Period survival drama The Revenant emerged as the big winner at the 73rd Golden Globes, scoring a hat-trick by taking home trophies for best picture drama, best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio and best director.

The movie saw off competition from Carol, Mad Max: Fury Road, Room, and Spotlight.

The biggest snub of the night was to lesbian romance Carol which returned empty handed despite five nominations.

Considered to be a precursor to the Oscars, Globes win has upped DiCaprio's chances of winning his first Academy award for the true-story inspired role of frontiersman Hugh Glass in The Revenant, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

The 41-year-old actor said it was an incredible honour to win as he acknowledged fellow nominees, his director and co-star Tom Hardy.

"This movie was about trust and no one was more deserving of our trust than our director. The depths to which he and the entire crew went to make this film were incredible," DiCaprio said while referring to the harsh weather conditions in which the movie was shot.

He ended his speech by expressing support for indigenous rights. "I want to thank all of the indigenous people in the world. It is time we protect your land and heard your voice."

Brie Larson won in the best actress drama category for her poignant portrayal of a woman held captive for years in an enclosed space with her five-year-old son in Room.

The newcomer won over the likes of front-runner Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Saorse Ronan and Alicia Vikander.

Larson, 26, said Room meant a lot to her as she thanked author Emma Donoghue, director Lenny Abrahamson and co-star Jacob Tremblay. "To anyone I forgot, I'll write you a thank you card."

Actress Jennifer Lawrence took home her fourth Golden Globe for biopic Joy, which was put in the musical or comedy category.

The 25-year-old actress thanked her director David O Russell, who was also behind her Oscar-winning role in Silver Linings Playbook.

Matt Damon won the best actor trophy in the comedy or musical category for his role in The Martian. The actor said he was happy that his role in the Ridley Scott-directed drama was enjoyed by the audience.

Sylvester Stallone received a standing ovation by the starry audience as he climbed the stage to accept the best supporting actor gong for Rocky spin-off Creed.

Kate Winslet, 40, was the surprise early winner of the night in the best supporting actress category for the role of Joanna Hoffman, marketing executive for Apple in biopic Steve Jobs.

The Danny Boyle-directed movie, which did not do well at the box office, earned another trophy for Aaron Sorkin in the best screenplay category.

The best foreign language film gong expectedly went to Hungarian drama film Son of Saul, which revolves around a prisoner working at one of the Auschwitz Crematoriums and his struggles to give a child a proper burial.

In the television categories, beloved period drama Mad Men was given a proper send off with Hamm winning in the best actor drama category.

Oscar Isaac was declared the winner in the limited series or TV movie for Show Me a Hero while Rachel Bloom won in the best actress for musical or comedy in TV for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

In the supporting category Maura Tierney won the award for her role of a wife coming to terms with her husband's infidelity in The Affair.

Mr Robot star Christian Slater won the supporting actor trophy in limited series or TV movie while Mozart in the Jungle was adjudged best musical or comedy while its actor Gael Garcia Bernal was declared the best actor.

Wolf Hall, an adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Booker-prize winning novel, won in the movie or limited series category.

Best animated feature film trophy went to popular film Inside Out, strengthening its chances at the Oscars next month.

Singer Lady Gaga won the best actress in the movie or limited series for her debut role American Horror Story: Hotel.

Sam Smith's song 'Writing's on the Wall' for James Bond film Spectre won him a Golden Globe.