North Korea was always going to cop a shellacking at the Golden Globes following its attempted censorship of The Interview, but a series of gags making light of the pariah state was not a hit with everyone.

Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler began the evening gently, mocking the film itself, which has received poor reviews from critics.

"Tonight all we celebrate all the great television shows that we know and love, as well as all the movies that North Korea was OK with," Fey began.