The 2026 Golden Globes have announced its nominations, and there are some real surprises and snubs in the pack. The goofy global cousins to the Oscars and the Emmys, the Golden Globes are usually a good barometer of the state of the award season race every year. Due to its splintering based on genre, it’s also always a bit of a random chance which films and shows will earn some love from the Governor’s Board.
Some of the biggest award season narratives surrounding One Battle After Another (2025), Sinners (2025), Sentimental Value (2025), and Marty Supreme (2025) all cemented their standing, while other prospective contenders that have suffered from critical drubbings like Christy (2025) fell. However, there are some pretty big surprises and snubs across both the TV and film categories that stand out. Here are the biggest shockers from the 2026 Golden Globe nominations and where you can find them on Paramount+, Netflix, and more.
Surprise: Helen Mirren Gets A Nomination For ‘Mobland’
Helen Mirren’s Golden Globe nomination for Mobland (2025) comes as something of a surprise, given the reception that the show received otherwise. Mobland is a fairly by-the-numbers crime drama, not too dissimilar from other shows like Tulsa King (2022) or The Gentleman (2024). While the cast is strong, Mirren doesn’t particularly stand out compared to co-stars Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan.
However, the Golden Globes connected with the performance on some level, going by her nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama. While a win wouldn’t be out of the question, it would be a massive surprise given the quality of the competition, including Rhea Seehorn’s frontrunner status for Pluribus (2025) and Keri Russell for The Diplomat (2023).
Snub: ‘Alien: Earth’ Didn’t Take Off
Alien: Earth (2025) is one of the most ambitious shows of the year, building off the legacy of the classic franchise while also charting an exciting (and disturbing) path forward. While the performances were often strong, they also usually took a back seat to the alien designs and massive worldbuilding.
There were some expectations that Alien: Earth would at least earn nominations for Noah Hawley and his team, who took everything that makes Alien (1979) so memorable and refined it for great effect. Alien: Earth didn’t end up with a single Golden Globe nomination, which is a bit of a shocker given the impressive effects and strong critical reviews. Overall, the year wasn’t a big win for sci-fi as a whole, so this lack of a nomination might be a bit of a larger trend.
Surprise: Glen Powell In ‘Chad Powers’
Glen Powell has been cementing himself as a blockbuster star in recent months, but even that doesn’t make his Chad Powers (2025) nomination any less surprising. The football comedy is a great chance for Powell to showcase his comic chops, with a charming lead performance that helps make the show work.
While the series was popular with viewers, it had a harder time with critics, who were more mixed on the show’s approach. It seems like the Golden Globes sided more with the audience than the critics, with Powell snagging a nomination for Best Lead Actor. In a year that saw Powell’s potential tested with the mixed reception to The Running Man (2025), the nomination is a major victory for the actor and retains his rising popularity.
Snub: No Love For ‘The Lowdown’
The Lowdown (2025) is a blast, a charming and explosive crime caper that gives Ethan Hawke (as well as co-stars Peter Dinklage, Keith David, Kyle MacLachlan, and Jeanne Tripplehorn) a terrific showcase. It’s also earned no nominations at this year’s Golden Globes, which is a real surprise.
The FX series has just the right amount of comedy and darker satirical edges to feel like a natural fit for the ceremony, and the supporting performances (especially the one by Keith David) definitely feel like they deserve some recognition. While other FX shows like The Bear (2022) were able to snag solid nominations, it wasn’t the best year at the Golden Globes for the network. Fans of the show will just have to keep hope alive for a Season 2 announcement.
Surprise: ‘The Smashing Machine’ Gets Two Big Nominations
The Smashing Machine (2025) was initially announced with a lot of award season ambitions. Dwayne Johnson was considered a potential contender for Best Actor, and several people were predicting massive success. However, the film fizzled out, with a historically low box-office return for Johnson and a mixed critical reception.
Johnson and co-star Emily Blunt are keeping the film’s award hopes alive, thanks to a nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama and Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Blunt, in particular, has a unique challenge in The Smashing Machine, forced to contend with a relative lack of screen time compared to Johnson and a broader characterization in the script. Blunt is as good as ever in the role, though, justifying her seventh nomination.
Snub: No Comedy/Musical Nomination For ‘Wicked: For Good’
Wicked: For Good (2025) had the benefit of following up on the massive success of Wicked (2024), which became a global phenomenon. It’s also not like Wicked: For Good has been shut out, as the film has earned five nominations (Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, two nods for Best Original Song, as well as Cinematic and Box Office Achievement).
However, the film missed out on a nomination for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. The fact that films like One Battle After Another, which barely fit that category, still earned nominations must sting for musical fans, although the more tepid response it received from critics may have prepared fans for disappointment.
Surprise: ‘No Other Choice’ Snags A Best Comedy Nomination
One of the best films of the year, No Other Choice (2025) has been struggling to stand out in a crowded field. The South Korean dark comedy is a purposefully grim and painfully human watch, with a pitch-black sense of humor that works incredibly well. However, other films like It Was Just an Accident (2025), Sentimental Value, and The Secret Agent (2025) have been overshadowing it in other competitions for non-English language films.
Luckily, the Golden Globes gave No Other Choice some renewed life in the award season race, thanks to a nomination for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, as well as a nomination for Squid Game (2021) star Lee Byung-Hun for Best Performance by a Male Actor - Musical or Comedy. While actual wins might still be a tall order, No Other Choice has at least kept itself alive in the award season race.
Snub: ‘Stranger Things’ Misses Out On A Nomination
Stranger Things (2016) has been one of the biggest TV shows of the last decade, with the ‘80s-inspired romp growing from a single tightly designed drama into a cultural phenomenon. The first half of Season 5, which debuted over the Thanksgiving holiday, was such a success that it even brought down Netflix’s servers for a time.
While some had been hoping that the final season would connect with award voters, it seems that the Golden Globes weren’t all that focused on Hawkins. The show received zero nominations at the Golden Globes, which comes as something of a surprise given the amount of attention that has been paid to the lead performances. At least fans still have two more episode drops to look forward to. If you’re a sci-fi fan who hasn’t watched the Netflix phenomenon, this is your time to check it out.
Surprise: Natasha Lyonne Gives ‘Poker Face’ One Last Hope
If you like case-of-the-week mysteries, Poker Face (2023) is a great show, with a one-of-a-kind lead performance by Natasha Lyonne grounding it. The brainchild of Rian Johnson and a companion piece of sorts to his Knives Out films, Poker Face is a classic episodic mystery series that revolves around Charlie Cale, a drifter with the uncanny ability to perceive any and all lies.
The show is an absolute delight, a modern-day answer to Murder, She Wrote (1984) that flipped the script and subverted expectations. Although Peacock has ended Poker Face after two seasons and Johnson is hard at work pitching it elsewhere, Natasha Lyonne’s nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy could give it a final victory on the way out.
Snub: Wunmi Mosaku Doesn’t Get A Nomination For ‘Sinners’
Sinners (2025) had a very solid run at the Golden Globes, earning seven nominations across multiple categories. However, one person left out of the running was Wunmi Mosaku, who delivered one of the film’s most understated and emotional performances as Annie. Mosaku has been picking up momentum across several award ceremonies, but the Golden Globes didn’t end up giving her the nod for Supporting Performance.
While the competition is stiff this year (and Ariana Grande and Teyana Taylor are expected to be in a two-person race for the award across the board), it’s a shame that the Golden Globes didn’t give Mosaku recognition for a performance that required her to be both an emotional bedrock of the film and the primary exposition dump for vampire lore. Fans of vampire movies or unique horror in general should give Sinners a watch and judge for themselves.
