Spielberg, who also took home the award for best director, explained his film "The Fabelmans" covers the troubled marriage of Spielberg's parents, anti-Semitic bullying, and the director's early efforts making zero-budget movies with his teenage friends.
Despite faring poorly at the box office, the film bested last year's two biggest commercial hits - James Cameron's sci-fi film "Avatar: The Way of Water," and mega-sequel "Top Gun: Maverick" - to win the night's final prize.
The other top film award, best comedy or musical, went to "The Banshees of Inisherin" -- a tragicomedy about a shattered friendship on a remote Irish island that ended the night with the most movie prizes.
"Banshees" also earned a win for Colin Farrell for best comedy actor, boosting his Oscar hopes, and for writer-director Martin McDonagh with best screenplay.
Eddie Murphy accepted a career achievement award at the Beverly Hills gala, while Angela Bassett won best supporting actress for Marvel blockbuster "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
Action-packed Indian blockbuster "RRR," which has become a huge word-of-mouth hit in Hollywood, added momentum to its awards season campaign by winning best song.
"Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" won best animated feature, while "Argentina, 1985" won best non-English language film.
On the television side, "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" won best drama, and "Abbott Elementary" claimed best comedy series.
Host Jerrod Carmichael, who struck a daring and edgy tone throughout the night, kicked the gala off with a monologue poking fun at the GHollywood Film Press Association [HFPA.]
"I won't say they were a racist organization -- but they didn't have a single Black member until George Floyd died. So do with that information what you will," he said.
Despite the uproar surrounding the Globes, "Avatar" director Cameron told AFP he believed the HFPA had been "responsive to the protests," adding: "I think we should celebrate the fact that an organization does such radical changes."
Early reviews for the show were positive, with Variety praising "acid-tongued" host Carmichael.
But The New York Times said Hollywood's readiness to again embrace the HFPA as a useful marketing tool showed it has "dropped any pretense that the Globes are meaningful as markers of artistic excellence."
The ceremony's television ratings, expected Wednesday, will be closely watched by the industry.
Here is a list of the winners at the 2023 Golden Globes Awards:
- FILM -
Best film, drama: "The Fabelmans"
Best film, musical or comedy: "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Best director: Steven Spielberg, "The Fabelmans"
Best actor, drama: Austin Butler, "Elvis"
Best actress, drama: Cate Blanchett, "Tar"
Best actor, musical or comedy: Colin Farrell, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Best actress, musical or comedy: Michelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"
Best supporting actor: Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"
Best supporting actress: Angela Bassett, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
Best screenplay: Martin McDonagh, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Best music, original score: Justin Hurwitz, "Babylon"
Best music, original song: "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR"
Best non-English language film: "Argentina, 1985"
Best animated feature: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"
- TELEVISION -
Best drama series: "House of the Dragon"
Best drama actor: Kevin Costner, "Yellowstone"
Best drama actress: Zendaya, "Euphoria"
Best musical or comedy series: "Abbott Elementary"
Best musical or comedy actor: Jeremy Allen White, "The Bear"
Best musical or comedy actress: Quinta Brunson, "Abbott Elementary"
Best supporting actor, television: Tyler James Williams, "Abbott Elementary"
Best supporting actress, television: Julia Garner, "Ozark"
Best limited series or TV movie: "The White Lotus"
Best limited series or TV movie actor: Evan Peters, "Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story"
Best limited series or TV movie actress: Amanda Seyfried, "The Dropout"
Best limited series supporting actor: Paul Walter Hauser, "Black Bird"
Best limited series supporting actress: Jennifer Coolidge, "The White Lotus"
