selves, saying, "I am who I am; know who you [are]."
Emilia Pérez tells the captivating story of Rita, played by Zoe Saldaña, a high-powered lawyer enlisted by drug lord Valentina (Gascón) to orchestrate her faked death and facilitate her transition. This unique narrative, now available for streaming on Netflix, has been lauded for its innovative blend of genres. Gascón described the film as "such a great gift, and I’m so proud to be part of it," highlighting its rarity within the cinematic world. According to Tudum, the film defies conventional categories: "You have an action movie that's not an action movie, a drama that's not a drama, a comedy that's not a comedy."
Heading to the awards, Emilia Pérez was the frontrunner with ten nominations, including nods for its leading actresses Saldaña and Gomez, along with best motion picture (comedy or musical). The film's wins at the Golden Globes included best motion picture (non-English language) and best original song for the track "El Mal," with Saldaña also receiving recognition as best supporting actress.
This year's ceremony, televised live by CBS, was hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser. The Golden Globes also saw notable competition, with the other films vying for the comedy-musical prize, including Anora, Challengers, A Real Pain, The Substance, and Wicked. Anora, directed by indie filmmaker Sean Baker, captivated audiences with its story centered on the trials of a sex worker portrayed by Mikey Madison, who received acclaim for her performance. Baker himself was also nominated for directing and writing. Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, was recognized for its compelling performances and received multiple nominations.
Among the contenders, A Real Pain, which brought together Golden Globe nominees Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, impressed with its unique road trip narrative and screenplay by Eisenberg, who directed the film. Culkin also took home the award for his stellar performance. The hauntingly unique horror-comedy The Substance, featuring actresses Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley playing different versions of the same character, clinched awards for Moore and Fargeat for writing and directing.
Adding excitement to the night was Jon M. Chu's musical adaptation, Wicked: Part One, which took home the best comedy or musical award among several nominations, including nods for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Chu, during the acceptance speech for his film, emphasized the importance of art as a beacon of hope and positivity. "So when we discover maybe the world isn't exactly the way we thought it was, and maybe we all have a little bit of Elphaba inside of us...that maybe we have the courage and strength to not give up but to rise up," Chu expressed, seamlessly connecting his film’s themes with the broader message of empowerment.
Reflecting on the overall dynamic of this awards season, the Golden Globes not only celebrated artistic talent but also recognized the importance of diversity and representation within the industry. The palpable excitement surrounding Emilia Pérez serves as a reminder of cinema's transformative power and its capacity to spotlight the stories of underrepresented communities.
For viewers and fans of the film industry alike, the 82nd annual Golden Globes illustrated the shifting tides of Hollywood, marking yet another step forward for greater inclusion and recognition of diverse narratives. With its powerful storytelling and memorable performances, Emilia Pérez solidified its place as both an award winner and as part of this meaningful movement.