Hans Zimmer Calls Out Golden Globes Over Sudden Rule Change

Well, here we go again. Film awards make a baffling decision, someone calls them out, and in this case, it’s none other than Hans Zimmer—not exactly a guy short on opinions, or Oscars. If you missed the drama, Zimmer took aim at the Golden Globes for snubbing what he considers one of the absolute pillars of moviemaking: the Original Score category. And by 'snub,' I mean the Globes didn’t even bother showing the award on live TV. It was given out during – wait for it – a commercial break. Apparently, music for movies was just too much for the broadcast schedule this year.

Zimmer Isn’t Mincing Words

Zimmer showed up for the 83rd annual Golden Globes, already knowing that the music category wouldn’t make the broadcast. When he was cornered for a red carpet interview by Deadline, he did not hold back, calling the decision 'a little bit ignorant.' (He even went as far as to say, basically, don't expect him to be chummy with the organizers after this. The man literally used the phrase: 'our potential friendship has been canceled.')

'We are the psychological underbelly of the whole thing.'

That’s Zimmer explaining how composers are foundational to filmmaking. He pointed out that after months of work—often away from family—the last thing music people need is to be shuffled off the main stage. And if you’ve ever seen the size of his scores, you know the guy puts in some overtime.

Zimmer even painted a pretty vivid picture of his job: by the time a composer comes in, the director is basically battle-scarred, and the music is what resurrects the original vision for the movie. So yeah, it isn’t just “background music.”

Why Did the Globes Downplay the Category?

Turns out, this wasn’t a last-second surprise. The showrunners decided days before the ceremony that they’d award Best Original Score during a commercial, blaming tight run-times (because apparently, we have time for jokes that don’t land and monologues that run long, but not a little recognition for the folks making your favorite scenes unforgettable).

How It Actually Went Down

• The Golden Globes took place this past Sunday, airing on both CBS and Paramount+.
• Zimmer was nominated for his work on Joseph Kosinski's 'F1'.
• Ultimate winner: Ludwig Göransson, who took home the trophy for 'Sinners.'
• Other composers up for it: Alexandre Desplat for 'Frankenstein', Jonny Greenwood for 'One Battle After Another', Kangding Ray for 'Sirat', and Max Richter for 'Hamnet.'
• The Best Original Score award? Handed out during a commercial break—not live, not even a mention on the main feed.

Final Thoughts

If you thought film music was just elevator tunes and filler, Zimmer’s definitely not having it—and, honestly, he’s got a point. There are only a handful of awards a composer can win in film, and if the Globes don’t see fit to air it, maybe it’s time to rethink what we call 'important.'