Hans Zimmer Slams Golden Globes for Snubbing Best Score

Sunday’s Golden Globes may have sparkled with the usual glitz, but not everyone left the ceremony in high spirits. Hans Zimmer, the mind behind the music of Inception, Gladiator, and the Dune series, found himself less than thrilled. Nominated for his work on F1: The Movie, Zimmer attended the event only to discover that the Best Original Score accolade would not be presented during the main broadcast. Instead, the award was quietly handed out while viewers were subjected to adverts—a move Zimmer didn’t hesitate to label as “ignorant.”

Zimmer, who did not take home the trophy this year, was nevertheless vocal about his disappointment. The composer, a two-time Oscar winner, was particularly irked that the moment meant to honour film music was tucked away, out of sight. Rather than celebrating the craft of scoring, the ceremony chose to spotlight categories such as Best Podcast, leaving many to question the priorities at play.

Zimmer’s Red Carpet Rebuke

Before the official proceedings kicked off, Zimmer addressed the decision head-on. Speaking to reporters, he didn’t mince words:

"It feels a little bit ignorant. We are the psychological underbelly of the whole thing.

This is a room filled with filmmakers who understand the mechanics and understand when I come home after working on a film, my children don't know who I am because I haven't been home for months…The composer has such an important role in making films by the time we come to the music, the director has been through war. Our first job is to remind him why he did this film in the first place."

Zimmer’s remarks underscored the sense of being undervalued, not just for himself but for all composers whose work shapes the emotional core of cinema. The decision to sideline the category was not lost on the nominees, who were informed ahead of time that their names would not be read out during the televised event.

Spotlight on Other Categories

While Ludwig Göransson ultimately claimed the award for his score in Sinners—a horror film that’s already generating Oscar buzz—the moment passed with little fanfare. The Golden Globes’ organisers had opted to cut the category from the main show on both CBS and Paramount+, a move that left many in the industry scratching their heads.

Host Nikki Glaser attempted to lighten the mood with a quip about Zimmer during her opening monologue, but the composer was not amused. When pressed on what he might say to those responsible for the decision, Zimmer replied:

"I wouldn't talk to them – I think our potential friendship has been canceled."

A Storied Career Overlooked

Zimmer’s frustration is perhaps understandable given his history with the Golden Globes. He first won in 1995 for The Lion King, and again in 2001 for Gladiator. His accolades also include two Academy Awards, with his most recent Oscar coming in 2022 for Dune. Despite such a distinguished career, the composer found himself and his peers relegated to the background, their contributions acknowledged only during a lull in the broadcast.