The awards season is always a spectacle, where dreams take flight, egos collide, and occasionally, justice takes a backseat. The Golden Globe 2025 nominations are finally here. While many favorites were celebrated, some absences were so glaring they seemed like scenes directly cut from a drama movie.
Among the most talked-about Golden Globe Nominations 2025 omissions are Pachinko, ignored despite being one of the most praised series of the year, and Walton Goggins, whose magnetic performance in Fallout was completely overlooked.
We also have Niecy Nash-Betts, who single-handedly carried Grotesquerie with her stellar performance, and Danielle Deadwyler, who was once again forgotten—even after the strong impression she left on both audiences and critics in The Piano Lesson.
Even Jon M. Chu, who turned Wicked into an audiovisual spectacle, was left off the list of nominated directors.
This year's snubs for the Golden Globes—from unforgettable performances to cultural phenomena—ranged from bewildering to absolutely infuriating. These absences left both fans and critics wondering: How did this happen?
Let's explore the 10 biggest shocking nomination snubs from Golden Globes 2025
1. Pachinko (Apple TV+)
Pachinko captivates viewers with a powerful story of love and survival that transcends generations. The cast, led by Lee Min-ho and Youn Yuh-jung, brought depth to a narrative that feels both personal and universal.
For an award such as the Golden Globe, which prides itself on its international perspective, ignoring this Korean-Japanese production is more than disappointing—it's bitterly ironic.
The series pushed the envelope of narrative television and reflected the growing global hunger for stories outside the Hollywood axis. This snub seems like a lost opportunity to celebrate diversity and excellence.
In recent years, the Hallyu wave—with the global growth of South Korean culture—and the advancement of Japanese productions have challenged Hollywood's hegemony, bringing new perspectives and impactful narratives.
From the historic triumph of Parasite at the 2020 Oscar, as the first non-English language film to win Best Picture, to the continued success of series like Pachinko and Squid Game, it shows a disconnection from a trend that continues to redefine industry standards.
And the cultural impact? Pachinko is a window into stories that rarely receive proper space, and its lack of Golden Globe nominations reinforces how the awards system still struggles to keep up with changes that audiences have already embraced.
2. Walton Goggins, Fallout (Prime Video)
Walton Goggins was not just another eccentric in the apocalypse—he stole every scene in Fallout. Grotesque and captivating at the same time, his Ghoul has a unique blend of scary charm and emotional depth.
Goggins managed to transform the bizarre into something magnetic, redefining our expectations of characters in this saturated genre, and proving that there's always room for innovation.
Comparing his performance with other nominees in the same category only makes the snub more frustrating. While some performances were good, few reached the level of complexity and originality that Goggins delivered. It's a shame the voters didn't see this.
3. Niecy Nash-Betts, Grotesquerie (FX)
Niecy Nash-Betts was the anchor that kept Grotesquerie steady in the middle of narrative chaos. An alcoholic detective trying to solve a complex case, she brought humanity to her character and a story that could easily have derailed into absurdity—with an intense, emotional, and captivating performance. Critics applauded her ability to balance the most surreal moments with emotional authenticity.
Ignoring Nash-Betts, who practically carried the series on her shoulders, is not just unfair—it's confusing. Her performance was the pulsing heart of the entire production. How can you overlook that?
4. Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson
In The Piano Lesson, Danielle Deadwyler's portrayal of Berniece was one of the most impactful of the year, with her bringing a quiet intensity that made her character's pain and resilience almost tangible. Each scene was a dive into complex emotions that Deadwyler mastered.
After being snubbed at the Oscars for Till, seeing Deadwyler ignored again in the Golden Globe is a blow that echoes beyond this award. This is not just a "snub," it's a reminder of how brilliant works often remain on the margins.
5. Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing
Clarence Maclin was one of the highlights of Sing Sing, with such a performance that perfectly balanced rawness and subtlety. His role as a man trying to reconcile his past with the pursuit of redemption was very emotional and genuinely inspiring.
Even in a competitive year, Maclin seemed like a sure choice for Best Supporting Actor. His absence in the Golden Globe highlights the tendency for great performances in smaller productions to be overlooked.
Maclin's work, however, is already etched as one of the year's most unforgettable performances. The Gothams 2024 got it right—outstanding!
6. Jon M. Chu, Wicked
Jon M. Chu brought magic to Oz, turning Wicked into a cinematic spectacle that maintained the musical's soul while introducing impressive innovations. He united stage charm with cinematic grandeur, creating an experience that pleased both fans and critics.
How could Chu be excluded from the Best Director category, while the film received nominations in other main categories? This is inexplicable. He guided an entire team to deliver one of the year's most talked-about films. His absence is an unfair shadow on such a luminous work.
7. Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun and Blitz
Saoirse Ronan, always a recurring name in awards, was completely ignored this year, despite praises for her performances in The Outrun and Blitz.
Both productions allowed Ronan to show her incredible ability to bring complexity and emotional depth to challenging characters. Her absence in the Golden Globe Nominations is especially disconcerting, considering her impeccable awards history.
8. Industry (HBO)
Industry continued to elevate the standard of drama series, exploring the intense dynamics of the financial world with a sharp eye and impeccable performances. The third season was a spectacle, combining tension and humanity in equal measure.
Despite its critical success, the series was completely left out of the Golden Globe nominations. This exclusion is a clear example of how innovative productions often do not receive the recognition they deserve. Industry is not just a series, but a powerful reflection on ambition and power. But, hey! At least a fourth season is on the way.
9. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths
Marianne Jean-Baptiste delivered one of the year's most impactful performances in Hard Truths. Her character, trapped in a deep emotional dilemma, was portrayed with an authenticity that resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Her absence from the Golden Globe nominations is not just a snub, but a reflection of persistent barriers for Black women in lead roles. Jean-Baptiste deserved more than a forgotten space; she deserved to be celebrated as one of the year's great actresses.
10. Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool & Wolverine
Ryan Reynolds delivered far what fans expected—and even more—in Deadpool & Wolverine. With his impeccable humor and emotionally rich performance, he elevated the talkative mercenary character to a new level, blending intense action with unexpectedly sensitive moments.
However, his name was absent from the Golden Globe nominations list, generating great surprise among the character's followers and film industry experts. This exclusion seems even stranger considering the massive cultural impact that Deadpool and Reynolds continue to have.
We know that superhero movies rarely receive recognition in acting categories, and his absence from awards is not just a snub—it reflects the difficulty of cinema awards in valuing remarkable performances in narratives considered "non-traditional" and/or "commercial."
Deadpool & Wolverine followed the trend of being recognized primarily in technical categories, such as Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, highlighting its commercial and visual impact while overlooking the performances that brought the film's heart to life.
For many, the anti-hero deserves much more than the academy's silence.
Conclusion: Even when gold does not shine, talent remains
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The Golden Globes have always been marked by unpredictability, but this year's snubs hit hard. Productions like Pachinko and performances like those by Walton Goggins and Niecy Nash-Betts are lost opportunities to celebrate what is truly transforming entertainment.
However, the true impact of these stories and artists does not depend on awards. They have already won over audiences and critics alike—and left a mark that goes far beyond ceremonies. In the end, trophies are transitory, but art that resonates with the public? That is eternal.
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