‘The Brutalist’, ‘Emilia Perez’ win top film honours at Golden Globes

The Brutalist, the story of a Holocaust survivor who chases the American dream, and the musical thriller Emilia Perez took home the first major movie honours of Hollywood's awards season at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

The Brutalist was named best movie drama and star Adrien Brody won best film actor. Emilia Perez claimed best movie musical or comedy.

At the red carpet ceremony in Beverly Hills, Demi Moore won best actress in a musical or comedy film for her leading role in The Substance, the story of a fading actress seeking a fountain of youth.

"I'm in shock," Moore, known for movies including St Elmo's Fire and Ghost, said as she held her trophy on stage.

"I've been doing this for a long time, more than 45 years. This is the first time I've won anything as an actor."

Sebastian Stan was named best actor in a film musical or comedy for A Different Man, a movie about a man with facial disfigurement.

"Our ignorance and discomfort around disability and disfigurement has to end," Stan said.

"We have to normalise it and continue to expose ourselves and our children to it."

Zoe Saldana appeared overwhelmed when she was named best supporting film actress for playing a lawyer who helps a Mexican drug lord start a new life and transition to a woman in the musical thriller Emilia Perez.

"My heart is full of gratitude to the Golden Globes for celebrating our film," Saldana said on stage while she wept through her speech and thanked her co-stars and director.

Kieran Culkin was named best supporting film actor for A Real Pain, a dramedy about cousins who travel to Poland to explore their family's roots.

At the start of the show, first time host Nikki Glaser welcomed the celebrity crowd to "Ozempic's biggest night" and teased Timothee Chalamet, Harrison Ford, Selena Gomez and other power players in the audience.

"You could do anything, except tell the country who to vote for," Glaser said, referring to widespread Hollywood support for the losing candidate in last year's US presidential election.

On the red carpet ahead of the show, celebrities dazzled in black, gold and silver gowns with an occasional red or periwinkle in the mix. Wicked star Ariana Grande wore a yellow Givenchy gown with a beaded bodice that she said was a tribute to the yellow brick road leading to Oz in the movie musical.

"It's so exciting to be here because I'm such a fan of every person I bump into," Grande said.

Globe honourees were chosen by 334 entertainment journalists from 85 countries, compared with roughly 9,000 voters who select the Academy Awards. The Globes voting body has been expanded in recent years and organisers instituted reforms after being criticised for ethical lapses and a lack of diversity.

Winning a Globe can shine a spotlight on movies and performances in the run-up to the Academy Awards in March.

Reuters