The film Argo was the surprise winner Sunday at the Golden Globes Awards Sunday in Hollywood.

The film took home the best dramatic picture prize, and its director, Ben Affleck, won the best director award.

Those top nods were widely favored to be won by either Lincoln or Zero Dark Thirty.

However, Daniel Day Lewis did win the prize for best performance by an actor in a drama for Lincoln, while Jessica Chastain walked away with the best dramatic actress performance for her role in Zero Dark Thirty.

Les Miserables won the best comedy or musical category, and its star Hugh Jackman won best performance by an actor in a comedy or musical.

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton delivered what some called the best performance of the night. His surprise appearance won a standing ovation before he even spoke. Mr. Clinton introduced footage of Lincoln, the Steven Spielberg-directed portrait of the president who steered the United States through its civil war in the 19th century.

The Golden Globes are voted on by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It is frequently regarded as a harbinger of the Academy Awards, which will be handed out next month.