2021 Golden Globes nominations: Biggest snubs and surprises

By Stephen Iervolino

As is the case every year, there were "sure things" when it came to the 2021 Golden Globe nominations, as well as some big snubs and surprises and some head-scratchers.

Among the biggest head-scratchers was the lack of love for "Malcolm & Marie." The film had been on the awards show short-list since critics first started screening the movie, which earned accolades for its two leads Zendaya and John David Washington. But neither the two stars nor the film, which was filmed during the pandemic lockdowns, were recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Similarly, Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods" was nowhere to be seen on Wednesday morning, despite a National Society of Film Critics best actor award for Delroy Lindo and a posthumous supporting actor win for Chadwick Boseman. The film also won best film and best director for Lee from the National Board of Review.

Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images

Meryl Streep attends the photo call for 'The Laundromat' during the 76th Venice Film Festival, Sept. 1, 2019, in Venice, Italy.

Meryl Streep was not recognized for her work in "Let Them All Talk." She was also ignored for "The Prom," which earned a nomination for James Corden as well as a best motion picture nomination in the musical or comedy category. Streep has snagged 32 nominations thus far and has nine wins, one of which being the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Other snubs of note included Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett, who were left out in the acting categories for "Lovecraft Country," despite their series earning a best drama series nomination.

Also missing from the HFPA's nominations list was Shonda Rhimes' massive Netflix hit "Bridgerton" and its lauded cast as well as anything for Michaela Coel's "I May Destroy You."

Walt Disney Pictures

A scene from "Hamilton."

The Tony and Grammy-winning musical "Hamilton" was nominated for a best film Golden Globe in the musical or comedy category, some six years after its Broadway debut. This, of course, is a filmed version of a 2016 stage performance, which aired over last summer on Disney+. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda was nominated in the acting category, while Leslie Odom Jr. was not.

This year's nominations list managed to shatter a glass ceiling, however, with three women nominated as best director: Regina King for "One Night In Miami," Chloe Zhao for "Nomadland" and Emerald Fennell for "Promising Young Woman." All three films were also nominated in other categories.

Hosted again by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 28.