The Golden Globes race is taking shape after the submission deadline, with Variety’s updated predictions placing Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” at the front of the film field. The summer blockbuster is projected to receive 10 nominations, ahead of “La Bola Negra” and “Project Hail Mary,” which are each forecast to earn seven.
For the third consecutive year, the comedy or musical categories appear more competitive than the drama races. The Golden Globes divide their top film prize between drama and comedy or musical, and studios’ classification strategies are again influencing the shape of the contest. Focus Features is reportedly submitting Curry Barker’s horror film “Obsession” in comedy, while Bleecker Street is placing Mike Leigh’s “Tender Loving Care” there as well. Neon is also steering Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial” into the category.
On the drama side, “The Odyssey” leads alongside “La Bola Negra,” the Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi epic. The Netflix film won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival after the filmmakers received the best director prize at Cannes, developments that could support its awards campaign.
Jordan Firstman’s “Club Kid,” his feature debut as writer, director and star, is set to compete in the drama categories. Firstman is projected for best actor, while Reggie Absolom, Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, Colleen Camp, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Eldar Isgandarov are expected to enter the supporting races.
Amazon MGM Studios is campaigning Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s “Project Hail Mary,” starring Ryan Gosling, in comedy or musical. Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky” is also expected to compete there after finishing as the first runner-up for the Toronto festival’s People’s Choice Award. “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” directed by Bassam Tariq and starring Mahershala Ali, is projected in drama.
The drama actress field is described as less crowded than usual. Sandra Hüller is expected to enter the supporting actress race for Paweł Pawlikowski’s “Fatherland,” while Mubi will campaign her in supporting categories for the Oscars and other awards. That placement would leave Hüller’s lead actress campaign focused on “Rose,” also distributed by Mubi and Austria’s official international feature submission.
Zendaya is reportedly expected to campaign for lead actress for her role as Chani in “Dune: Part Three.” The move differs from the strategy used for the first two films, when she was submitted in supporting actress.
Lionsgate’s attempt to place its Michael Jackson biopic in the comedy or musical field has been rejected, and the studio is not expected to appeal. Documentaries are not recognized by the Golden Globes, preventing A24’s “You Can See Everything” from competing for picture, director or acting nominations, although its acting eligibility may still be considered.
Animation is also being positioned more prominently. Laika plans to submit Travis Knight’s “Wildwood” not only for animated feature but also for best picture in drama. The 132-minute film is described as the longest stop-motion feature ever made and marks Laika’s first PG-13 release. Independent Film Company’s “Tangles,” Leah Nelson’s hand-drawn adaptation of Sarah Leavitt’s graphic memoir about her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease, is likewise expected to compete in drama.
Among the projected studio leaders, A24 tops the forecast with 15 nominations, followed by Netflix and Universal Pictures with 11 each. Neon is projected to receive eight, while Amazon MGM Studios and Searchlight Pictures are forecast to earn seven apiece. Focus Features and Warner Bros. are each projected to receive five.
The 84th Golden Globe nominations are scheduled to be announced on Dec. 7. Nikki Glaser is set to host the ceremony on Jan. 10, 2027. Predictions remain subject to change, with category placements not yet confirmed in every case.
Sources: Variety.