Director Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic “Oppenheimer” tops all Oscar nominees with 13; “Barbie” snags eight. (Jan 23)
Published: January 23, 2024 06:08 AM
It’s going to be another Barbenheimer showdown, but this time it will be at the Oscars instead of the box office.
Christoper Nolan’s blockbuster biopic, “Oppenheimer,” led this year’s nominations with 13 nods. Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” wasn’t far behind with eight nominations.
Among the nominated films is the Ukraine war documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” handing the AP its first Oscar nomination in the 178-year-old news organizations history.
What they were made for
Billie Eilish and Finneas shouted out the directors and cast at “Barbie” after they were one of two hits from the movie nominated for best original song.
Thank you to Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for weaving our song into the fabric and heart of this film so well. And a special shout out to Margot Robbie for her incredible foresight as a producer and brilliant performance that resonated with us so profoundly when writing this song. We are truly honored.
Billie Eilish and Finneas wrote in a statement
Before “Barbie” was released, music mastermind Mark Ronson shared how the soundtrack came together.
A colorful premonition?
Sterling K. Brown posted a video to his Instagram account Monday, marveling at a rainbow in Southern California. “That must mean something good is coming.”
A day later, he’s waking up an Oscar nominee for best supporting actor for “American Fiction.” It’s his first nomination. He is a two-time Emmy winner.
In/out, Oscars edition
There were many snubs and surprises in today’s Oscar nominations.
The best of 2023
Our resident film experts Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle share their favorite movies of 2023.
Robert Downey Jr. calls ‘Oppenheimer’ a ‘cinematic masterpiece’
Robert Downey Jr. reacted to his Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for his role in “Oppenheimer”:
“Waking up to all of these nominations for Christopher Nolan and his many talented collaborators is an absolute delight. It’s been the honor of a lifetime to be part of the cinematic masterpiece that is Oppenheimer.”
Robert Downey Jr.
Before “Oppenheimer” came out, Downey Jr. talked with AP’s Krysta Fauria about the nuance and significance of the Manhattan Project. Read the full Q+A.
Want to see the list of nominees?
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ review
In her review of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” AP National Writer Jocelyn Noveck writes:
We won’t spoil the ingenious epilogue in which Scorsese ties up the loose narrative ends — with another significant cameo. But the fact that this epilogue comes after, oh, 200 minutes of expertly sustained tension is just another sign that in the latter years of his career, Scorsese is upping the ante — in terms of scale, yes, but also ambition.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” racked up 10 Oscar nominations today.
‘Forever thankful’
I am forever thankful for the opportunity to play Bella and see the world through her eyes. She has shown me that life is so much more than just sugar and violence.
Emma Stone said in a statement
She is only the second female producer to be nominated for both best actress and best film, after Frances McDormand for “Nomadland,” Stone’s reps say.
“Poor Things” stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo explain why they were happy to take chances for director Yorgos Lanthimos’ dark comedy, at its New York premiere. (Dec. 7)
▶Read our review of “Poor Things.”
What would you ask the Oscar nominees?
Tell us and some of our reporters just may ask your question.
A second nom for Kris Bowers
Kris Bowers was nominated for a second time for an Oscar as a producer of the documentary short “The Last Repair Shop.”
Bowers was recently named one of AP’s Breakthrough Entertainers of the Year.
Just keep swimming
“Nyad” stars Annette Bening and Jodie Foster just kept swimming on their way to each actor’s fifth Oscar nomination.
Bening plays prickly long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad and Foster is her friend and coach Bonnie Stoll in the Netflix film. Bening has never won, and Foster is a two-time Oscar winner, her last in 1992 for “The Silence of the Lambs.”
The “Barbie” song that didn’t get nominated
Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” didn’t make the cut in the best original song category, which features two other tunes from “Barbie.”
The pop star had hit Hollywood’s awards campaign circuit hard in past weeks. One consolation: the song has two nominations at next month’s Grammy Awards, including song of the year.
Who got snubbed?
This combination of images shows promotional art for “Barbie,” left, and “Oppenheimer.” (Warner Bros Pictures/Universal Pictures via AP)
Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” received eight nominations, but she was surprisingly left out of the best director field.
Leonardo DiCaprio wasn’t nominated for best actor for his role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” But it did notch a nod for best director and Lily Gladstone became the first Native American nominated for best actress.
