15 Movies with most Golden Globe awards, ranked

The Golden Globe Awards celebrate the best in film. They recognize outstanding performances, direction, and storytelling. Some movies have taken home multiple awards and left a lasting mark on Hollywood. These films didn’t just win trophies. They connected with audiences and impressed critics. From heartfelt dramas to large-scale musicals, the top winners show how cinema has changed over time. La La Land set a record with seven wins. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Doctor Zhivago also earned several awards.

1) La La Land (2016) – 7 Awards

La La Land stood out for blending romance and music in a way that felt both modern and timeless. It told the story of two dreamers trying to balance love and ambition. The bright colors, dance numbers, and heartfelt performances gave it a charm that reminded people of old Hollywood musicals.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy (Ryan Gosling)
• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Emma Stone)
• Best Director (Damien Chazelle)
• Best Screenplay (Damien Chazelle)
• Best Original Score
• Best Original Song ("City of Stars")

2) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) – 6 Awards

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was fearless in its portrayal of mental health and authority. Jack Nicholson gave one of the most talked-about performances of his career, playing a rebellious patient in a mental institution. Louise Fletcher’s role as Nurse Ratched made her one of the most hated and memorable characters in film.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Actor – Drama (Jack Nicholson)
• Best Actress – Drama (Louise Fletcher)
• Best Director (Milos Forman)
• Best Screenplay
• Best New Star of the Year – Actor (Brad Dourif)

3) Doctor Zhivago (1965) – 5 Awards

Doctor Zhivago turned love and survival into a larger-than-life story. It followed characters trying to hold on to hope during the Russian Revolution. The snowy landscapes and emotional performances gave the movie an epic feel that audiences still talk about.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Actor – Drama (Omar Sharif)
• Best Director (David Lean)
• Best Screenplay
• Best Original Score

4) A Star Is Born (1976) – 5 Awards

The 1976 version of A Star Is Born focused on the highs and lows of fame. Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson played musicians whose love story unraveled as their careers shifted. The movie hit hard because it showed the cost of success and the sacrifices that come with it.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy (Kris Kristofferson)
• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Barbra Streisand)
• Best Original Score
• Best Original Song ("Evergreen")

5) Love Story (1970) – 5 Awards

Love Story struck a chord with its simple but emotional plot about young love and loss. Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw played a couple facing life’s hardest challenges while staying devoted to each other. The line “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” became one of the most quoted phrases in movie history.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Actor – Drama (Ryan O'Neal)
• Best Actress – Drama (Ali MacGraw)
• Best Director (Arthur Hiller)
• Best Original Score

6) The Godfather (1972) – 5 Awards

The Godfather redefined crime dramas with its brutal honesty about power, loyalty, and corruption. Marlon Brando’s performance as Vito Corleone became one of the most recognizable portrayals in film history, capturing the quiet authority and moral conflicts of a mafia boss.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Actor – Drama (Marlon Brando)
• Best Director (Francis Ford Coppola)
• Best Screenplay
• Best Original Score

7) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – 4 Awards

The Return of the King closed The Lord of the Rings trilogy with an epic conclusion that pushed visual effects and storytelling to new heights. Peter Jackson’s direction turned J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world into something that felt real, from massive battle scenes to emotional moments between characters.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Director (Peter Jackson)
• Best Original Score
• Best Original Song ("Into the West"

8) West Side Story (1961) – 3 Awards

West Side Story combined music, dance, and social commentary to create one of the most influential musicals ever made. Its retelling of Romeo and Juliet through rival gangs in New York City showed racial tensions and cultural divides.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Musical
• Best Supporting Actor (George Chakiris)
• Best Supporting Actress (Rita Moreno)

9) The Social Network (2010) – 4 Awards

The Social Network captured the rise of Facebook and the chaos behind its creation, showing how ambition and betrayal shaped one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg made the character feel sharp, awkward, and ruthless.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Director (David Fincher)
• Best Screenplay
• Best Original Score

10) Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – 4 Awards

Slumdog Millionaire told the story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai whose life experiences helped him answer questions on a game show. It stood out for blending romance, hardship, and hope, all set against the vibrant but harsh backdrop of India.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Director (Danny Boyle)
• Best Screenplay
• Best Original Score

11) Titanic (1997) – 4 Awards

Titanic became a cultural phenomenon by combining a historical disaster with a love story that felt personal and devastating. James Cameron recreated the grandeur of the ill-fated ship with incredible detail, making audiences feel the scale of its tragedy.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Director (James Cameron)
• Best Original Score
• Best Original Song ("My Heart Will Go On")

12) Born on the Fourth of July(1989) – 4 Awards

Born on the Fourth of July is a biographical war drama that tells the story of Ron Kovic, a Vietnam War veteran who becomes an anti-war activist after being paralyzed in combat. Tom Cruise delivers a powerful performance as Kovic, capturing his journey from a patriotic soldier to a disillusioned protester.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Drama
• Best Director (Oliver Stone)
• Best Actor – Drama (Tom Cruise)
• Best Screenplay

13) Chicago (2002) – 3 Awards

Chicago brought musical theater back to the big screen with bold performances and sharp choreography. The film explored crime, corruption, and fame through the stories of two women trying to use the media and legal system to their advantage.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Renée Zellweger)
• Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Richard Gere)

14) Les Misérables (2012) – 3 Awards

Les Misérables turned Victor Hugo’s novel into a musical spectacle that highlighted loss, survival, and sacrifice. Hugh Jackman’s performance as Jean Valjean brought emotional depth to a man trying to rebuild his life, while Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of Fantine captured heartbreak in a way that left audiences stunned.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
• Best Actor – Musical or Comedy (Hugh Jackman)
• Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway)

15) American Hustle (2013) – 3 Awards

American Hustle stood out for blending humor and drama in a story about con artists and corruption. Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence gave standout performances that captured the complications of women navigating a world of lies and ambition.

Awards Won:

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
• Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Amy Adams)
• Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence)