'Nomadland' and 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' Are Top Movies at the 2021 Golden Globes

Fey and Poehler ended another "weird, wonderful Golden Globes" by throwing back to a birthday shoutout Jane Fonda had made earlier in the night: "Happy birthday, Tommy Tune!" they shouted gleefully. Happy birthday, indeed.

Catherina Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas presented the final award of the night, with director Chloé Zhao accepting the top award for Nomadland. Zhao was speechless, thanking her fellow nominees, the author of the book that inspired her film and star Frences McDormand. "Nomadland at its core, for me, is a pilgrimage through grief and healing. So, for everyone who had gone through this difficult and beautiful journey at some point in their lives, this is for you. We don't say goodbye, we say, 'See you down the road.'"

The United States vs. Billie Holiday actress beat out the likes of Viola Davis and Frances McDormand and was clearly just as shocked as everyone watching at home. "Can you just give me the paper please?" a tearful Day asked someone off-camera, reading off his acceptance speech thank you's. "I can't believe I'm in the presence of giants," she added of her fellow nominees. "You inspire me very much." She concluded by paying thanks to the one and only Billie Holiday herself.

After winning Best Comedy Film, the Borat star sent another round of thank you's to his Subsequent Moviefilm cast and crew, particularly his bodyguard, "who stopped me getting shot twice." He also made a jab at the former president, saying, "Hold on, Donald Trump is contesting the results," Cohen joked. "He's claiming that a lot of dead people voted, which is a very rude thing to say about the HFPA."

Who better to present the Globe for Best Musical or Comedy than Barb and Star (aka Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo)? If they can't win the award themselves, then we're happy to see it go to the Borat sequel. Sasha Baron Cohen accepted the award, first thanking "the all-white Hollywood Foreign Press" and his breakout co-stars, Rudy Giuliani and Maria Bakalova. "Most of all, thank you to my incredible patient wife, Isla [Fisher], who's put up with all my madness."

The Nomadland director made history, becoming just the second woman ever to win Best Director (following Barbra Streisand in 1984) and second Asian director to take home the honor (following Ang Lee in 2006).

"This award belongs to the whole Nomadland team," Zhao said, sending a special word of thanks to the real-life nomads in the film, including Bob Wells, who offered her a statement include in her speech: "Compassion is the breakdown of all the barriers between us, a heart-to-heart bonding. Your pain is my pain, it's mingled and shared between us."

The late actor is a posthumous first-time Golden Globe winner for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, with his wife accepting the award on his behalf, Simone Ledward Boseman. "He would thank god. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices," she tearfully said on his behalf. "He would say something beautiful, something inspiring, something that would amplify that little voice inside all of that tells you that you can… I don't have his words, but we have to take all the moments to celebrate those we love, so thank you HFPA for giving me the opportunity to do just that. And hon? You keep 'em coming."

Executive producer William Horberg accepted the award on the series behalf, first thanking his producing partner for acquiring the rights to the Walter Tevis novel the miniseries is based on "three years before Anya Taylor-Joy was born." And on the heels of his leading lady's own win, Horberg added, "How can someone who's such a joy to work with be literally named hyphen Joy?"

The titular queen of The Queen's Gambit has been crowned a Golden Globe winner. "Nicole, Cate, everybody! I've spent so much time with you all over lockdown, I feel like I know you. Thank you for your work," she gushed over her fellow nominees, before thanking everyone who worked on the show.

The Crown star admitted that she was calm up until the moment her name was called. "And then you start freaking out!" Anderson thanked the hair and makeup team up who helped bring her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher to the screen, as well as her cast, crew and creator Peter Morgan, "for imagining that I could inhabit Mrs. T."

A surprise nomination leads to a surprise win. "Are you kidding me?" The Mauritanian star exclaimed. "I'm a little speechless. I just never expected to ever be here again." Foster thanked her wife, Alex, her co-stars (including fellow nominee Tahar Rahim and Shailene Woodley), the real-life people who inspired the Guantanamo Bay drama, and... Aaron Rodgers!

