At a Glance
- Macaulay Culkin presented at the January 11, 2026 Golden Globes, his first appearance in 35 years
- The 45-year-old joked about being seen “outside the holiday season”
- Award for Best Screenplay went to Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle After Another”
- Why it matters: Culkin’s rare public appearance signals a possible return to acting on his own terms
Macaulay Culkin stepped back onto the Golden Globes stage for the first time since 1991, drawing thunderous applause as he presented the award for Best Screenplay at the January 11, 2026 ceremony hosted by Nikki Glaser at the Beverly Hilton.
A 35-Year Homecoming
Joined by wife Brenda Song, Culkin soaked in the warm reception. “Wow, thanks guys,” he told the crowd. “It’s been 35 years since I’ve been to the Globes. Thanks for welcoming me back, that’s really nice of you guys.”
The former child star leaned into the moment with self-deprecating humor. “I know it’s weird seeing me outside the holiday season,” the 45-year-old joked, “but shockingly I do exist all year round, I promise you.”
Why Screenplay Mattered
Culkin explained that presenting Best Screenplay – Motion Picture felt personal. “I’ve been reading screenplays basically since I learned to read,” he quipped. The award ultimately went to Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle After Another.”
On-Again, Off-Again Career
Culkin has been candid about his flexible approach to acting. On the December 2025 episode of the SmartLess podcast he stated, “Technically, I’m retired right now. I retire and then, if I find something I like, I unretire, do that, and I immediately retire afterwards.”
He summed up the cycle: “Every gig is my last.”
The Decade-Long Break
After 1994’s “Richie Rich,” Culkin stepped away for nearly ten years. “I quit for nearly a decade,” he recalled. “Just went to high school, fell in love, got drunk for the first time, things like that.”
Financial freedom allowed the pause. “I was in a position where I could just put my thumb up my butt and play video games all day long,” he said.
Discovering the Craft
The hiatus led to an epiphany. “I was kind of just drifting around, and tried to figure out what I wanted out of life and so forth,” Culkin said. “This was a calling that found me. I didn’t find it. I wanted to explore that in a different way, on my terms.”
Family Life
Culkin and Song share two sons: Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3.
Host Ready for Round Two
Nikki Glaser returned to host the Globes for a second consecutive year, telling Access Hollywood she weighed which celebrities are hardest to joke about and promised her monologue wouldn’t be a full roast.
Key Takeaways
- Culkin’s Globes return marks his first awards appearance since 1991
- He considers himself technically retired, choosing projects at will
- The actor values controlling his career on his own schedule
