Kieran Culkin’s Win at the Golden Globes Was a Welcome Surprise

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  • Kieran Culkin Won the Award for His Role in ‘A Real Pain’
  • The First Win for Culkin in a Feature Film
  • Culkin’s Win Increases His Chances at the Oscars

On January 6, 2025, the Golden Globes Awards ceremony took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The event, emceed by comedian and TV host Nikki Glaser, was filled with unexpected moments as well as some disappointments. Among the numerous wins, Kieran Culkin stood out, taking home the award for Best Supporting Actor, surpassing several renowned actors in the process. This unexpected victory has been warmly received by fans.

The outcome of the 2025 Golden Globe Awards can provide a significant clue about what the upcoming Oscars might look like, and this is also true for Macaulay Culkin. Should Culkin win at the Golden Globes, it increases his chances of winning an Oscar as well. However, considering his fellow nominees at the Golden Globes, the competition is quite intense. For instance, Denzel Washington, who was also nominated with Culkin, could potentially secure his third Oscar victory if he wins in the upcoming awards season.

Kieran Culkin Won the Award for His Role in ‘A Real Pain’

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Kieran Culkin earned the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of Benji Kaplan in the film “A Real Pain.” Released in cinemas on November 1, 2024, following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, this Jesse Eisenberg-directed comedy-drama received widespread acclaim. The movie is based in contemporary Poland and focuses on cousins David (played by Eisenberg) and Benji as they embark on a journey inspired by their grandmother. Both critics and audiences lauded the film, creating a buzz ahead of awards season. Culkin’s portrayal of Benji was singled out, with viewers commending his charming and layered performance.

Leading up to the buzz surrounding award season, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” was a highly debated film, with Denzel Washington being speculated as a strong contender for the Best Supporting Actor award. As a sequel to the critically acclaimed and much-loved “Gladiator” (2000), “Gladiator II” was one of the most anticipated films of 2024, eventually becoming the 12th highest-grossing film of the year. In this movie, Denzel Washington portrays Macrinus, a shrewd trader with influential connections. His character, brimming with political cunning and ambition, was both admired by fans and praised by critics. However, despite “Gladiator II” earning over $451 million worldwide, it only garnered two nominations at the 2025 Golden Globes.

The First Win for Culkin in a Feature Film

At the 2025 Golden Globes, Macaulay Culkin secured his first significant win for a feature film. Prior to this, he had been honored with the award for Best Actor in a TV Drama at the 2024 Golden Globes for his performance in the TV series “Succession.” Interestingly, his 2025 victory mirrored his previous one, as he bested other notable contenders like Pedro Pascal to clinch the prestigious award. The HBO drama “Succession,” which aired from 2018 to 2023, cast Culkin in the role of Roman Roy, the youngest son of Caroline Collingwood and Logan Roy.

In the 2025 competition for a prestigious award, Macaulay Culkin triumphed over notable contenders such as Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Yuriy Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) and Succession co-star Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice). The victory cemented Culkin’s place among the pantheon of great actors. Upon receiving the award, an ecstatic Culkin expressed his joy by greeting fellow actor Mario Lopez on stage.

Mario Lopez, my spouse and I took a round of tequila together. Needless to say, I’m feeling it! Can’t think straight right now!

Culkin’s Win Increases His Chances at the Oscars

Macaulay Culkin’s victory at the Golden Globes came as an unexpected delight amidst fierce competition. It was a win that stood out among the rest and could potentially signal good fortune for him at the Academy Awards. Culkin’s success at the Golden Globes bolsters his status as a strong contender for the Oscars, making him one of the top competitors in the race for the prestigious award.

Historically, winners in the Best Supporting Actor category at the Golden Globes have often gone on to win the same award at the Oscars. As ScreenRant reports, this trend holds true 44 times out of 81 years, and over the past ten years, it’s been a success 70% of the time. This suggests that Macaulay Culkin, who has never been nominated for an Academy Award before, might have a good chance at winning one this year.

Despite the possibility that another competitor might surpass Macaulay Culkin, particularly Denzel Washington who is currently the second-favorite bet for winning and has received praise for his performance in “Gladiator II” as well as a dedicated fan base, there’s still optimism for Culkin due to instances where an Oscar win follows closely on the heels of a Golden Globe. For instance, Ke Huy Quan, Troy Kotsur, Brad Pitt, and Mahershala Ali have all received awards in the Supporting Actor category at the Oscars after securing corresponding wins at the Golden Globe Awards.

Despite Macaulay Culkin winning the award, the movie “A Real Pain” was nominated in four categories at the 2025 Golden Globes: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. After garnering significant recognition at the 2025 Golden Globes, it has been officially announced that “A Real Pain” will be accessible on streaming platforms starting January 16. Additionally, the movie will also be available on Disney+ for subscribers who have an added Hulu service.

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2025-01-15 05:01