Golden Globes Predictions: Who Will Win and Who Should Win

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has stepped up their game in recent years, making more sound decisions overall. We expect a very big night for "Big Little Lies" and "The Handmaid's Tale" on television, while "Lady Bird" and "The Sound of Water" might just see gold on the movie side.

No matter what happens, we're sure to disagree with some of their choices. So we've made our own predictions on who will win -- and who should win

"The Boss Baby"

"The Breadwinner"

"Coco"

"Ferdinand"

"Loving Vincent"

Let's not kid ourselves. There's really not even a conversation here. The only Pixar film to not win when nominated in this category is "Cars 3," and ... well ... it kind of wasn't that great. "Coco" on the other hand, is fantastic. The others might as well have just been chosen because they were animated films that came out in 2017. No offense to any of them, but "Coco" was a groundbreaking, memorable and classically Pixar adventure for the ages.

Should/Will Win: "Coco"

Guillermo Del Toro, Vanessa Taylor, "The Shape of Water"

Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird"

Liz Hannah, Josh Singer, "The Post"

Martin McDonagh, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Aaron Sorkin, "Molly's Game"

"Three Billboards..." is a powerhouse script, while "The Post" is the most urgent and relevant film among the selections. But Greta Gerwig is riding a wave of acclaim and support almost unprecedented for "Lady Bird." And with her cruelly shut out of the directing category -- along with every other female director -- the HFPA has a chance to right that wrong here. That said, we predict multiple awards for "Lady Bird," so they might go with the trendier choice.

Should Win: Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird"

Will Win: Liz Hannah, Josh Singer, "The Post"

Willem Dafoe, "The Florida Project"

Armie Hammer, "Call Me by Your Name"

Richard Jenkins, "The Shape of Water"

Christopher Plummer, "All the Money in the World"

Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Christopher Plummer is a last-minute addition for sure just as he was a last-minute replacement for Kevin Spacey in Ridley Scott's film, but we suspect the nomination here is enough to acknowledge the statement. If the HFPA really wants to pat Ridley on the back for taking such a strong stand against harassment, they should hand the award to Plummer. To his credit, he was fantastic on basically no notice and with very little film timing. But we just don't think anyone was stronger than Willem Dafoe's painfully real performance as a beat-down motel manager.

Should Win: Willem Dafoe, "The Florida Project"

Will Win: Christoper Plummer, "All the Money in the World"

Mary J. Blige, "Mudbound"

Hong Chau, "Downsizing"

Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"

Laurie Metcalf, "Lady Bird"

Octavia Spencer, "The Shape of Water"

This is another race that is really between two strong contenders, as the other women just didn't dominate their respective films as much. Allison Janney and Laurie Metcalf were basically co-leads, and the success of both films was as much due to their immersive performances than anything else. Allison Janney is generally more favored among those folks who vote for awards, so we see her getting this one as the token Globe for "I, Tonya." We found ourselves more engrossed by Laurie Metcalf's powerhouse mother against Saoirse Ronan in "Lady Bird," and are ready to reward both of them.

Should Win: Laurie Metcalf

Will Win: Allison Janney

Steve Carell, "Battle of the Sexes"

Ansel Elgort, "Baby Driver"

James Franco, "The Disaster Artist"

Hugh Jackman, "The Greatest Showman"

Daniel Kaluuya, "Get Out"

Ansel Elgort was a delight in "Baby Driver," one of the most unexpected gems of the year, but there's just too much buzz around "Get Out" and "The Disaster Artist" to think of this as anything other than a two-man race. Daniel Kaluuya gave a very subdued performance, but he was utterly compelling nevertheless. We think Franco's more over-the-top portrayal of real-life enigma Tommy Wisea might win out in the end. Plus, this is really the only category "The Disaster Artist" can really compete, while "Get Out" is a strong contender elsewhere as well, so we're thinking the HFPA goes with the performance they understood more.

Should Win: Daniel Kaluuya

Will Win: James Franco

Judi Dench, "Victoria & Abdul"

Helen Mirren, "The Leisure Seeker"

Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"

Saoirse Ronan, "Lady Bird"

Emma Stone, "Battle of the Sexes"

Judi Dench and Helen Mirren are here primarily because they are Judi Dench and Helen Mirren and not because of their work in these films. Margot Robbie is one of the key reasons "I, Tonya" is even an awards show contender, but can she really compete against Emma Stone's grounded portrayal of Billie Jean King against a ridiculous Steve Carell? In both cases, there was maybe a little too much of the actress we know in the performance, whereas Saoirse Ronan was a revelation in "Lady Bird," crass and unpleasant and so very real.

Should/Will Win: Saoirse Ronan, "Lady Bird"

Timothée Chalamet, "Call Me by Your Name"

Daniel Day-Lewis, "Phantom Thread"

Tom Hanks, "The Post"

Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"

Denzel Washington, "Roman J. Israel, Esq."

This is a powerhouse category filled with some of the most storied luminaries in the business, many of them with shelves full of Globes already. One name hasn't had his due, and his selection would carry extra weight, as well. Gary Oldman gives his most transformative and powerful performance yet as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour." We think the HFPA might just forgive him for his very public criticism of them in the past -- he even called for a boycott in 2014 -- and give him his just due. Plus, all awards shows love it when actors portray real people, so it's got to be hard to resist.

