“Barbie” Takes the Lead in Golden Globe Nominations, Outshining “Oppenheimer”

The vibrant, pink-themed sensation “Barbie” has secured a leading position in the list of nominees for this year’s Golden Globe Awards, boasting nine nominations, slightly surpassing the eight nods received by the historical drama “Oppenheimer.”

Both films, which made waves in a summer box office showdown termed “Barbenheimer,” will be vying in distinct categories at the Globes, a star-studded event marking the initiation of Hollywood’s prestigious awards season in January.

Director Greta Gerwig’s rendition of the iconic doll in “Barbie” competes for the best comedy or musical film title, alongside contenders like “American Fiction,” “The Holdovers,” among others.

Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer” contends for the best movie drama accolade, with Cillian Murphy portraying the man behind the creation of the atomic bomb.

Notable rivals include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” delving into the tragic murder of Native Americans in 1920s Oklahoma.

In the television domain, family drama “Succession” leads with nine nominations, closely followed by “The Bear” with five.

Addressing prior criticisms of lacking diversity, the expanded group of Globe voters has recognized two female directors, Gerwig and “Past Lives” director Celine Song.

Acting nominees feature talents like Native American star Lily Gladstone in “Flower Moon,” Colman Domingo portraying a gay Black American in “Rustin,” and Jeffrey Wright as a Black American lead in “American Fiction.”

Domingo shared with Reuters, “For all of us, that means our work is being seen. So that feels good.”

Despite nominations for their roles in “The Color Purple,” Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks saw the story of Black Americans in the early 1900s miss the race for best movie musical or comedy.

Barrino emphasized the universality of the film, stating, “This movie is not just a Black thing – it’s a world thing.”

Tim Gray, the former Variety editor now serving as executive vice president of the Globes, highlighted the increased diversity and inclusion among the nominees. “Two of the directing nominees are women, half of the screenwriting nominees are women.

There’s a lot of racial diversity in the nominations,” Gray remarked.

Among the first-time nominees were Pedro Pascal from “The Last of Us” and Greta Lee from “Past Lives.”

Reflecting on her nomination, Lee told Reuters, “I’ve never been nominated before. I had no idea that these things were announced so early.

I was asleep, and my phone was activating in a way that was alarming.”

Bradley Cooper secured nominations for best actor and director for “Maestro,” a portrayal of composer Leonard Bernstein, earning a best drama nod.

Emma Stone, nominated for her role in the gothic comedy “Poor Things,” expressed her attachment to her character Bella Baxter, saying, “The journey of making this film is one that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Acknowledging co-star Lily Gladstone’s contribution, Leonardo DiCaprio, nominated for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” commended her as “the soul of our film.”

The Golden Globes serve as a pivotal event that can propel movies on their journey to the Academy Awards in March.

This year, Globe nominations underwent a transformation. The nonprofit Hollywood Foreign Press Association, previously criticized for ethical concerns and lack of diversity, was disbanded in June.

The awards are now orchestrated as a for-profit venture by new owners Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions.

The voting body now comprises 300 journalist members from 75 countries, reflecting 60% racial and ethnic diversity, organizers announced.

The Globes introduced a new category recognizing blockbuster films, allowing the nomination of the concert film “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”

Netflix led among film distributors with 13 nominations, while Warner Bros Discovery’s HBO and Max emerged as top TV distributors with 17 nods.

The winners are slated to be revealed on Jan. 7 during a live broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.