The 2025 Golden Globes Awards came early this year- what was immediately discussed was rising stand-up Nikki Glaser’s politically driven opening monologue as host, along with awkward camera angles (as called out by Seth Rogen when he was presenting). For those of us who love and appreciate music featured in movies, it was a big night. A Complete Unknown, James Mangold’s biopic about the early years of Bob Dylan’s career, received numerous nominations. Musicals Emilia Perez and Wicked took home the awards for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, respectively. We looked closer at the winners and nominees of the two music awards, highlighting how essential a good song or score is to elevate a film.
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, "Challengers" — Winner


Zendaya

Mike Faist

Josh O'Connor

Bryan Doo

Shane T Harris

Nada Despotovich
Joan Mcshane

Chris Fowler

Mary Joe Fernández

A.J. Lister
Connor Aulson
Check out the full Challengers soundtrack here.
Volker Bertelmann, "Conclave"


Ralph Fiennes

Stanley Tucci

John Lithgow

Isabella Rossellini

Lucian Msamati

Carlos Diehz

Sergio Castellitto

Brían F. O'Byrne

Merab Ninidze

Thomas Loibl

Jacek Koman
Bruno Novelli
Check out the full Conclave soundtrack here.
Daniel Blumberg, "The Brutalist"


Adrien Brody

Felicity Jones

Guy Pearce

Joe Alwyn

Raffey Cassidy

Stacy Martin

Emma Laird

Isaach de Bankolé

Alessandro Nivola

Benett Vilmányi

Michael Epp

Jonathan Hyde
Check out the full The Brutalist soundtrack here.
Kris Bowers, "The Wild Robot"


Lupita Nyong'o

Pedro Pascal

Kit Connor

Bill Nighy

Stephanie Hsu

Matt Berry

Ving Rhames

Mark Hamill

Catherine O'Hara

Boone Storm

Alexandra Novelle

Raphael Alejandro
Check out the full The Wild Robot soundtrack here.
Clément Ducol, Camille, "Emilia Pérez"


Karla Sofía Gascón

Zoe Saldaña

Selena Gomez

Adriana Paz

Edgar Ramírez

Mark Ivanir

Eduardo Aladro

Emiliano Hasan
Gaël Murgia-Fur
Tirso Pietriga
Xiomara Ahumada Quito
Magali Brito
Check out the full Emilia Pérez soundtrack here.
Hans Zimmer, "Dune: Part Two"


Timothée Chalamet

Zendaya

Rebecca Ferguson

Javier Bardem

Josh Brolin

Austin Butler

Florence Pugh

Dave Bautista

Christopher Walken

Léa Seydoux

Stellan Skarsgård

Charlotte Rampling
Indeed, this group has some worthy winners, but the Globes got it right. When the film Challengers is mentioned in discussion, Reznor and Ross’ electrifying score is always one of the first qualities brought up. Pulsating, riveting electronica makes tennis as frenetic and flat-out sexy as can be. Bertelmann’s Conclave adds a Hitchcockian element to the suspense permeating underneath what seems to be a bunch of aging men in rooms talking (don’t get me wrong, the banter is brilliant, particularly with Stanley Tucci’s character, but the story’s outcome certainly doesn’t evoke that many jaw-drops). At the same time, Blumberg’s Brutalist score begs the audience to find profundity in each frame. Both are effective, but the work awarded here feels more honest and provocative. It may seem like a game of tennis, but it’s really a battle for one of the more dangerous femme fatales in recent memory.
Best Original Song — Motion Picture
"El Mal," by Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard (from "Emilia Pérez") — Winner
"Mi Camino," by Clément Ducol and Camille (from "Emilia Pérez")


Karla Sofía Gascón

Zoe Saldaña

Selena Gomez

Adriana Paz

Edgar Ramírez

Mark Ivanir

Eduardo Aladro

Emiliano Hasan
Gaël Murgia-Fur
Tirso Pietriga
Xiomara Ahumada Quito
Magali Brito
"Beautiful That Way," by Miley Cyrus, Lykke Li, and Andrew Wyatt (from "The Last Showgirl")


Pamela Anderson

Jamie Lee Curtis

Dave Bautista

Brenda Song

Kiernan Shipka

Billie Lourd

John Clofine

Jason Schwartzman

Patrick Hilgart

Jesse Phillips
David Avne

Sean Patrick Bryan
Check out the full The Last Showgirl soundtrack here.
"Compress/Repress," by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & Luca Guadagnino (from "Challengers")


Zendaya

Mike Faist

Josh O'Connor

Bryan Doo

Shane T Harris

Nada Despotovich
Joan Mcshane

Chris Fowler

Mary Joe Fernández

A.J. Lister
Connor Aulson
"Forbidden Road," by Robbie Williams, Freddy Wexler & Sacha Skarbek ("Better Man")


Robbie Williams

Jonno Davies

Raechelle Banno

Damon Herriman

Steve Pemberton

Alison Steadman

Kate Mulvany

Frazer Hadfield

Tom Budge

Anthony Hayes

Jake Simmance

Jesse Hyde
Check out the full Better Man soundtrack here.
"Kiss The Sky," by Delacey, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack & Ali Tamposi (from "The Wild Robot")


Lupita Nyong'o

Pedro Pascal

Kit Connor

Bill Nighy

Stephanie Hsu

Matt Berry

Ving Rhames

Mark Hamill

Catherine O'Hara

Boone Storm

Alexandra Novelle

Raphael Alejandro
The amount of controversy Emilia Perez has garnered seems appropriate. As someone who has been referred to as “exotic,” it’s easy to empathize with those who find the film racist and transphobic. If we remove those criticisms and judge the work, it still doesn’t feel as deserving as the Challengers’ “Compress/Repress.” It’s a weak list of nominees, from the box office and critical bomb Better Man sneaking in to Perez having two songs on board. Babygirl and Wicked had strong original compositions that would’ve deserved more.
The Golden Globes have always been a party for those who worked hard all year in film and television and are fortunate enough to be recognized for their work. Rather than have all that Oscars esteem, they drink, eat, and laugh all night while being on live television. It leaves room for daring comedians to engage in an unmerciful roast session against Hollywood’s elite, and that’s what keeps viewers returning year after year. As for award credibility, not so much. Some years, they got it right, such as giving Best Picture - Drama to The Social Network or Best Picture - Musical or Comedy to Lady Bird. Still, when one takes a closer look at the list of nominees, one will see that influencer status is what the Hollywood Foreign Press honestly cares about.