The Revenant‘s triple-slam win at the Golden Globes tonight (Best Picture Drama, Alejandro G. Inarritu for Best Director, Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor) was a major surprise for everyone. Add the film’s unexpected weekend take of $39 million and you’re looking at a likely snowball effect. If (and I say “if”) next weekend’s Critics Choice Awards celebrates The Revenant in similar fashion the Oscar race will be wide open for bear. I still think Spotlight has the edge to win the Best Picture Oscar as the Globes are only the Globes, but there’s no denying that over the last three days The Revenant seemed to suddenly bust out of its cage. I don’t know how many “expert” handicappers didn’t predict tonight’s big win but I’ll guess that most were just as gobsmacked as I was. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them talk down the Revenant‘s triple-crown win tomorrow as big surprises like this make them look a little bit clueless. I asked several people at the 20th Century Fox after-party if they would have bet money on The Revenant doing what it did, and they all said “nope.”

Revenant director Alejandro G. Inarritu, Leonardo DiCaprio following tonight’s surprise Golden Globe win.

(l. to r.) Deadline‘s Pete Hammond, Santa Barbara Film festival director Roger Durling, yours truly at 20th Century Fox after-party.

(l. to r.) Durling, Hammond, myself.