The 82nd Golden Globes are just around the corner, and with a full year of television and film to celebrate, it's the start of award season. The ceremony provides a peek behind the curtain at who the favorites are for the 2025 Academy Awards. Let’s dive in and take a look at a few of the categories that you can wager on.
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
“Anora” is the front-runner in this category after receiving critical acclaim, thanks in large part to Mikey Madison's performance. The film essentially tells the story of the troubled marriage between Anora, a Brooklyn exotic dancer played by Madison, and the son of a Russian oligarch. While many are calling it a breakout performance for Madison, those who watched FX’s Better Things aren’t surprised that she’s also the favorite for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at this year’s ceremony. There is already early Oscar buzz for not only this film but more specifically for Mikey Madison.
With both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande nominated in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, it’s no surprise that Wicked is a top pick to win in this category. The film is set in the Land of Oz, before the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and focuses on the friendship of Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (the future Glinda the Good). It is one of the top-grossing films of 2024, despite being released only on November 22nd.
What some may have originally seen as an outside option now has to be considered a contender. With 10 Golden Globe nominations, "Emilia Perez" has certainly come to play. The film tells the story of a feared cartel leader who hires a lawyer to help her disappear and make her dream of transitioning into a woman a reality. One of the stars of the film, actress Karla Sofia Gascón, made Golden Globe history by becoming the first trans woman ever nominated in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category.
Odds:
- Anora -130
- Emilia Perez +165
- Wicked +350
- A Real Pain +2200
- Challengers +4000
- The Substance +4000
Best Performance – Female Actor: Drama
It’s been a while since Angelina Jolie has been nominated for a Golden Globe in an actress category; 2011 was the most recent year. Jolie is a three-time Golden Globe winner, but her last win came in 2000. Since then, she’s been nominated five times and hasn’t won. For her role as opera singer Maria Callas, Jolie is back in the nomination category and is the current favorite heading into the January ceremony.
Right on Jolie’s heels is another heavy hitter, Nicole Kidman, who is no stranger to the Golden Globes. Including this year’s nomination, Kidman has been nominated 20 times and has walked away with six Globes thus far. Her portrayal of a high-ranking CEO who begins a forbidden romance with a much younger intern in Babygirl is what has brought her back into the spotlight.
Odds:
- Angelina Jolie -125
- Nicole Kidman +250
- Fernanda Torres +350
- Tilda Swinton +1200
- Pamela Anderson +1600
- Kate Winslet +1600
Best Performance – Male Actor: Drama
Adrien Brody has garnered his second Golden Globe nomination of his career, with the first coming back in 2003 for his role in The Pianist. Brody’s role in The Brutalist as László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust before emigrating to the United States, has earned him praise. Tóth struggles to achieve success in America before a wealthy client changes everything. Brody is the favorite to win this year’s award.
Conclave is nominated for six different Golden Globes, and Ralph Fiennes is one of the reasons why. His role as Thomas Cardinal Lawrence has drawn rave reviews from critics. Fiennes has been nominated at the Golden Globes six times before but has never won. The 2025 ceremony could change that for the English actor.
Odds:
- Adrien Brody -200
- Ralph Fiennes +275
- Timothée Chalamet +400
- Colman Domingo +1400
- Daniel Craig +3300
- Sebastian Stan +3300