GOLDEN GLOBES CLOSE CALLS DECIDED: ‘ANORA,’ ‘THE APPRENTICE,’ ‘HERETIC,’ ‘A REAL PAIN,’ & MORE CLAIM DRAMA & MUSICAL/COMEDY CONTENDERS
'Anora,' 'The Apprentice,' 'Challengers,' 'A Different Man,' 'A Real Pain' and 'The Substance' - Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection; Briarcliff Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection; MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection; Matt Infante/A24/Courtesy Everett Collection; Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; MUBI/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Hollywood Reporter reveals how top contenders are breaking for the Golden Globes’ drama and musical/comedy categories. Films like Anora and A Real Pain opt for the musical/comedy field despite dark tones, while The Apprentice and Queer are slated for drama. With a looming Nov. 4 deadline, filmmakers and distributors still have time to finalize their submissions, but the organization may overturn classifications deemed unsuitable.
submission plans for all of the top contenders ahead of the Nov. 4 entry deadline.
The Golden Globes have long been one of Hollywood’s most intriguing and unpredictable awards ceremonies, particularly in how they differentiate between drama and musical/comedy categories. With the upcoming Nov. 4 submission deadline, the industry is buzzing about which films will land in which categories—and whether the Golden Globes organization will agree with those decisions. This year is no exception, as some of the industry’s top contenders make intriguing, and in some cases surprising, moves regarding their award classification.
Historically, the Golden Globes have often blurred the lines between genres. With an unconventional approach to categorization, films that might fit neatly into one box often find themselves in another. Filmmakers and distributors have until the looming deadline to declare their preferences, but even then, the final say rests with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who are known to overturn category choices they deem unfitting.
This year’s submissions include a mix of expected and controversial entries, particularly in the musical/comedy category. Among the most surprising choices is Neon’s Anora, a dark and gritty tale involving a sex worker entangled with shady Russians. Despite its heavy and intense storyline, the film is being positioned as a musical/comedy, likely due to its moments of irony and satirical tone that could be interpreted as dark humor. Similarly, Searchlight’s A Real Pain, which follows cousins on an emotionally charged pilgrimage to Poland, will compete as a musical/comedy, despite its introspective and at times, somber storyline. These choices underscore a trend of dark subject matter finding its way into the musical/comedy category, challenging traditional expectations of what constitutes a “comedy.”
Another film opting for the musical/comedy designation is Heretic, a horror flick from A24 involving a home visit by Mormon missionaries that goes terribly wrong. While horror isn’t typically associated with humor, Heretic seems to lean into its absurdity and dark satire, making it a candidate for the more eclectic musical/comedy field. Meanwhile, Amazon/MGM’s Challengers, centered around a complicated love triangle involving young tennis players, is also breaking into the category, emphasizing the often ambiguous boundary between drama and comedy.
While these films aim for recognition in the musical/comedy category, other projects have opted for the drama route despite containing significant comedic or musical elements. For instance, Briarcliff/Rich Spirit’s The Apprentice, a buddy film depicting Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s peculiar friendship, is being submitted as a drama. The film, which many might expect to fit comfortably into the comedic genre, instead emphasizes the darker, introspective moments of the narrative. Similarly, Queer, A24’s trippy adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ life, will also vie for a spot in the drama category, despite its colorful and often surreal presentation.
A handful of notable musicals are also joining the musical/comedy field, like Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, which features characters spontaneously bursting into song, leaving no doubt as to its classification. Disney’s upcoming musicals, Mufasa: The Lion King and Moana 2, also make predictable entries here, alongside Wicked and Joker: Folie à Deux, which blend music and narrative drama.
However, not all films featuring musical elements are making the cut for musical/comedy. Notably, the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black, directed by Focus Features, and Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love are being positioned as dramas. Though both movies showcase significant music, they deal with the deep emotional journeys of their subjects, emphasizing personal struggles over celebratory musical moments. Similarly, Searchlight’s A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan portrait, is firmly planted in the drama field, ensuring that its leading lady, Angelina Jolie, does not have to compete in the same category as Netflix’s musical star Karla Sofía Gascón from Emilia Pérez.
Adding more intrigue to this year’s awards race is the inclusion of animated features in the musical/comedy category. Thanks to a rule change in 2021, movies like The Wild Robot, Moana 2, and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 can compete alongside their live-action counterparts. This change has allowed animated films that might otherwise be overshadowed in traditional categories to have a shot at winning big, highlighting the Golden Globes’ commitment to a more diverse range of storytelling.
Comedies and dramedies also make a strong showing in the musical/comedy field this year, including films like Deadpool & Wolverine, The Fall Guy, Nightbitch, and Kinds of Kindness. These films straddle the line between humor and deeper emotional content, which makes them fitting contenders in the musical/comedy space. The broad comedies in this field, such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Wolfs, and My Old Ass, bring a lighter tone, balancing out the more serious contenders.
Meanwhile, the drama field includes heavy hitters that were never in doubt. Dune: Part Two, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Bikeriders, and Gladiator II are all competing for drama nods, as they tackle grand themes, complex characters, and epic narratives. Nosferatu, a retelling of the classic horror story, and The Apprentice, which could have easily leaned into satire, also find themselves in this crowded field.
Interestingly, there is still one major wildcard left to be decided: MUBI’s The Substance, featuring Demi Moore as an aging actress struggling to retain her place in the industry. The film walks a fine line between dark drama and biting satire, with themes reminiscent of Sunset Blvd.. As of now, MUBI and Moore’s team are still weighing their options, recognizing that a single classification might not fully capture the complexity of the story.
As the Nov. 4 deadline approaches, the final decisions on these submissions will be revealed, though nothing is set in stone. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has made it clear that it won’t shy away from reclassifying films that appear to be misplaced. With such a dynamic landscape of contenders, the upcoming Golden Globes promise to deliver an exciting mix of genre-bending storytelling, showcasing the breadth and depth of modern cinema. The debate over what constitutes a “comedy” or “drama” might be never-ending, but it’s precisely this ambiguity that keeps the Golden Globes captivating year after year.
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