Asian-led projects dominate Golden Globes’ animation category

The 2026 Golden Globe Award nominations, announced Monday morning by Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall, prominently includes Asian talent across film, television, and animation.

Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet emerged as a major contender, securing not only a Best Motion Picture Drama nomination but also earning Zhao recognition in Best Director Motion Picture and Best Screenplay Motion Picture (with co-writer Maggie O’Farrell). 

Also in the drama field, Sinners—which features Asian diasporic performers Hailee Steinfeld, Li Jun Li, and Yao—landed seven nominations, including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Screenplay, and Cinematic Box Office Achievement. 

The Iranian film It Was Just an Accident earned four major nominations, including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director for Jafar Panahi, Best Motion Picture Non-English Language, and Best Screenplay.

Park Chan Wook's South Korean film No Other Choice secured three nominations. One in Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and Best Motion Picture Non-English Language. The film’s lead star, Lee Byung-Hun, also received a nod in Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture  Musical or Comedy. Additionally, the docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab, about the killing of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl named Hind Rajab, is also nominated for Best Motion Picture Non-English Language.

Dwayne Johnson's A24 film The Smashing Machine has earned two nominations. Johnson for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for Emily Blunt.

One of the most significant showcases of Asian-led artistry appeared in Best Motion Picture Animated, in which all five nominees were projects created by or center Asian or Asian diasporic artists. Japan’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle shares the category with Disney’s Elio, directed by Domee Shi and starring Yonas Kibreab; Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters; GKids’ Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, co-directed by Liane-Cho Han; and Zootopia 2, featuring Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan as Gary De'Snake.

Notably, Asian talent is also woven throughout the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement category, in which nearly every nominated blockbuster features meaningful Asian involvement both on-screen and behind the camera. Avatar: Fire and Ash includes Trinity Bliss among its ensemble, while F1 stirred conversation after cutting Simone Ashley from the final film despite her early involvement. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning features Pom Klementieff, and Weapons features Benedict Wong. Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good includes Michelle Yeoh and Bowen Yang. Kpop Demon Hunters and Zootopia 2 also received nominations in this category. 

Chart-topping smash hit “Golden” from Kpop Demon Hunters was nominated for Best Original Song Motion Picture, with singer and songwriter EJAE being highlighted as a lyricist. The rest of the team behind “Golden” including Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Park Hong Jun were also listed for their contributions to the music. Other songs nominated include “Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire And Ash, “I Lied To You” from Sinners, and “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good. 

Asian talent is also visible across the nominees for Best Television Series Drama, in which several of the year’s most acclaimed shows feature notable Asian diasporic actors or creative contributions. The Diplomat includes Ali Ahn in its ensemble, while Severance continues to highlight performers such as Sarah Bock and Dichen Lachman. Slow Horses features Christopher Chung, and The White Lotus, set this season in Thailand, featured Lisa of BLACKPINK in her debut acting role as Mook and Tayme Thapthimthong as Gaitok. The White Lotus received a total of six nominations, primarily in acting categories for the likes of Parker Posey and Walton Goggins, among others.

On the Best Television Musical or Comedy side, Nobody Wants This featuring Sherry Cola and The Studio featuring Chase Sui Wonders was nominated. 

Lastly, Kumail Nanjiani earned a nomination for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy for Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts.

A full list of nominees can be found here.

The 2026 Golden Globes will air at 5 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Jan. 11, with Nikki Glaser once again hosting, on CBS and will also stream on Paramount+.