"La La Land", a romantic musical about a struggling actress and a jazz pianist trying to make it in Hollywood, took home Globes for best comedy/musical and for its stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, as well as for director Damien Chazelle, screenplay, score and original song.
"This is a film for dreamers and I think that hope and creativity are the most important things in the world," said Stone.
Independent coming-of-age film "Moonlight" was named best drama movie, while Casey Affleck, star of "Manchester by the Sea" won best drama actor for his role as a man riven by grief.
The Globe wins, handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, strengthened the front-runner status of "La La Land" and "Moonlight" for the Oscars in February.
Isabelle Huppert was named best drama actress for the French psychological thriller movie "Elle" in an upset win over Natalie Portman for "Jackie."
First-time Golden Globes host Jimmy Fallon opened the ceremony, calling it "one of the few places left where America still honors the popular vote."
Trump takes office on Jan. 20 after winning the US presidential election in the Electoral College but losing the popular vote to rival Hillary Clinton.
Actress Meryl Streep accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards show in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017.
Photo: ReutersBut the evening's most dramatic moments came from Streep, the most admired actress of her generation, while accepting her lifetime achievement award.
Although the three-time Oscar winner never mentioned Trump's name, she said the most heartbreaking performance of 2016 came "when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter."
"It kind of broke my heart when I saw it and I still can't get it out of my head because it wasn't in a movie. It was real life," Streep said.
In television, Netflix's British royal drama "The Crown" won over fantasy "Game of Thrones" and sci-fi series "Westworld" for best drama series.
Hip hop show "Atlanta" won best TV comedy series and brought Donald Glover, its creator and star, a Golden Globe for best comedy actor.
Golden Globes red carpet: Casey Affleck's man bun, shimmering silver dominate
Actor Casey Affleck stole the spotlight early at the Golden Globes on Sunday night when he donned a long beard and a man bun on the red carpet - and admitted that even he was embarrassed by his new hairstyle.
Actor Casey Affleck arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017.
Photo: Reuters"I feel like I've got chicken pox on the day of my wedding," Affleck, who was nominated for best actor for "Manchester By the Sea", told NBC. "It's not a great look."
For the most part, female stars in shimmering silver and bold bright colors dominated the red carpet for the night.
Heavily pregnant, actress Natalie Portman opted for a bright yellow dress cut for the 1960's, a nod to her role as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the biopic "Jackie."
Actress Natalie Portman arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017.
Photo: Reuters"La La Land" star Emma Stone wore a blush-pink Valentino dress embroidered with silver stars, a homage to the film's "City of Stars" song, and led a cavalcade of actresses in different styles of silver.
Actress Emma Stone arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017.
Photo: Reuters"Loving" star Ruth Negga spun a futuristic look in a fitted metallic Louis Vuitton dress. "Lion" star Nicole Kidman wore a sheer Alexander McQueen gown with silver sequin embroidery, and Drew Barrymore was draped in a shimmering silver-and-white Monique Lhuillier gown.
"Stranger Things" newcomer Millie Bobby Brown, 12, opted for a shimmering Jenny Packham cocktail dress.
Priyanka Chopra arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017.
Photo: ReutersThe bold bejeweled hues that dominated the spring/summer 2017 collections on the runway also found their way onto the red carpet.
Brie Larson went for red in a Rodarte gown. "Miss Sloane" star Jessica Chastain wore a periwinkle Prada dress, while "Edge of Seventeen" lead actress Hailee Steinfeld opted for a flowing lilac Vera Wang gown.
Actress Brie Larson arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017.
Photo: ReutersSpinning a twist on the classic black dress, "Arrival" best actress nominee Amy Adams won early praise from fashionistas for her black sequined Tom Ford gown, while Blake Lively opted for a figure-hugging Atelier Versace plunging black gown accented with gold sequined neckline and pocket details.
Actress Amy Adams.
Photo: ReutersKristen Bell opted for a sequined black Jenny Packham gown with a plunging neckline, and Janelle Monae split critics with her black-and-white high-low skirted Armani dress.
Actress Meryl Streep accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards show in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017. Photo: ReutersBut the evening's most dramatic moments came from Streep, the most admired actress of her generation, while accepting her lifetime achievement award.
Although the three-time Oscar winner never mentioned Trump's name, she said the most heartbreaking performance of 2016 came "when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter."
"It kind of broke my heart when I saw it and I still can't get it out of my head because it wasn't in a movie. It was real life," Streep said.
In television, Netflix's British royal drama "The Crown" won over fantasy "Game of Thrones" and sci-fi series "Westworld" for best drama series.
Hip hop show "Atlanta" won best TV comedy series and brought Donald Glover, its creator and star, a Golden Globe for best comedy actor.
Actor Casey Affleck arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters"I feel like I've got chicken pox on the day of my wedding," Affleck, who was nominated for best actor for "Manchester By the Sea", told NBC. "It's not a great look."
For the most part, female stars in shimmering silver and bold bright colors dominated the red carpet for the night.
Heavily pregnant, actress Natalie Portman opted for a bright yellow dress cut for the 1960's, a nod to her role as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the biopic "Jackie."
Actress Natalie Portman arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters"La La Land" star Emma Stone wore a blush-pink Valentino dress embroidered with silver stars, a homage to the film's "City of Stars" song, and led a cavalcade of actresses in different styles of silver.
Actress Emma Stone arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017. Photo: Reuters"Loving" star Ruth Negga spun a futuristic look in a fitted metallic Louis Vuitton dress. "Lion" star Nicole Kidman wore a sheer Alexander McQueen gown with silver sequin embroidery, and Drew Barrymore was draped in a shimmering silver-and-white Monique Lhuillier gown.
"Stranger Things" newcomer Millie Bobby Brown, 12, opted for a shimmering Jenny Packham cocktail dress.
Priyanka Chopra arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017. Photo: ReutersThe bold bejeweled hues that dominated the spring/summer 2017 collections on the runway also found their way onto the red carpet.
Brie Larson went for red in a Rodarte gown. "Miss Sloane" star Jessica Chastain wore a periwinkle Prada dress, while "Edge of Seventeen" lead actress Hailee Steinfeld opted for a flowing lilac Vera Wang gown.
Actress Brie Larson arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, January 8, 2017. Photo: ReutersSpinning a twist on the classic black dress, "Arrival" best actress nominee Amy Adams won early praise from fashionistas for her black sequined Tom Ford gown, while Blake Lively opted for a figure-hugging Atelier Versace plunging black gown accented with gold sequined neckline and pocket details.
Actress Amy Adams. Photo: ReutersKristen Bell opted for a sequined black Jenny Packham gown with a plunging neckline, and Janelle Monae split critics with her black-and-white high-low skirted Armani dress.