The unlikely duo of films, Barbie and Oppenheimer, or “Barbenheimer,” has emerged as the frontrunner, claiming a lion’s share of nominations at the upcoming 2024 Golden Globes.
Greta Gerwig’s vivid feminist satire about the iconic line of plastic dolls, led the nominations with a staggering nine nods. Barbie reigned supreme at the box office, earning over $1.4 billion globally, secured nominations for Best Comedy, along with acting nods for stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
Additionally, Barbie clinched three nominations for Best Song and earned recognition for its talented writer-director, Greta Gerwig.
Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed exploration of the inventor of the nuclear bomb wasn’t far behind, garnering eight nominations, including Best Drama and Best Director. The Oppenheimer cast, featuring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr., also received well-deserved nods.
The fortuitous timing of both films’ theatrical releases on the same date catapulted them into the spotlight, leading to the coining of the term “Barbenheimer.”
Now, with their dominant showing at the Golden Globes, these blockbusters have set a robust foundation for Hollywood’s film awards season, culminating in the prestigious Oscars in March.
“It’s amazing that they maintained that momentum,” remarked Tim Gray, the Golden Globes’ new executive vice president. “Last July, people were exclaiming about how popular they are, but I think nobody was confident that they were going to dominate the awards. But they did.”
The revamped Golden Globes also introduced a new category, Best Cinematic or Box Office Achievement, acknowledging popular films that may not typically receive critical recognition. Notable nominees in this category include Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Marvel’s superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
In a bid to honor more household names, the number of nominees in each category has been expanded. A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio for Killers of the Flower Moon and Emma Stone for her role in the female Frankenstein-esque dark comedy Poor Things secured nominations, alongside Paul Giamatti, Timothee Chalamet, Natalie Portman, and Bradley Cooper, who earned nominations as both actor and director for Maestro.
The Golden Globes also recognized excellence in television, with Succession leading the drama section with nine nominations, while comedies The Bear and Only Murders in the Building led their section with five each.
The 81st Golden Globes ceremony is slated to take place in Beverly Hills on January 7, promising an evening of celebration and recognition for the outstanding achievements in both film and television.
