Golden Globes: One Battle After Another, Hamnet and Adolescence dominate

One Battle After Another and Hamnet have proved the two big movie winners at this year's Golden Globes, with the dark comedy and historical fiction claiming the ceremony's top two film awards.

One Battle After Another, about a group of washed-up revolutionaries, took four gongs - including best motion picture comedy/musical, best director for Paul Thomas Anderson and best supporting actress for Teyana Taylor.

However, its lead star, Leonardo DiCaprio failed to bag best actor - one of the most competitive categories of the night - with the prize instead going to Timothee Chalamet.

Along with the top prize for dramatic film, Hamnet saw Irish star Jessie Buckley take best actress in a motion picture/drama.

Her powerful performance as Shakespeare's wife was at the heart of the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's book about the death of Shakespeare's son, which historians believe inspired the playwright to write Hamlet.

Accepting her prize, Buckley praised the international nature of the movie, directed by Oscar-winning Chloe Zhao, saying: "This was such an extraordinary set to be part of, telling the story of probably the most famous Brit ‍who ever lived and we had a Chinese director, a lot of Irish and a mostly Polish crew."

Meanwhile in the TV categories, Adolescence cleaned up winning in all four of its categories.

The drama, starring Stephen Graham, depicts the aftermath of the stabbing of a teenage girl, as a 13-year-old boy from her school is arrested for her murder. It was one of the most talked-about shows of last year.

As well as taking best limited series, anthology series or television motion picture, three of its lead stars also took home a gong.

Stephen Graham was named best actor in a TV miniseries, 16-year-old Owen Cooper was named best supporting actor and Erin Doherty was named best supporting actress.

Only Ashely Walters missed out, to co-star Cooper, with the pair going head-to-head in the same supporting category.

Speaking on stage, co-creator Jack Thorne told the audience: "Removing hate is our generation's responsibility.

"It requires thought from the top down. The possibility seems remote now, but hope is a beautiful thing."

Insisting the show was not about "being frightened of young people", he said it instead offered a positive message, saying the drama's young cast were "proof the world can be better".

In her speech, Doherty who played a therapist in the show, dedicated her award to those pursuing the challenging career, saying: "Life can be tough, mental health is everything."

Making history as the category's youngest winner, Cooper admitted he "took a risk" being the only boy in his drama classes, adding: "it was embarrassing, but I got through it."

He concluded his acceptance speech with incredulity at his win, looking to the audience and saying: "It's mad, what is going on!"

Graham, who appeared to read his notes from his hand, thanked his family and friends, and was briefly distracted by rapper Queen Latifah in the audience.

Other actors who saw big wins included Chalamet, who won his first Golden Globe.

The 30-year-old touched on the fact he had left the Globes in previous years without a win, saying: "I'd be lying if I didn't say those moments made this moment that ‍much sweeter."

He also thanked his parents and his girlfriend of three years, Kylie Jenner, saying: "I love you, thank you so much."

Rose Byrne was named best actress in a musical/comedy for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. Accompanied to the awards by her brother, she told the audience her husband, actor Bobby Canavale had not come with her as he was out buying a bearded dragon.

In one of the most unexpected wins of the night, Narcos star Wagner Moura won the award for best actor in a drama for The Secret Agent.

The film was also named best non-English language film.

Collecting the prize, the Brazilian star said: "The Secret Agent is a film about memory, or the lack of memory and generational trauma. I think that if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too.

"So, this is to the ones that are sticking with their values in difficult moments."

Stellan Skarsgard earned a Globe for his supporting role in Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value, admitting as he took his gong: "I was not prepared for this because, of course, I thought I was too old." The Swedish star is 74.

Vampire horror Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B Jordan, took best cinematic and box office achievement, a rare film that earned both critical and commercial success. It also took best original score.

Thanking the audience "for showing up", Coogler said parts of making the movie were "a grind", calling for them to wear "performance fishing gear in the swamps". He added: "We didn't know people would show up, so we just want to say thank you."

Potential snubs on the night included Guillermo del Toro's gothic horror Frankenstein, the second instalment of the Wizard Of Oz prequel Wicked: For Good and Yorgos Lanthimos's Bugonia starring Emma Stone. All went home empty handed.

KPop Demon Hunters - Netflix's most-watched film ever - was named best animated film, while the movie's signature track Golden won the best original song prize.

Accepting the award, Korean-American singer Ejae said: "It's never too late to shine like you were born to."

Hosted by US comedian Nikki Glaser for a second-year running, celebrities largely steered ​clear of political topics, with a few wearing "Be Good" badges on their black-tie attire to honour Renee Good, the woman fatally shot by an immigration officer last week in Minneapolis.

Glaser took a few light-hearted jabs, joking that the ceremony was "without a doubt the most important thing that's happening in the world right now".

She also took the odd pot shot at some of the stars in the room, including DiCaprio for his dating of younger women, before apologising, for the "cheap" remark, and adding: "We don't know anything else about you, man."

A gentle nod back to the days of Gervais eviscerating attendees in the Globes heyday, with Gervais now coming full circle and winning best TV stand-up comedy performance for his special Morality.

Gervais did not attend the event, with Wanda Sykes instead accepting his award for him and thanking "God and the trans community". Gervais, a self-confessed atheist, has defended remarks he made in a previous show about transgender people in his comedy.

Presenting best motion picture musical or comedy, which was one of the final awards of the night, after failing to win in her own category, Julia Roberts received a huge standing ovation, thanking the audience and telling them: "I'm gonna be impossible for at least a week."

Taking to the stage a few moments later to award best motion picture - drama, Roberts's friend and many-time co-star George Clooney pretended to be irked that there was no standing ovation for him.

With the Globes kicking off awards season proper, Oscar nomination voting kicks off today, ahead of the ceremony in March.

The next big awards show to look forward to is the BAFTA film awards on 22 February.

(c) Sky News 2026: Golden Globes: One Battle After Another, Hamnet and Adolescence dominate