The Golden Globes are tonight. Here’s what to look for and how to watch and stream the show

Hollywood Braces for Tense Golden Globes Amid Industry Uncertainty

The Golden Globes, self-described as Hollywood’s booziest bash, returns Sunday night with its 83rd ceremony, though the celebratory atmosphere may be muted by political tension and widespread industry uncertainty. The entertainment world enters the event following a disappointing box office year, now anxiously awaiting the fate of Warner Bros. amid potential acquisition deals.

Many attendees at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills will likely have current events weighing heavily on their minds, including recent U.S. involvement in Venezuela and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother Renee Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.

Despite the potential for political undertones, host Nikki Glaser intends to maintain the Globes’ tradition of emphasizing entertainment over activism. “You’d be surprised that half the room had no clue why I was saying ‘Venezuela,'” Glaser told The Associated Press earlier this week, referring to her comedy club warm-ups. “People aren’t getting the news like we all are.”

Glaser, known for her sharp-tongued roast appearances, has promised to target A-listers in her second time hosting. “We’re going to hit Leo,” she warned, adding, “The icebergs are coming.”

The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. EST on CBS while streaming for Paramount+ premium subscribers. E!’s red carpet coverage kicks off at 6 p.m. EST, with The Associated Press offering a livestream show beginning at 4:30 p.m. on YouTube and APNews featuring arrivals, fashion, and interviews.

Warner Bros. is positioned for a potentially dominant evening with “One Battle After Another” leading the nominations with nine nods. The film, competing in the musical or comedy category, has emerged as the overwhelming Oscar favorite. On the drama side, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” and Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” present strong competition.

The potential Warner Bros. triumph comes at a pivotal moment for the storied studio, which has agreed to an $82.7 billion acquisition by Netflix, pending regulatory approval. Theater owners have expressed concern that such a merger would create “a direct and irreversible negative impact on movie theaters around the world.” Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance continues pursuing a rival offer to convince Warner shareholders.

In the acting categories, Timothée Chalamet appears poised to win his first Globe in five nominations for “Marty Supreme,” though he faces competition from three-time winner Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke. Rose Byrne leads the best actress comedy/musical field for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” while Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”) is the drama frontrunner. The supporting categories favor Teyana Taylor and Stellan Skarsgård.

The Globes, no longer presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after being sold in 2023 to Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, now rely on votes from approximately 400 people — a stark contrast to the Academy Awards’ 10,500 professional voters. Despite this disconnect, a memorable Globe acceptance speech can significantly boost an Oscar campaign, as demonstrated by Demi Moore’s emotional moment last year for “The Substance,” though Mikey Madison ultimately won the Oscar for “Anora.”

Some potential highlight moments have already occurred in a pre-ceremony “Golden Eve” event earlier this week, where Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker accepted their Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett honors, respectively.

One compelling storyline involves Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose revenge drama “It Was Just an Accident” has four nominations. Panahi has spent much of his career making films without government approval and was recently sentenced to a year in prison. His potential win comes as protests over Iran’s economy spread throughout the country, challenging its leadership.

In television categories, HBO Max’s “The White Lotus” leads with six nominations, potentially adding to Warner Bros.’ strong showing. Netflix’s “Adolescence” follows with five nods. The ceremony will also introduce its first-ever podcast category featuring nominees like “Armchair Expert,” “Call Her Daddy,” and “SmartLess.”

Perhaps the most meta nominee is “The Studio,” Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire which memorably featured an episode centered on Golden Globes drama. With three nominations, the show has multiple opportunities for life to imitate art during Sunday’s broadcast.