Director Richard Linklater poses backstage with his award for Best Director - Motion Picture for 'Boyhood' during the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 11, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Coming of age tale "Boyhood" won the coveted Golden Globe for best drama on Sunday, while the quirky period caper "The Grand Budapest Hotel" was the surprise winner for best comedy or musical, in a big upset to awards season front-runner "Birdman."

The first major awards for the Hollywood film industry this year were scattered widely among many films, potentially setting up a complex race towards the industry's top honors, the Oscars on Feb 22.

"Boyhood" took three Globes, including the night's top honor, a reward for the unprecedented cinematic venture of making a film over 12 years with the same actors. The man behind the low-budget experiment, Richard Linklater, won best director and Patricia Arquette won best supporting actress.

"Birdman," a satire of show business that led all nominees with seven nods, picked up best screenplay and best actor in a comedy or musical for Michael Keaton, embodying a comeback in film and real life.

"Alejandro, there is not a person in this room who won't show up for your next gig," said Keaton of "Birdman" director Alejandro Inarritu.

But "The Grand Budapest Hotel" from director Wes Anderson was the big surprise of the night as best comedy or musical, although it only took home that one award.