Following an opening package celebrating Fonda's acting, activism and, well, ass -- that last one courtesy of former co-star Fey -- the icon herself appeared in person to accept the honor. "I'm so moved to receive this honor," she began, launching into a speech about the power of storytelling. "[Stories] generate a new energy that can jolt us open...so we can see and hear what we may have been afraid of seeing and hearing."

Listing off the films and television that emotionally moved her this year -- including the Globes-snubbed I May Destroy You -- Fonda added, "There's been a story we've been afraid to see and hear about ourselves in this industry… a story about who's offered a seat at the table and who's kept out of the room where decisions are made."

She concluded with a call to action for all of her peers: "Let's be leaders."

Creator Peter Morgan accepted his second award for The Crown in the Best Drama field, listing by name many of the crew and stars of the royal family drama. "I'm just sorry that I'm sitting here in my tragic little office, not surrounded by the people that make this show such a pleasure to make," he said, as his cast smiled on.

Director Lee Isaac Chung's young daughter jumped on him as Minari was named the winner. "I prayed! I prayed!" she exclaimed as she hugged him. Chung paid thanks to his cast, crew and family, including his daughter. "She's the reason I made this film."

The win comes following controversy over the HFPA's eligibility rules, which barred Minari from inclusion in the Best Picture fields because more than 50 percent of the dialogue is in a language other than English. "I hope we'll all learn how to speak this language of love to each other, especially this year," Chung said.

The Crown star pulled off a surprise win, following on-screen wife Emma Corrin's Best Actress victory, as co-stars Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson celebrated them via video chat. "Thank you so much to everyone who makes the Crown what it is," O'Connor marveled, growing emotional. "I've had the time of my life making this show." He ended with a call for mental health awareness.

Ben Stiller and a Golden Globe trophy made out of banana bread were on hand to announce this unexpected win for Pike's turn in I Care A Lot. "Ladies, I salute you," she said to her fellow nominees. "I am so honored to be in this room with you. In my movie, I had to swim up from a sinking car. I think I probably would rather do that than be in a room with Rudy Giuliani," Pike added in reference to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm's Maria Bakalova.

The comedy followed up its Emmys sweep with a Golden Globe win for its final season. "I would like to congratulate our amazing cast and crew," creator Dan Levy said. "Your work over the last six seasons has taken us to places we never thought possible, and we are so grateful to you for it."

"This acknowledgement is a vote of confidence in the messages that Schitt's Creek has come to stand for," he added, making a call for the HFPA to fully embrace diversity and inclusivity in upcoming years.

Ted Lasso stays winning. A shocked Sudeikis (who accepted the award in a tie dye hoodie) made sure to remind himself not to swear during his acceptance speech, instead vamping, "That's nuts. This is, for me, the coolest thing that a group of-- That's nuts. That's crazy. Wow," before sharing a lesson he learned from his son that no one is, in fact, the best. Don Cheadle jokingly gave him the "wrap it up" as his "windy" speech sweetly went on and on.

Double nominees Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross thanked their respective families, with Reznor adding a special thanks to Pixar for giving him a unique opportunity: "I think this is the first piece of art I've ever made in my life that I can actually show my kids."

Jon Batiste, meanwhile, said, "This soul is happy today to be recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press. I'd like to thank God for music and film and the togetherness it brings when put together in such innovative and collaborative ways."

In somewhat of an upset, the track from The Life Ahead was named the winner, with Warren and performer Laura Pausini paying thanks to star Sophia Loren, among others.

The nominees in this category had a cute moment on their Zoom chat -- with Sarah Paulson holding her dog up to say hi to Corrin's cat -- before Corrin won her first award for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown. "Thank you to my incredible cast and crew for being by my side this entire time," she said, as co-star and fellow nominee Olivia Colman celebrated in her own Zoom window. "Finally, thank you so much to Diana, you have taught me compassion and empathy beyond any measure that I could imagine." 

