This summer’s box office sensations “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” both of which became viral sensations, have now emerged as frontrunners in the nominations for the revamped Golden Globes.
“Barbie,” a striking feminist satire centered around the iconic plastic dolls, garnered nine nominations on Monday, including best comedy. The film, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, also achieved recognition in the acting categories and received an impressive three best song nominations, along with a nod for its writer-director Greta Gerwig.
Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan and revolving around the creator of the nuclear bomb, secured eight nominations. These include best drama and best director, with cast members such as Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr also receiving nominations.
Both films, collectively referred to as “Barbenheimer” after their simultaneous release dates, have made a strong impression at the outset of the Hollywood film awards season, culminating in the Oscars in March.
Tim Gray, the Globes’ new executive vice president, expressed surprise at the sustained popularity of these films, especially since their summer release.
Other notable films with multiple nominations include “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things,” each with seven nominations, and “Past Lives,” which earned five.
The Golden Globes have undergone significant changes in response to recent controversies, including a 2021 Los Angeles Times expose revealing that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) had no Black members. This led to a wide range of criticisms against the HFPA, including allegations of unprofessionalism and corruption.
Following these events, the awards’ assets and trademarks were acquired and revamped by a group led by US billionaire Todd Boehly, resulting in the disbanding of the HFPA. Former HFPA members based in Hollywood are now salaried voters and are prohibited from accepting gifts.
In an effort to broaden the voting base, over 200 non-member voters from 75 countries have been added.
The Globes nominations were announced by Cedric The Entertainer and Wilmer Valderrama on “CBS Mornings.” CBS has become the new broadcasting partner for the Globes, following NBC’s decision to end its broadcasting arrangement.
The Golden Globes have also introduced a new category for “best cinematic or box office achievement,” allowing popular films like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to be recognized.
The awards ceremony has also expanded the number of nominees per category, leading to nominations for well-known actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone, Paul Giamatti, Timothee Chalamet, Natalie Portman, and Bradley Cooper.
In television, “Succession” led the drama category with nine nominations, while “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building” each received five nominations in the comedy section.
The 81st Golden Globes ceremony is scheduled for January 7 in Beverly Hills.