The award for best drama film to “Hamnet – In the Name of the Son”, an emotional retelling of William Shakespeare’s personal story, is a sign that Chloe Zhao’s adaptation of the award-winning novel by Northern Irish writer Maggie O’Farrell could have an excellent chance ahead of the Oscars in March. Zhao and O’Farrell co-wrote the screenplay. The film beat «Frankenstein», «A simple accident», «The secret agent», «Sentimental Value» and «Sinners».
Because the Golden Globes divide the best picture award into two categories, the competition in this case did not include such works as “The Battle of the World” and “Marty Supreme,” which could come into play at the Oscars when nominations are announced this month. The story is a fictionalized reconstruction of the death of Shakespeare’s son Hamnet, a tragedy that the film imagines inspired the creation of “Hamlet.”
The central character, however, is Agnes, William’s wife, played by Jessie Buckley as an almost witch-like woman, whose spirit is devastated by the loss of her son. Buckley won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her performance, while Paul Mescal was named Best Supporting Actor for his role as Shakespeare.
Together with “Hamnet”, the great protagonists of the first Hollywood night of 2026, prologue to the night of the Oscars, were certainly “Adolescence”, the British miniseries centered on a problematic boy, and “One battle after another”. The first saw the victory of four Golden Globes, from best miniseries to best leading actor, best supporting actress and the young Owen Cooper, 16 years old, awarded best supporting actor. «One battle after another» received nine nominations and won four awards, including best comedy. But Leonardo DiCaprio did not win the Golden Globe for best actor, beaten together with George Clooney by the young Timothee Chalamet, for his role in «Marty Supreme», destined for a legendary career.