Following an introductory tribute narrated by Wanda Sykes, Lear appeared virtually to accept his honor. "It knocks me out to accept this award in the name of Carol Burnett. I could not feel more blessed," he said. "I am convinced that laughter adds time to one’s life, and no one’s made me laugh more than Carol Burnett."

After paying thanks to many of his past collaborators and mentors, Lear said of his family, "At close to 99, I can tell you that I've never lived alone, I've never laughed alone, and that has as much to do with my being here today as anything else I know."

To fulfill Poehler's promise that the night would include more sloppy acceptance speeches that go on for way too long, fellow SNL alums Rudolph and Thompson took the stage to accept the award for "Least Original Song."

"Bear with me, I had a vodka epidural before I came here," Rudolph began before handing over her three shoes to Poehler. The pair then ad-libbed part of their speech in French, performed the (incorrect) theme song for The Crown and sent a shout out to their parents for "being horny that time."

Sorkin won his third award in the category for The Trial of the Chicago 7, and began his speech by shouting out Emerald Fennell and Chloé Zhao, the women nominated alongside him. "You are the reason my college-aged daughter wants to be a filmmaker, and I'm never gonna forgive you for that," he joked.

Turns out twice the Ruffalo is a winning formula, as the I Know This Much Is True actor took home the Globe. "I love you guys," he told his family, with his wife sitting next to him and his kids running around in the background celebrating, before launching into a message of inclusivity, connection and care for Mother Earth.

Director Peter Docter, co-director Kemp Powers and producer Dana Murray accepted the award on behalf of the Pixar film. "I really do think our story is universal," Powers said. "So many friends and strangers from all walks of life wrote to tell us how this film resonated with them and how grateful they were to be reminded that the seemingly simple everyday moments of life are often the most important."

The Schitt's Creek star followed up her Emmy win with a Globe, appearing virtually with her Bo Welch, who both applauded for her and then joking cut her speech off to play her off with music on his phone.

"I am happily and seriously indebted to Eugene and Dan Levy," O'Hara marveled. "They created an inspiring, funny, beautiful family love story in which they let me wear 100 wigs and speak like an alien... I'm proud to be part of their family."

The Small Axe actor won his first Golden Globe for his performance in the Steve McQueen's anthology series. "I'm so shocked, I don't even know what to say," Boyega said, before showing off the Balenciaga tracksuit he was wearing despite attending the awards show from home.

The Judas and the Black Messiah actor was named the winner and faced the first technical issue of the night, beginning his acceptance speech without any audio. "As you can see, we unfortunately have a bad connection," presenter Laura Dern said.

"You're doing me dirty!" Kaluuya exclaimed as his audio kicked in, then gave his proper acceptance speech, ending with a quote from Nipsey Hustle: "We give until we're empty" and paying tribute to the late Fred Hampton.

In the week leading up to Sunday's ceremony, an investigation revealed that there are no Black members within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association -- which the voting body vowed to fix ASAP. Still, Fey and Poehler addressed it in their opening monologue.

"Look, a lot of flashy garbage got nominated but that happens, that's their thing," Poehler joked of the HFPA, before noting, "But a lot of Black actors and Black-led projects got overlooked this year."

"The point is, even with stupid things, inclusivity is important, and there are no Black members of the HFPA," Fey added. "I realize, HFPA, maybe you guys didn't get the memo because your workplace is the back booth of a French McDonalds, but you gotta change that. So here's to changing it."

Hosting for the first time since 2015, Tina and Amy kicked off the bicoastal show with a no holds barred monologue, utilizing questionable split-screen technology to make it appear as if they are on the same stage and with an audience full of "smoking hot first responders and essential workers," who were masked and socially distanced "so the celebrities can stay safe at home," Fey joked.

The pair celebrated this year's biggest TV and film nominees -- "It's hard to tell them apart this year, because movies theaters were closed and we watched everything on our phones," joked Poehler -- "and, of course, the cranberry juice skateboard guy. He's gonna skateboard to all the nominated songs tonight."