Golden Globes Add Two New Categories: Box Office Achievement and Stand-Up Comedy

The Golden Globes will introduce two new categories to this season’s awards, one for “Cinematic and Box Office Achievement” and one for “Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television.” The news was first published exclusively by Variety.

The box office award, the first new competitive film award from the org since the Best Animated Feature category in 2006, will honor motion pictures will large box office reach but first must hit a benchmark gross of $150M ($100M of which must come from the U.S.) or commensurate digital streaming numbers from “trusted industry sources.” Eight films will be nominated.

The Stand-Up comedy award, the first new competitive television award in 42 years (Best Actor and Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie in 1981) will honor work from a comic in a traditional stand-up format or as an individual breakout in a troupe or ensemble. Comedy specials airing on broadcast, basic and premium cable, streaming and pay-per-view cable will considered. Specials must have a recognized media platform via broadcast, basic and premium cable, streaming, and pay-per-view cable and individual social media accounts will not be eligible. There will be six nominees.

“The Golden Globes has a rich history of supporting and celebrating the work of comedians, and we’re thrilled to honor their brilliance alongside outstanding motion picture and television performances of the year,” Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne told Variety. “Additionally, we are proud to recognize the hard work and innovation that goes into making a film that is both a blockbuster and artistically exceptional.”

Nominations for the 81st Golden Globe Awards will be announced on December 11 and the ceremony will air live on January 7 on a yet to be determined network or platform.

Here is the full description and eligibility rules for the new Golden Globes categories:

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement 
The Cinematic and Box Office Achievement includes nominees from the year’s most acclaimed, highest-earning and/or most viewed films that have garnered extensive global audience support and attained cinematic excellence. 

Eligibility:
• Motion pictures are eligible for the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award if they achieve a box office receipt total/gross of $150 million, of which $100 million must come from the U.S. domestic box office, and/or obtain commensurate digital streaming viewership recognized by trusted industry sources.
•Films that are released after November 22 up until the end of the year may qualify based on projected box office performance and/or digital streaming views from trusted industry sources.
• Cinematic and Box Office Achievement contenders can also be considered for Best Motion Picture in their respective categories, i.e., Drama, Comedy or Musical, Animated or Non-English Language if they meet the eligibility requirements for each of those awards.
• Box office and streaming views will determine eligibility; once a film meets the box office-related qualifying criteria or streaming criteria, Golden Globes voters will determine the nominees and winner based on excellence.  
• A total of 8 nominees will be named for this category. 

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television (also known as Best Stand-Up Comedian on Television)
This new category gives standups a dedicated award for an individual performance or as part of a comedy group/ensemble. 

Eligibility:
• Traditional stand-up comedy performances of at least 30 minutes, other than roles in Television Series, Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Pictures Made for Television, are eligible for this award.
• Television includes works released by broadcast, basic and premium cable, streaming, and pay-per-view cable. To be eligible for Golden Globe awards, television programs must be released on a recognized media platform (individual social media accounts do not qualify).
• Only programs first aired (or made available for viewing on demand) in the United States during the qualifying calendar year are eligible. 
• A total of 6 nominees will be named for this category.

Photo: Stewart Cook/HFPA