Every awards season, the same question pops up:Do the Golden Globes actually matter, or is it all about the Oscars?
The short answer:
they do matter — just not in the same way.
The Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards might look similar on TV, but they work very differently behind the scenes. Those differences shape who wins, who gets attention, and how the entire awards race plays out.
Let’s break it down in plain language.
The Core Difference: Who Votes and What They Reward
This is where everything starts.
The Golden Globes
- Voted by: A small group of international entertainment journalists
- What they honour: Both movies and TV shows
- Categories: Split major film awards into Drama and Musical, or Comedy
Because of that split, more films get recognised, and riskier or more entertaining movies have a real chance to win.
The Oscars
- Voted by: Thousands of industry professionals — actors, directors, writers, editors, and more
- What they honour: Movies only
- Categories: Mostly single, all-inclusive categories likeBest Picture.
This makes the Oscars harder to win and more focused on industry-wide agreement.
Why the Voting Size Changes Everything
The size of the voting body makes a significant difference.
As mentioned above, the Golden Globes are decided by a relatively small group of voters, while the Oscars are decided by a massive system made up of thousands of industry professionals.
Because the Globes are voted on in a much smaller room, decisions occur more quickly and tend to reflect strong reactions and bold choices in the moment.
The Oscars move more slowly, with winners shaped by long discussions and broad agreement, which usually leads to safer picks built on long-term respect.
That’s why a movie that feels exciting right now can win big at the Globes, while a movie that steadily holds up over months of debate often ends up winning at the Oscars — making Globe wins feel surprising and Oscar wins feel almost inevitable.
Film and TV on the Same Night Matters More Than You Think
Another big reason the Golden Globes feel different is that they celebrate movies and TV on the same night, which the Oscars don’t do.
That one choice completely changes the vibe of the ceremony. The Globes feel more relaxed, more celebrity-driven, and more open to genre shows and popular performances instead of only “serious” prestige work.;
When TV actors win alongside film stars, it lowers the old prestige wall and makes the whole event feel closer to how people actually watch things today —jumping between streaming shows and movies without much distinction.
That mix is a big reason the Globes still feel culturally relevant, especially for younger audiences who don’t separate film and TV the way Hollywood used to.
The Drama vs Comedy Split Is a Big Deal
This is actually the Golden Globes’ biggest advantage.
By splitting major awards into Drama and Musical or Comedy, the Globes give different kinds of moviesa fair shot.
-Serious, heavy films don’t automatically crush lighter ones
-Comedies and crowd-pleasers can actually win something meaningful
-Smaller or stranger films get room to stand out
The Oscars don’t do this — everything competes in the same category. So quieter or fun films often get buried.
That’s why some movies peak early at the Globes and then fade later, while others skip Globes wins entirely and dominate at the Oscars.
Why the Golden Globes Still Matter in the Awards Race
People love to say the Golden Globe Awards don’t matter anymore, but studios clearly don’t act like that.
A Golden Globe win still has real value because it happens early, when the awards conversation is still forming. Winning can create headlines overnight, push people to finally watch a movie in theatres or on streaming, and turn a film that was just “in the mix” into a serious Oscar contender
It doesn’t guarantee an Oscar win, nothing does —, but it does change perception. On the other hand, losing at the Globes can quietly cool momentum, especially for films that need that early boost. That’s the real power of the Globes: not trophies, but timing.
The Simple Way to Understand the Difference
Here it is, stripped down:
Golden Globes: Reward momentum, buzz, and impact
Oscars: Reward consensus, craft, and lasting respect
One starts the conversation.
The other ends it.
Once you see that, awards season makes a lot more sense — and the so-called “surprises” stop being surprising at all.
