Netflix and Apple TV+ have good news to report following this morning’s release of the Golden Globe nominations. Netflix landed on top with 34 nominations across film and TV, while Apple TV+ earned its first nods only weeks after the service’s launch.
Despite lukewarm reviews from critics, Apple TV+ received multiple Golden Globe nominations for its flagship series “The Morning Show,” starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Whitherspoon, and Steve Carell. The show was nominated for best drama series, and its two female stars, Aniston and Whitherspoon, were both nominated for lead actress in a drama series.
Apple TV+ launched on November 1 with only a handful of shows, including fan-favorite “Dickinson,” space race drama “For All Mankind” and dystopian drama “See,” among others. However, “The Morning Show” which deals with the aftermath of a sexual misconduct scandal in the world of morning TV, is easily the best Apple TV+ series thanks to its star power. Even reviewers who dinged the show for its sometimes overwrought dialog admitted that Jennifer Aniston’s performance has been fantastic.
Following the launch of Apple TV+, many viewers found themselves at odds with the critics’ take, as they were actually enjoying many of the service’s shows. “The Morning Show” executive producers, Mimi Leder and Kerry Ehrin, later said they believed all the bad reviews were aimed more at Apple than at the shows themselves.
The nominations are Apple’s first for the Golden Globes, though the company had dabbled in TV before the streaming service’s launch, with shows like “Carpool Karaoke” and “Planet of the Apps.” Neither of those seemed to be award show-worthy series, but the former did get (undeserved) Emmy attention in the variety special category.
While Apple TV+ was having a breakout moment, Netflix was having an even bigger year.
Netflix this year landed 34 nominations across film and TV, including six for Noah Baumach’s drama “Marriage Story,” five for Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” and four each for its original series “The Crown” and “Unbelievable.” Netflix’s “The Kominsky Method” and “The Politician” were also nominated for best TV series, musical or comedy, and its film “The Two Popes” was nominated for best motion picture.
The nods to “Marriage Story” included best picture, actor, actress and screenplay, while “The Irishman” snagged nominations for best director, best-supporting actors (Joe Pesci and Al Pacino) and best screenplay.
In total, Netflix led all programmers with 17 Golden Globe TV nominations to HBO’s 15.
HBO’s “Chernobyl,” “Barry,” “Succession” and “Big Little Lies” also earned nods, as did Amazon’s “Fleabag.”
Netflix and HBO were followed by Hulu (5), Prime Video (5) and Apple TV+ (3). Outside digital, FX scored four TV noms, followed by Showtime (3), BBC America (2) and USA Network (1).
On the film side, Netflix landed 17 nominations, more than double the next nearest competitor Sony Pictures Releasing (8). Amazon Studios also scored three.