Golden Globe Ratings Plummet 7%: Is Hollywood Losing Its Spark? Find Out Why!

The 83rd Golden Globe Awards aired on CBS this past Sunday, but the event faced a notable ratings decline, averaging 8.66 million viewers. This figure marks a 7% decrease compared to last year's audience, highlighting a broader trend in diminishing viewership for major awards shows. Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser at the iconic Beverly Hilton, the ceremony featured significant wins for the film “One Battle After Another” and “Hamnet.” In television categories, HBO Max's medical drama “The Pitt” and comedy series “Hacks” emerged as the key winners of the night.

This year's broadcast marks the second consecutive audience decline for the Golden Globes, which attracted 9.2 million viewers in 2025, down from a rebound figure of 9.4 million viewers in 2024. That previous year had demonstrated a significant recovery, achieving a 50% lift over its final year on NBC. Such figures raise questions about the long-term viability of award shows in a rapidly changing media landscape.

The decline in ratings can be attributed to several factors. Viewers are increasingly turning to social media platforms for clips and highlights, diminishing the relevance of live broadcasts. This shift reflects changing viewer habits as audiences seek more immediate and digestible content. Moreover, the Golden Globe Awards have been dealing with the fallout from a scandal that revealed a lack of diversity within the membership of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. An investigation by the Los Angeles Times in 2021 spotlighted ethical concerns and questionable financial practices, prompting discussions about the need for reform in award show governance.

Viewers expressed dissatisfaction with certain production elements of this year's show, particularly criticizing the off-camera commentary provided by Marc Malkin, senior culture and events editor for Variety, and “Entertainment Tonight” co-host Kevin Frazier. Their dialogue during the lengthy journeys winners took to the stage was received poorly, with some social media users likening it to “your mom talking about who she just ran into at the supermarket,” as noted by film critic Dustin Putman.

Another controversial aspect was the use of on-screen graphics from the prediction market app Polymarket, which displayed the win probabilities of nominees in real-time. This partnership, which included an advertising buy during the broadcast, faced backlash from viewers. One user quipped, “Just push me in front of a bus at this point,” referring to the potential distraction caused by the additional data displayed during the ceremony.

The Golden Globe Awards' downward trend in viewership emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of how such events engage with audiences in the digital age. With the growth of streaming services and social media platforms, traditional formats may require significant adaptation to maintain relevance. As the entertainment industry undergoes substantial transformation, the future of awards shows remains uncertain, posing challenges for their organizers in appealing to both traditional viewers and a new generation of audiences.