2017 Golden Globes: Streaming Strikes Again

2017

Best Television Series (Drama) – Nominated

Best Actress (Television Series Drama): Winona Ryder – Nominated

Netflix watchers love themselves a little nostalgia, and they got it by the truckload with "Stranger Things." From its grainy introduction to its callbacks to famous '80s movies, fan and critics were glued to Netflix in one of the most binge-able shows this year. Winona Ryder’s performance as distressed mother Joyce Byers was superb, but it was the overall performance from the rest of the cast that drove this show to Golden Globe nominations in its first season.

[Watch trailer here]

2017

Best Television Series (Drama) - Nominated

Best Supporting Actor (Series, Miniseries, Television Film): John Lithgow – Nominated

Best Actress (Drama): Claire Foy – Nominated

Even though Americans have shed the rule of a monarchy long ago, the intrigue of the lives of royalty remains today. "The Crown" is Netflix’s look into the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s rule in Great Britain. Behind the powerful performance of Claire Foy as the Queen, viewers get a down to earth look at one of the prominent royal figures of recent generations. John Lithgow also delivers a stirring rendition of the gruff Winston Churchill. The cinematography shows the audience some of the most beautiful landscapes and ornate sets on television today, making its first season nomination almost a formality.

[Watch trailer here]

2017

Best Motion Picture (Foreign Language) – Nominated

Coming off a successful investment in "Beasts of No Nation" last year, Netflix is trying to strike gold in film at the Golden Globes with the French foreign film, "Divines." The film follows Dounia, a Muslim teenager living on the outskirts of Paris. Her tough coming-of-age story won over critics with its strong female leads and glass-ceiling shattering themes. Netflix’s first appearance in a Best Motion Picture category faces strong opposition, but it shows that they are trying to be than just a hit TV show factory.

[Watch trailer here]

2017

Best Motion Picture (Foreign Language) – Nominated

In terms of Netflix's opposition, Amazon made a big effort to break into the film categories this year and it looks like it is paying off. Let’s start with "The Salesman," an Iranian-French film about actors in love who move into an apartment that may have been previously inhabited by a prostitute. An attack takes the couple on a suspenseful adventure to find out what happened. Amazon picked up the film after it won multiple awards on the film festival circuit, including two in Cannes. It is one of the stronger contenders to win the Best Motion Picture (Foreign Language) category. 

[Watch trailer here]

2017

Best Motion Picture (Drama) – Nominated

Best Actor (Drama): Casey Affleck – Nominated

Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams – Nominated

Best Director: Kenneth Lonergan – Nominated

Best Screenplay – Nominated

Amazon made a big splash when it announced it had purchased distribution rights for "Manchester by the Sea" for a cool $10 million, the second largest disclosed purchase at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Now, it’s becoming clear why they dropped all that cash. This critically acclaimed film stars Casey Affleck as an uncle trying to raise his nephew after the death of the boy’s father. This character-driven film sports a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has already won multiple film critic awards. "Manchester by the Sea" has a good chance to be the first streaming distributed film to win a Golden Globe award.

[Watch trailer here]

2017

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Nominated

Best Actor in Television Series (Musical or Comedy): Jeffrey Tambor – Nominated

2016

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Nominated

Best Actor in Television Series (Musical or Comedy): Jeffrey Tambor – Nominated

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film: Judith Light – Nominated

2015

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Won

Best Actor in Television Series (Musical or Comedy): Jeffrey Tambor – Won

Amazon’s first Golden Globe nominee is now a grizzled veteran on the awards circuit – relatively speaking. After being the first streaming-only show to win Best Television Series at the Golden Globes in 2015, "Transparent" is making its third straight appearance at the ceremony as a best comedy series nominee. This year, 2015 Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Tambor gets his third consecutive best actor nomination. The show was nominated for three Golden Globes last year, but came up empty. The show hopes things change for the better this year, but faces stiff competition from another Amazon show.

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2017

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Nominated

Best Actor in Television Series (Musical or Comedy): Gael Garcia Bernal – Nominated

2016

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Won

Best Actor in Television Series (Musical or Comedy): Gael Garcia Bernal – Won

"Mozart in the Jungle" burst onto the scene last year with Gael Garcia Bernal delivering a composed performance as eccentric conductor Rodrigo De Souza. It doesn’t look like the show is going away any time soon. After batting 1.000 last year, winning both awards it was nominated for at the Golden Globes, the musically-inclined series is making repeat appearances in both categories this year. Bernal has a good chance of repeating as best actor, while the show as a whole faces a tough fight against shows like HBO’s "Veep."

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2017

Best Actor (Drama Series): Billy Bob Thornton – Nominated

If ever there were a dramatic role that fit Bill Bob Thornton perfectly, it would be Billy McBride in "Goliath." Thornton brings to life a brilliant trial lawyer that has fallen on hard times, but is trying to fight one of the largest corporate law firms (that he helped build) to restore his name. In his way are small budgets, violent intimidation and a former colleague content to see his demise. He might not get the award this year because of a stacked actor field, but his vulnerable performance is definitely worth recognition.

