The Penguin's Emmy Wins Shine Bright: 9 Trophies for a Noir DC Gem
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The Penguin's Emmy wins at the 2025 ceremony mark a triumphant splash for HBO's brooding Batman spin-off, clinching nine awards from its whopping 24 nominations.
This dark tale of crime lord Oz Cobb's power grab, starring Colin Farrell under layers of prosthetics and Cristin Milioti as the fierce Sofia Falcone, blended comic-book flair with prestige drama to dominate the limited series field.
Held on September 14 at the Peacock Theater, the Emmys celebrated the show's technical wizardry and raw performances, tying it with Netflix's Adolescence for second place behind The Studio's 13 hauls.
How Many Emmys Did The Penguin Snag Overall?
The Penguin emerged as a nine-time winner, tying for the runner-up spot among all shows at the 2025 Emmys.
Eight of those came from the Creative Arts ceremonies the weekend prior, honoring behind-the-scenes excellence in a genre often overlooked for craft mastery.
The ninth sealed the deal during the Primetime broadcast, spotlighting the series' emotional core.
This haul underscores HBO's strong year, with 30 total wins across its slate.
What Were The Penguin's Big Primetime Emmy Victories?
Cristin Milioti's powerhouse turn as Sofia Falcone nabbed the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series, her first-ever Emmy nod and win.
In a heartfelt speech scribbled on therapy notes, she gushed about channeling the character's unhinged rage, beating out heavyweights like Cate Blanchett and Michelle Williams.
The series itself was nominated for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, though it bowed to Adolescence overall. Colin Farrell's transformative Oz earned a nod for Lead Actor, but Stephen Graham took the trophy.
Which Technical Categories Did The Penguin Dominate?
The Creative Arts sweep highlighted The Penguin's Gotham grit through meticulous craftsmanship. Prosthetic makeup turned Farrell into a waddling menace, earning Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for its scarred, bulbous wizardry.
Costume design captured the seedy '90s underworld vibe, while sound mixing amplified tense whispers and chaotic shootouts. Visual effects brought the rainy, neon-drenched streets to life without overpowering the drama.
For a quick snapshot of the glory, here's the full list of The Penguin's 2025 Emmy wins:
Category | Winner(s) | Episode/Notes |
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Cristin Milioti | For Sofia Falcone; first Emmy win |
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited or Anthology Series, or Movie | Mike Marino, Amy L. Bacino, and team | Transformed Colin Farrell's look |
Outstanding Costumes for a Series, Limited or Anthology Series, or Movie | Kate Erwin, Jason M. McGuinness, and team | Captured Gotham's mobster elegance |
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Thomas J. O'Connell, Ben Trask, and team | Immersive audio for tense scenes |
Outstanding Visual Effects for a Series, Limited or Anthology Series, or Movie | Hiroyuki Nakano, James Hatt, and team | Enhanced rainy, gritty visuals |
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series, Limited or Anthology Series, or Movie | Jason Low, Michelle C. Trumpler, and team | Period-perfect mobster dos |
Outstanding Music Supervision | Kier Lehman | Eclectic score blending tension and nostalgia |
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour or More) | Francesca Born, James Foster, and team | Built immersive underworld sets |
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode | (Additional VFX win) | For "Cent'Anni" episode's standout sequences |
These nods prove the show's layers go beyond the prosthetics.
Why Do These Wins Matter for Comic-Book TV?
In a year where genre fare like Andor and Arcane scored nods, The Penguin's nine wins second only to Watchmen's record for comic adaptations, proving DC can play in prestige TV's league.
Created by Lauren LeFranc and executive produced by Matt Reeves, it humanized a villain without skimping on spectacle.
Milioti's win, especially, spotlights women stealing the spotlight in male-driven tales, echoing her Black Mirror reprisal nods. Farrell's prior Golden Globe and SAG sweeps for Oz hint at more hardware ahead, perhaps at next year's Globes.
How Did The Penguin Stack Up Against Emmy Rivals?
The Penguin tied Adolescence at nine wins, trailing The Studio's 13 but outpacing Severance's eight.
HBO Max tied Netflix at 30 network wins, a flex amid streamer wars. Unlike flashier ensembles, The Penguin's victories leaned technical, rewarding its moody, character-driven vibe over bombast.
Nominations for directing Helen Shaver's "Cent'Anni" and writing Lauren LeFranc's pilot added to the buzz, though they went to others.
Some Closing Thoughts:
The Penguin's nine Emmys cement its status as 2025's must-watch mob saga, blending Batman's shadows with Emmy gold.
From Milioti's feral Sofia to the crew's wizardry, it reminds us villains make the best heroes.
Stream it on Max and relive the waddle to glory; Gotham's never looked so award-worthy.