Should/Will Win: Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"

Jessica Chastain, "Molly's Game"

Sally Hawkins, "The Shape of Water"

Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Meryl Streep, "The Post"

Michelle Williams, "All the Money in the World"

Some of these actresses seem to be here primarily because they've been here before. A few turned in magnificent performances in their respective films. One commanded the screen so intently with every breath that she absolutely should be the clear winner here. Frances McDormand has been blowing us away since she cleaned up for "Fargo" in 1996, but never has she been so mesmerizing. That said, you can never count Meryl Streep out. "The Post" was another powerhouse performance in a film more timely than ever, making another victory for her the easy choice. But will they take the obvious route? We think they'll get this one right.

Should Win: Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Will Win: Meryl Streep, "The Post"

Guillermo del Toro, "The Shape of Water"

Martin McDonagh, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Christopher Nolan, "Dunkirk"

Ridley Scott, "All The Money in the World"

Steven Spielberg, "The Post"

Ridley Scott has to be given credit for completely reworking his film at the last minute after Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct, while Christopher Nolan brought something fresh and magical to the war film genre. But nobody on this list took filmmaking to the level of artistry this year as much as Guillermo del Tor with "The Shape of Water." This ethereal film was so breathtakingly beautiful in presentation, you could almost forget how bizarre its premise was. The actors gave it their all, but it was del Toro's artistry that made the picture sing. We suspect Dunkirk will take Best Picture, leaving del Toro to shine here.

Should/Will Win: Guillermo del Toro, "The Shape of Water"

"The Disaster Artist"

"Get Out"

"The Greatest Showman"

"I, Tonya"

"Lady Bird"

This one really comes down to three choices, and one of those is a longshot. "The Disaster Artist" is a bizarrely compelling piece, but we don't think it's worthy of the top prize. That said, critics have adored it, so it stands an outside chance. The real contenders, though, are two of the most talked about indie films of the year. "Get Out" has been baffling critics most of the year, and its controversial submission in this category didn't help. There's an easy choice in the compellingly beautiful "Lady Bird," which also just happens to be the most acclaimed film of the year. If they decide to honor both of its stars, though, they may feel that's enough and "Get Out" could be a surprise winner.

Should/Will Win: "Lady Bird"

"Call Me by Your Name"

"Dunkirk"

"The Post"

"The Shape of Water"

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

If the HFPA wants to make a political statement, they'd go for "The Post," but we kind of think they'll want to avoid that as much as possible. "Three Billboards..." is a little too out there for this category, and its bluntness may be less captivating than the ethereal beauty of Guillermo del Toro's "The Shape of Water." Still, Christopher Nolan turned in something unlike we've seen before with a big-budget war film that at the same time was intimately quiet and contemplative, making it the perfect compromise.

Should Win: "The Shape of Water"

Will Win: “Dunkirk”

David Harbour, "Stranger Things"

Alfred Molina, "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"

Alexander Skarsgard, "Big Little Lies"

David Thewlis, "Fargo"

Honestly, this isn't the most exciting collection of nominees, and considering the Globes combines every type of television program from miniseries to comedies to dramas in one category for supporting work, that says a lot. Were these really the best male supporting actors of the year? Both David Harbour and Christian Slater found themselves with less to do this season. Really, it comes down to Alfred Molina, who was fantastic opposite two powerhouse women in "Feud," while Alexander Skarsgard more than held his own against even more strong women in "Big Little Lies." Could his character's maybe-abuse be too uncomfortable for the HFPA to support this year?

Should Win: Alfred Molina, "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Will Win: Alexander Skarsgard, "Big Little Lies"

Laura Dern, "Big Little Lies"

Ann Dowd, "The Handmaid's Tale"

Chrissy Metz, "This is Us"

Michelle Pfeiffer, "The Wizard of Lies"

Shailene Woodley, "Big Little Lies"

On the other hand, this is an absolutely brutal category. Women really got a chance to shine this year, and all of these women did just that. But while the bigger stars of "Big Little Lies" have gotten all the attention, where's the love for Shailene Woodley, broken and at the center of it all. Even here she's totally overshadowed by Laura Dern's mesmerizing performance. Chrissy Metz had a heartbreaking year on "This Is Us," while Ann Dowd terrified her way to an Emmy already last year, but we don't think they'll outshine the power of "Big Little Lies" here.

Should Win: Shailene Woodley, "Big Little Lies"

Will Win: Laura Dern, "Big Little Lies"

Robert De Niro, "The Wizard of Lies"

Jude Law, "The Young Pope"

Kyle MacLachlan, "Twin Peaks"

Ewan McGregor, "Fargo"

Geoffrey Rush, "Genius"

Jude Law is compelling in a very flawed show, while Ewan McGregor just isn't the strongest part of his show. Really, it comes down to Kyle MacLachlan's triumphant return to "Twin Peaks" and Robert De Niro's immersion into the ugly world of Bernie Madoff in "The Wizard of Lies." Whether you love or hate the film, De Niro again gave a master class in acting, and he's going to be nearly impossible to beat.

