The 2025 Golden Globes saw a major surge in viewership, drawing in the highest numbers in the past five years. Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the awards show pulled in an impressive 10.1 million viewers, even with the competition of a highly popular Sunday Night Football season finale on NBC.
However, it’s important to note that the ratings didn’t come from the usual Neilson reports. Due to an ongoing contract dispute between Neilson and CBS, the numbers were provided by a newer service, VideoAmp. This makes it tricky to compare this year’s viewership with past Golden Globes ratings, especially since Neilson’s total for the event was 9.4 million. Still, the Golden Globes saw a slight uptick in numbers this time around.
A big part of this viewership boost can be attributed to Glaser herself. Her bold and hilarious opening monologue, where she roasted A-list celebrities and blockbuster films, was well-received by audiences. The video of her monologue posted to the Golden Globes’ official YouTube channel racked up over 3.5 million views in just one day.
Adding to the fun, Glaser performed a parody of Wicked’s famous song “Popular,” turning it into a humorous religious twist called “Pope-ular.” She didn’t hold back, taking playful jabs at Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Nicole Kidman, and others. Plus, she poked fun at the 2024 flop Jiker 2, making sure her sharp humor left a lasting impression.