Oscars 2024: 'Oppenheimer' Poised to Steal the Spotlight from 'Barbie'

If you decide to take a sip every time someone mentions "Barbie" during this Sunday's Oscars, you might end up missing the best picture category, even though the show starts earlier. Despite the buzz surrounding the biggest box-office hit of the year and the controversies over its "snubs," the spotlight at the 96th Academy Awards seems to be on "Oppenheimer's" night.

Regarding "Barbie," even though Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were left out as actress and director nominees (they have nominations in other categories), the message from this year's nominations is a familiar one. As comedian Martin Mull once said, Hollywood can be likened to "high school with money." Looking at past award ceremonies, it's clear that the most popular student in school doesn't always end up being the valedictorian.

The Oscars play multiple roles, including promoting movie-going through a three-hour commercial. This has become more crucial due to the decline caused by Covid and streaming.

Award shows must also draw in viewers to keep networks interested in broadcasting them and paying high fees. Nominating popular movies can increase audience engagement and potentially boost TV ratings.

Award-show organizers have been faced with a tricky decision during what some may call Hollywood's superhero era, starting with Marvel's successful "Iron Man" that kickstarted a string of box office hits. In response to films like "The Dark Knight" getting snubbed, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences upped the number of best picture nominees in 2009 and even considered adding a category for "popular films" to attract more blockbusters to the awards ceremony.

Despite the challenge, very few superhero or genre movies have managed to secure recognition, with "Black Panther" being a notable exception. Surprisingly, "Barbie," known for its blend of A-list stars and social commentary, has received a total of eight nominations, including a nod for best picture. However, as the awards season progresses, industry guild voters and journalism groups have shown a preference for "Oppenheimer," a serious historical film that, despite its commercial success in partnership with "Barbenheimer," aligns more closely with the typical Oscar-winning formula.

The award-industrial complex’s fondness for smaller films, further fueled by their availability via streaming services, is evident in the other best picture contenders.

Cillian Murphy accepts the Screen Actors Guild award for his starring role in "Oppenheimer," the heavy favorite on Oscar night.

Cillian Murphy accepts the Screen Actors Guild award for his starring role in "Oppenheimer," the heavy favorite on Oscar night.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

The box-office hits “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” stand out among the best picture candidates. The other eight nominees – “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest” – collectively earned around $400 million worldwide. In comparison, “Barbie” alone exceeded $1 billion in box office revenue. ("Maestro" figures are not available as it was mainly shown on Netflix.)

Two international films, “Anatomy of a Fall” from France and “The Zone of Interest” in German, are nominated for best picture this year. This marks the first time that two international films have been recognized in the same category. This trend reflects the increasing global presence in entertainment, from the groundbreaking victory of the South Korean film “Parasite” in 2020 to the popularity of TV shows like “Squid Game.”

Based on the pre-Oscar results, "Oppenheimer" appears to be a strong contender to win between six to nine awards, including best picture and recognition for director Christopher Nolan, as well as actors Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.

On the other hand, "Barbie" (distributed by Warner Bros., a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, like CNN) is expected to have a less prominent presence at the awards ceremony, with its best chances possibly lying in the categories of song (with two nominations) and costume design.

Emphasizing the "snubs" from "Barbie" may seem like a logical choice for attention-grabbing headlines in the media. However, it fails to acknowledge the challenges the movie faced due to its toy-inspired storyline and blockbuster status, just to be nominated for an award. Delving into the origins of the world's fear of nuclear annihilation is a completely different discussion.

It is common for debates and second-guessing to arise regarding award selections long after the awards show has ended. Just ask any film historian about controversial wins such as "How Green Was My Valley" over "Citizen Kane," "Shakespeare in Love" beating "Saving Private Ryan," or "Crash" prevailing over "Brokeback Mountain."

Wherever your loyalties may fall among this year's nominees, if you plan to watch the live broadcast, just relax, appreciate the fashion, and hopefully have a good time. And if history repeats itself, the night should end with an exciting finale.

The 96th annual Academy Awards is scheduled to air on March 10 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

Editor's P/S:

The Oscars have long been criticized for prioritizing smaller, more serious films over crowd-pleasing blockbusters. This year's nominations reflect that trend, with "Oppenheimer," a historical drama about the development of the atomic bomb, emerging as the frontrunner in the Best Picture race. While "Barbie," a satirical comedy with a star-studded cast, has received eight nominations, it is widely expected to have a smaller presence at the ceremony.

This disparity highlights the ongoing debate about the role of popular entertainment in awards season. Some argue that blockbusters deserve recognition for their commercial success and cultural impact, while others maintain that awards should be reserved for more "serious" films that explore important themes. Ultimately, the decision of which films to honor is a subjective one, and it is likely that the debate will continue for many years to come. in award selection.