Golden Globes 5 Most Surprising Winners

3 minute read

The Golden Globes has a reputation for honoring fresh talent and making unexpected moves, and in that regard, Sunday’s ceremony did not disappoint. Sure, as expected, Boyhood took home best drama and Jeffrey Tambor won best TV actor for the heavily acclaimed Transparent. Yet there were plenty of jaw-dropping moments too as several dark horses surged forward to cross the finish line:

5. Fargo beats True Detective — and Billy Bob Thornton beats Matthew McConaughey. The two acclaimed freshman crime anthology dramas finally squared off in a major race (for the Emmys they competed in different categories). Both shows are terrific; you can make an argument for either one winning this category. Yet True Detective has enjoyed more buzz and Thornton topping McConaughey was definitely a shock given the latter’s mesmerizing performance that was such a large part of True Detective‘s success.

4. How to Train Your Dragon 2 wins best animated movie. Most assumed The LEGO Movie and Big Hero 6 were duking it out, yet Dragon swooped in for the kill—and they didn’t even begrudge the movie for having a “2” on it.

3. Gina Rodriguez wins best actress in a TV comedy: Her nomination was already a surprise. Rodriguez made headlines when she made it into this category as relative unknown actress on the never-before-nominated The CW network. But that Rodriguez beat out Lena Dunham and Edie Falco and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Taylor Schilling was the sort of uplifting Cinderella moment that makes awards shows so fun to watch. “My father used to tell me to say every morning, ‘Today is going to be a great day. I can and I will,’” she said. “Well, Dad, today is a great day. I can and I did.”

2. The Affair wins best TV drama and Ruth Wilson wins best TV actress in a drama. In retrospect, The Affair taking the drama category should have been more obvious. Showtime’s sexy acclaimed drama might not have the highest profile, but it’s exactly the sort of boundary-pushing freshman series the HFPA loves. For Wilson, competition was really steep, with the actress edging out Claire Danes, Viola Davis, Julianna Margulies and Robin Wright. “I am very amazed,” Wilson said.

1. Grand Budapest Hotel wins best motion picture comedy. Odds-makers bet heavily on Birdman, yet Wes Anderson’s wistful story of a hotel concierge took home the prize.

This article originally appeared on EW.com

Read next: Golden Globes 2015: See All the Winners

Listen to the most important stories of the day.

Golden Globes 2015: Red Carpet Photos

NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals
Jessica Chastain arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015. Christopher Polk—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Anna Kendrick attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Salma Hayek Pinault attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
Jessica Chastain attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Jessica Chastain attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Emily Blunt arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin Clooney attend the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Amy Adams attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Eddie Redmayne attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Julianne Moore attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Tina Fey attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Amy Poehler attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Kevin Spacey attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Emma Stone attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Lorde attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Jeffrey Tambor attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Quvenzhane Wallis attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Lena Dunham arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals
Adrian Grenier arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Christopher Polk—NBC/Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Julia Louis-Dreyfus arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Allison Williams attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Keira Knightley arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Patti Smith attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
James Corden attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Bill Hader attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Diane Kruger attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Kate Mara attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Lana Del Rey attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Kit Harington arrives at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Giuliana Rancic attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Pedro Pascal attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Conchita Wurst attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Kelly Osbourne attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: 72nd ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: (l-r) arrive to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015. (Photo by: Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)
Naomi Watts attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Gina Rodriguez attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Katherine Heigl attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Uzo Aduba attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Felicity Jones attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Reese Witherspoon ttends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com