The Golden Globe Awards, one of the most prestigious and glamorous events in Hollywood, have announced their nominations for the 81st edition, which will take place on January 7, 2024. The nominations reflect a diverse and competitive field of films and television shows, with some surprising inclusions and exclusions. Here are some highlights and lowlights of the Golden Globe nominations for 2024.
Barbie and Oppenheimer Lead the Film Nominations
The film categories are dominated by two blockbusters that have captivated audiences and critics alike: Barbie and Oppenheimer. Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll, is a satirical and feminist take on the toy industry and consumer culture. The film has received six nominations, including Best Motion Picture—Alternative or Comedy, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Original Song, and Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy as the physicist who led the Manhattan Project, is a thrilling and complex exploration of the moral and ethical dilemmas of creating the atomic bomb. The film has also received six nominations, including Best Motion Picture (DramaMusic), Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Both films are expected to face strong competition from other contenders, such as Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Poor Things, Air, and American Fiction. Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, is a historical crime drama based on the true story of the Osage murders in the 1920s. The film has received five nominations, including Best Motion Picture—Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay. Maestro, directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Cooper and Lady Gaga, is a musical biopic of the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. The film has received four nominations, including Best Motion Picture—Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Score. Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, is a dark comedy based on the novel by Alasdair Gray, which reimagines the story of Frankenstein with a female protagonist. The film has received four nominations, including Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay.
Air, directed by Ben Affleck and starring Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, is a romantic comedy about a sneaker designer who falls in love with a celebrity client. The film has received three nominations, including Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy, Best Actor, and Best Actress. American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson and starring Daniel Kaluuya and Zendaya, is a drama about a black novelist who struggles with writer’s block and his relationship with his white girlfriend. The film has received three nominations, including Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
The Crown and Succession Reign Supreme in the Television Nominations
The television categories are largely dominated by two acclaimed dramas that have captivated viewers with their portrayals of power, politics, and family: The Crown and Succession. The Crown, created by Peter Morgan and starring Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gillian Anderson, is a historical drama that chronicles the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The show has received seven nominations, including Best Television Series—drama, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score. Succession, created by Jesse Armstrong and starring Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Best T, and Kieran Culkin, is a drama that follows the dysfunctional and ruthless Roy family, who own a global media empire. The show has received six nominations in television series: drama, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, and best screenplay.
Both shows are expected to face stiff competition from other contenders, such as The Underground Railroad, Mare of Easttown, Ted Lasso and Hacks. The Underground Railroad, created by Barry Jenkins and based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, is a historical fantasy that follows a young enslaved woman who escapes from a plantation and embarks on a journey to freedom. The show has received five nominations, including Best Television Series – drama, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Directing, and Best Original Score. Mare of Easttown, created by Brad Ingelsby and starring Kate Winslet, Evan Peters, and Jean Smart, is a crime drama that follows a detective investigating a murder in a small Pennsylvania town. The show has received four nominations, including Best Television Series – drama, Best Actress, best-supporting actor, and best supporting actress.
Ted Lasso, created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly and starring Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, and Juno Temple, is a comedy that follows an American football coach who is hired to manage an English soccer team. The show has received four nominations, including Best Television Series – musical or Comedy, Best Actor, best supporting actress, Drama, and Best Screenplay. Hacks, created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky and starring Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and Carl Clemons-Hopkins, is a comedy that follows a legendary stand-up comedian who mentors a young writer. The show has received four nominations, including Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.
Snubs and Surprises: Who Got Left Out and Who Got In?
As with any awards show, the Golden Globe nominations have their share of snubs and surprises, with some notable names and titles missing from the list and some unexpected ones being cut. Here are some of the most glaring omissions and inclusions:
- Snub: Dune. The sci-fi epic directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and Rebecca Ferguson was widely praised for its stunning visuals and faithful adaptation of the classic novel by Frank Herbert. However, the film only received one nomination, for best original score, and was shut out of the major categories, such as Best Motion Picture – drama, best director, and best screenplay.
- Surprise: Origin. The drama, directed by Ava DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, Daniel Kaluuya, and Cynthia Erivo, was a late entry in the awards race, premiering on Netflix in November. The film, which tells the story of four African immigrants who become involved in a murder mystery in New York, received three nominations, including Best Motion Picture – drama, Best Actress, and best-supporting actor.
- Snub: The Handmaid’s Tale. The dystopian drama based on the novel by Margaret Atwood and starring Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, and Ann Dowd was one of the most acclaimed and popular shows of the year, winning several Emmys and Critics’ Choice Awards. However, the show only received one nomination, for best actress, and was snubbed in the categories of best television series—drama, best supporting actress, and best supporting actor.
- Surprise: The White Lotus. The comedy created by Mike White and starring Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Steve Zahn, and Murray Bartlett was a sleeper hit of the summer, generating buzz and memes with its satire of privileged vacationers at a Hawaiian resort. The show received three nominations, including Best Television Series (musical or comedy), Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.
The Golden Globe Awards 2024 will be hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who will return for the fourth time as co-hosts. The ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC on January 7, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