[Watch trailer here]

2016

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Nominated

After seeing Amazon and Netflix dominate the streaming scene, Hulu starting investing in original content. Their initial effort was successful after securing their first nomination at the Golden Globes with the too-real dating comedy "Casual." While the show was unable to garner any nominations this year, "Casual" was showed that other streaming services that aren’t Netflix and Amazon can field critically acclaimed shows and be recognized for them.

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2016

Best Supporting Actor in Any Motion Picture: Idris Elba – Nominated

Netflix broke into the film awards for the first time at the Golden Globes last year with "Beasts of No Nation." Idris Elba’s performance as the brutal Commandant sent shivers up viewers' backs and drew rave reviews from critics, but was unable to secure the streaming service's first Golden Globe win.

[Watch trailer here]

2016

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture made for Television: Ben Mendelsohn – Nominated

A respected family, its dark secrets and a black sheep threatening to expose it all. "Bloodline" surprised a lot of critics with its beautifully shot scenes and big-time performances led by Ben Mendelsohn’s turn as Danny Rayburn, the oldest, cast out son of the Rayburn family. Unfortunately, this performance and its award potential is coming to a screeching halt soon because high production costs have caused the show to be cancelled after the upcoming third season. Savor the final moments of this moody show while you can.

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2016

Best Actress (Television Drama Series): Robin Wright – Nominated

2015

Best Television Series (Drama) – Nominated

Best Actor (Television Drama Series) – Kevin Spacey – Won

Best Actress (Television Drama Series) – Robin Wright – Nominated

2014

Best Television Series (Drama) – Nominated

Best Actor (Television Drama Series): Kevin Spacey – Nominated

Best Actress (Television Drama Series): Robin Wright – Won

Best Supporting Actor (Series, Miniseries, Television Film): Corey Stoll – Nominated

Netflix Originals' critical success can be traced back to one political thriller: "House of Cards." The first of Netflix’s original programming is still arguably their most successful. The political maneuverings of Frank and Claire Underwood has garnered eight Golden Globe nominations and two wins – best actress in 2014 and best actor in 2015. Critical fatigue might be setting in as they were left off the nominations list for 2017 after a mixed fourth season, but never count out this show especially after the election the United States just had.

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2016

Best Actress (Television Series Musical or Comedy): Lily Tomlin – Nominated

This hilariously awkward comedy is one of the funniest shows you are not watching. Two women are thrown into an unlikely friendship after their husbands announce they are in love with one another and plan to get married. Jane Fonda plays a former cosmetics businesswoman while Lily Tomlin was nominated for a best actress Golden Globe for her performance as free-spirited Frankie Bergstein. Their unique situation makes this one of the more original stories you’ll find in television today.

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2016

Best Actor (Television Series Musical or Comedy): Aziz Ansari – Nominated

This modern romantic comedy grabs you with its sincerity and charm from the first minute and never lets go. Aziz Ansari gives an almost too true to reality look at life as a single person more than a decade into the new millennium. From exploring the struggles of his immigrant parents to the awkwardness of dating, Ansari hits every note in this engaging show.

[Watch trailer here]

2016

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Nominated

Best Supporting Actress (Series, Miniseries, Television Film): Uzo Aduba – Nominated

2015

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) – Nominated

Best Actress (Television Series Musical or Comedy): Taylor Schilling – Nominated

Best Supporting Actress (Series, Miniseries, Television Film): Uzo Aduba – Nominated

2014

Best Actress (Television Series Drama): Taylor Schilling – Nominated

Another Netflix Original that was in on the ground floor, so to speak. "Orange is the New Black" was the third original series released by the streaming service and has been consistently one of its best. The dark comedy follows the journeys of women in prison while addressing racial and political issues. Its deep, character driven stories have resulted in six Golden Globe nominations in the last four years. Taylor Schilling’s role as Piper Chapman and Uzo Aduba’s performance as the misunderstood Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren have earned the actress two nominations while the series has a whole has been nominated twice for best comedy or musical television series. However, they were always the bridesmaid but never the bride, unable to secure a win. They won’t have a chance to change that this year either after being left out of the ceremony all together. 

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2016

Best Television Series (Drama) – Nominated

Best Actor (Television Series Drama): Wagner Moura – Nominated

Drugs, sex and murder. Welcome to the life of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. "Narcos" follows the enigmatic Escobar played by Wagner Moura has he navigates his way as the leader of the Medellin Cartel in Colombia. Moura was nominated for his performance in last year's Golden Globes while the series was under consideration for best drama television series. "Narcos" was curiously left off the list this year after a strong sophomore season.

[Watch season 1 trailer here]

2014

Best Actor (Television Series Musical or Comedy): Jason Bateman – Nominated

Yes, technically "Arrested Development" was on broadcast television long before it was on a streaming service. However, its revival in 2013 brought the cult comedy series to Netflix for a fourth season, where Jason Bateman’s reprisal as the semi-responsible Michael Bluth got him a best actor Golden Globe nomination in 2014. Unfortunately, a fifth season is not currently in the works, so we may not get to witness more Bluth chicken dances anytime soon.

[Watch season 4 trailer here]