Should/Will Win: Robert De Niro, "The Wizard of Lies"

Jessica Biel, "The Sinner"

Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies"

Jessica Lange, "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Susan Sarandon, "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Reese Witherspoon, "Big Little Lies"

All year long, the wonderful work on "Feud" has been completely overshadowed by "Big Little Lies," and it's going to happen again. HBO is an awards show powerhouse, so we expect Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon to battle this one out, with Kidman getting the edge because her role had more nuance. It's a shame, too, because Jessica Biel absolutely gave her rawest and most powerful performance yet as a murderer with mysterious motives on USA's "The Sinner." That project may just have chosen the wrong year to come out.

Should Win: Jessica Biel, "The Sinner"

Will Win: Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies"

Anthony Anderson, "Black-ish"

Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"

Kevin Bacon, "I Love Dick"

William H. Macy, "Shameless"

Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace"

The HFPA loves them some William McCormack, and William H. Macy is a staple nominee at this point, but neither are likely to win. Oddly enough, no one actor stands so far beyond the rest that they should be considered a lock for this. We'd give it to Aziz Ansari because "Master of None" is his baby and he had a stellar year on it. That said, we think the HFPA is going to go arty and give it to the movie star in the more obscure project.

Should Win: Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"

Will Win: Kevin Bacon, "I Love Dick"

Pamela Adlon, "Better Things"

Alison Brie, "Glow"

Rachel Brosnahan, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

Issa Rae, "Insecure"

Frankie Shaw, "SMILF"

"SMILF" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" are hot right now, which might be enough to score one of them the win. All of these are great choices, with Alison Brie giving a career performance in "GLOW," while Pamela Adlon deserves all of the attention she's finally getting. We'd pick her for the win, but unfortunately she's up against Issa Rae who brought something so fresh and new and hilarious with "Insecure," we're all about it. That said, we're not so confident the HFPA is quite hip enough to go there.

Should Win: Issa Rae, "Insecure"

Will Win: Rachel Brosnahan, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

Jason Bateman, "Ozark"

Sterling K. Brown, "This is Us"

Freddie Highmore, "The Good Doctor"

Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"

Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"

Other than Freddie Highmore, who absolutely deserves the recognition for his work on "The Good Doctor," these are mostly safe choices. They're also mostly actors who sit there and clap while someone else wins the Globe. We expect more of the same this year, though we'd love to see the HFPA mix things up with an award for the actor who stepped way outside of his usual style to bring us something so unexpectedly and deliciously dark, he managed to outshine the divine Laura Linney. Instead, they'll probably use this opportunity to award network's brightest show by following every other awards show's lead.

Should Win: Jason Bateman, "Ozark"

Will Win: Sterling K. Brown

Caitriona Balfe, "Outlander"

Claire Foy, "The Crown"

Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Deuce"

Katherine Langford, "13 Reasons Why"

Elisabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale"

Katherine Langford is a delightful surprise, as despite her show's controversy, she was brilliant in it. Same goes for Claire Foy on "The Crown." In fact, all of these women had really strong performances this year, but it doesn't matter. This is the year that women speak and no woman spoke louder than Elisabeth Moss in "The Handmaid's Tale." We can't even argue with it, either, as she was simply fantastic on that show.

Should/Will Win: Elisabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale"

"Big Little Lies"

"Fargo"

"Feud: Bette and Joan"

"The Sinner"

"Top of the Lake: China Girl"

There's almost no point in having this conversation. "Top of the Lake" wasn't quite as strong its second outing, while Jessica Biel was the best part of "The Sinner." No one has given any love to "Feud" yet, so we don't expect it to start now, and the same for "Fargo," which as become an awards show bridesmaid every year. In the wake of "Big Little Lies," Carrie Coon didn't even get a nomination for Best Actress. The only thing that might stop "BLL" is if the HFPA is upset it got renewed for a second season while competing as a limited series.

Should/Will Win: "Big Little Lies"

"Black-ish"

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

"Master of None"

"SMILF"

"Will & Grace"

Giving Aziz Ansari a win for Best Actor would allow the HFPA to continue to ignore "Master of None" here, though we think they'll do just that anyway. The real question is whether or not they're going to look new and go with Amy Sherman-Palladino's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," or go with an old favorite, "Will & Grace." The latter came back in fine form, but the current buzz is with "Maisel," and so is our gut. But the HFPA had no problem virtually ignoring "Gilmore Girls" for years, so we think it wil be nostalgia for the win!

Should Win: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

Will Win: "Will & Grace"

"The Crown"

"Game of Thrones"

"The Handmaid's Tale"

"Stranger Things"

"This is Us"

"The Crown" is brilliant and utterly unappreciated, while "This Is Us" bears the stigma of being on a broadcast network, even though it is structured and presented every bit as well as its cable and streaming brethren. "Stranger Things" had a flawed second season, while "Game of Thrones" is good, but not as great as it used to be. This is the year of "The Handmaid's Tale," and we expect it to have a very good night.

Should/Will Win: "The Handmaid's Tale"