The 74th Golden Globe Awards took place at the Hollywood Hilton on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Over the course of the roughly three-hour broadcast, the evening produced several memorable moments, most notably a dominant run for La La Land and a standout tribute and acceptance by Meryl Streep.
Jimmy Fallon served as host for the ceremony. While his approach differed from previous hosts such as Ricky Gervais or the duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, the show still offered several notable highlights and performances that drew attention throughout the night.
Below is a concise summary of the event’s major winners and the key moments that shaped the evening.
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (‘Nocturnal Animals’)
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s surprise win for his role in Nocturnal Animals marked a significant achievement. Many observers had expected either Jeff Bridges or Mahershala Ali to prevail, but Taylor-Johnson’s complex portrayal of the film’s antagonist earned him the award. In a gracious acceptance speech, he thanked his wife and young family and joined the list of youngest recipients of the Best Supporting Actor Globe.
Best Original Score – Motion Picture: Justin Hurwitz (‘La La Land’)
Best Original Song – Motion Picture: “City of Stars” (‘La La Land’)
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Viola Davis (‘Fences’)
Viola Davis earned the Best Supporting Actress award for her powerful work in Fences. Her performance, consistently praised by critics, outshone notable contenders and resonated with the Hollywood Foreign Press. Davis described the timing of the recognition as perfect and thanked the producers and collaborators for bringing a deeply personal story to the screen.
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical: Ryan Gosling (‘La La Land’)
Ryan Gosling’s subtle, humorous, and emotionally rich performance in La La Land won the Comedy/Musical lead actor award. In his brief acceptance, he paid tribute to a recently deceased family member and acknowledged colleagues. The evening also featured light-hearted red-carpet moments that attracted tabloid attention, but Gosling’s win highlighted his growth as a leading man in a career-defining role.
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture: Damien Chazelle (‘La La Land’)
Best Motion Picture – Animated: Zootopia
Zootopia took the Best Animated Motion Picture Globe, recognized for its thoughtful approach to themes of prejudice and stereotyping. Balancing humor and social commentary, the Disney film stood out among strong animated contenders and offered both entertainment and meaningful lessons for family audiences.
Best Foreign Language Film: Elle
Paul Verhoeven’s Elle won the Best Foreign Language Film award, surprising some who expected Toni Erdmann to dominate after its European Film Awards success. Verhoeven acknowledged lead actress Isabelle Huppert and noted the film’s challenging characters, which can complicate audience sympathy yet provoke deep discussion.
Cecil B. DeMille Award: Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in recognition of her extraordinary career. Introduced by Viola Davis, Streep delivered an emotionally resonant acceptance address that included a plea for tolerance and spoke against the mistreatment of immigrants. She closed with a moving tribute to her late friend Carrie Fisher, delivering one of the ceremony’s most powerful and widely discussed moments.
Best Director – Motion Picture: Damien Chazelle (‘La La Land’)
Damien Chazelle earned Best Director for La La Land, confirming his status as a major filmmaking talent at a young age. The win followed his earlier success with Whiplash and underscored the technical and emotional precision that made La La Land a standout production. Chazelle’s acceptance reflected both gratitude and genuine emotion at the film’s recognition.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical: Emma Stone
Emma Stone won Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role in La La Land. Her acceptance combined gratitude toward her family—particularly her mother—with an uplifting message about perseverance and following creative dreams. The award marked a high point in Stone’s steadily deepening and varied career.
Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical: La La Land
La La Land completed a remarkable sweep, winning seven awards from seven nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. The film’s success reflected strong support from the Hollywood Foreign Press and showcased its blend of classic musical elements with contemporary storytelling.
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Casey Affleck (‘Manchester by the Sea’)
Casey Affleck, a frequent frontrunner during the awards season, won Best Actor in a Drama for Manchester by the Sea. His acceptance paid tribute to fellow nominees and the cast and crew who collaborated on the film’s intimate portrayal of grief and responsibility.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Isabelle Huppert (‘Elle’)
Isabelle Huppert’s performance in the French-language film Elle earned her the Best Actress in a Drama Globe. Her win was one of the night’s surprises and she accepted the honor with heartfelt emotion, touching on the unique international collaboration behind the film’s production.
Best Motion Picture – Drama: Moonlight
Moonlight won Best Motion Picture – Drama, closing the ceremony on an uplifting note for its cast and creative team. Director Barry Jenkins used his acceptance to encourage audiences to seek out and support smaller films, emphasizing the importance of sharing and discussing diverse cinematic voices. The win celebrated the film’s emotional depth and cultural impact.