Barbie and Oppenheimer – the unlikely pair of films that dominated the box office and spawned countless internet memes this summer – are expected to lead the newly revamped Golden Globes when nominations are unveiled Monday.
Collectively dubbed “Barbenheimer” after their theatrical releases happened to fall on the same date, both movies are likely to score highly with voters for the Globes, which kick off Hollywood’s film awards season.
Barbie – a vivid, feminist satire about the all-conquering line of plastic dolls – was 2023’s top-grossing movie, earning more than $1.4 billion globally. It is tipped to earn nods for its stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, as well as writer-director Greta Gerwig.
Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s critically adored drama about the inventor of the nuclear bomb, managed a remarkable $950 million at the box office worldwide.
It should rack up nominations for cast members including Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr, as well as its director.
Organizers of the Globes will hope that the enduring hype and attention surrounding “Barbenheimer,” as well as other popular and acclaimed films such as Killers of the Flower Moon and Poor Things, can shift the focus away from the gala’s recent notoriety.
The Golden Globes have endured a rough few years after a Los Angeles Times expose in 2021 showed that the awards’ voting body – the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – had no Black members.
That revelation triggered the airing of a wide range of other long-simmering criticisms about the HFPA, including allegations of amateurism and corruption.
Earlier this year, the awards’ assets and trademarks were purchased and overhauled by a group of private investors including US billionaire Todd Boehly, and the HFPA was disbanded.
Hollywood-based former HFPA members have been banned from accepting gifts, and will now be paid a salary to vote for their favorite films and shows, while more than 200 non-member (and unpaid) voters from around the world have been added to the Globes mix.
Cedric The Entertainer and Wilmer Valderrama will announce the Globes nominees on CBS Mornings from 1330 GMT. The 81st Golden Globes ceremony will take place in Beverly Hills on January 7.