And the final nomination of the day
Best director nominees
The nominees for best director are:
Justine Triet, “Anatomy of a Fall”; Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things”; Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”; Martin Scorsese “Killers of the Flower Moon”; Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest”
Best documentary nominees
The nominees for best documentary are:
“Four Daughters”; “20 Days in Mariupol”; “Bobi Wine: The People’s President”; “The Eternal Memory”; “To Kill a Tiger.”
Best actress nominees
Jack Quaid, left, and Zazie Beetz speak during the 96th Academy Awards nominations announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif. The 96th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
The nominees for best actress are: Annette Bening, “Nyad”; Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”; Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall”; Carey Mulligan, “Maestro”; Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
Gladstone would be the first Native American to ever win a competitive Oscar.
In 2023, she was named one of AP’s Breakthrough Entertainers of the year.
Who’s nominated for best actor?
The nominees for best actor are:
Bradley Cooper, “Maestro”; Colman Domingo, “Rustin” Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”; Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”; Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer.”
Best international film
The nominees for best international film are: “Society of the Snow,” (Spain); “The Zone of Interest,” (United Kingdom); “The Teachers’ Lounge” (Germany); “Io Capitano” (Italy); “Perfect Day” (Japan)
Best animated film nominees
The nominees for best animated film are: “The Boy and the Heron”; “Elemental”; “Nimona”; “Robot Dreams”; “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
A first for AP
FILE – Photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, from left, “Frontline” producer/editor Michelle Mizner, director Mstyslav Chernov, and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko pose for a portrait to promote the film “20 Days in Mariupol” at the Latinx House during the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Park City, Utah. The film is a joint project between The Associated Press and PBS “Frontline.” (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)
“20 Days in Mariupol” has been nominated for best documentary at the Academy Awards, handing AP its first Oscar nomination in its 178-year history.
▶ Read more about Mstyslav Chernov’s harrowing chronicle of the besieged Ukrainian city and the international journalists who remained there after Russia’s invasion.
A surprise from the very start of the nominations
One surprise was the very first name read. Sterling K. Brown had been right on the edge of the supporting actor race, but he got it for his performance in “American Fiction.” Left out was Willem Dafoe for “Poor Things.”
The supporting actress category also had a surprise, with America Ferrera making the cut, a good sign for “Barbie.”
And the nominees for best supporting actress
A look at the nominees for best supporting actress:
Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer”; Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple”; America Ferrera, “Barbie” Jodie Foster, “Nyad”; Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
Costume design nominees
“Barbie”; Killers of the Flower Moon; “Napoleon”; “Oppenheimer”; “Poor Things”
The nominees for best supporting actor
Here’s who was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor:
Sterling K. Brown, “American Fiction”; Robert De Niro, “Killers of the Flower Moon”; Robert Downey Jr.,“Oppenheimer”; Ryan Gosling, “Barbie”; Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things”
What we’re expecting
Watch the Oscar nominations live
We’re livestreaming the Oscar nominations, which start in just 10 minutes.
‘Joker’ star Zazie Beetz and ‘The Boys’ star Jack Quaid announce nominations for 2024 Oscars at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in California. The 96th Academy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on March 10.
Impact of this year’s strikes hang over the atmosphere
The strikes began in May when the Writers Guild hit the picket lines and gathered more force when Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists members walked out in mid-July.
The strikes were historic in their length and cost, causing an estimated $6 billion in economic loss and leaving hundreds of thousands out of work. As Hollywood began rushing back to production and stars again hit red carpets, many were surely still nursing wounds from a bitter feud with the studios, even after a deal that the guild says won actors a hefty boost to minimum pay and protections over the use of artificial intelligence.
▶ This is an excerpt from a full story. Continue reading here.
Take a look at Golden Globes 2024 nominees, winners, best dressed, & more
Taylor Swift stunned in shimmery acid green custom Gucci at the newfangled Golden Globes, Sandra Hüller swept onto the red carpet in goddess green and Margot Robbie went full Barbie in pink custom Armani Privé at start of the rush-rush awards season.
▶ This is an excerpt from a full story. Continue reading here.
75th Emmy Awards red carpet looks and highlights
We’re already excited about the Oscar’s red carpet.
Here’s the best from 75th Emmy Awards:
Television’s finest brought the silver carpet alive in color, vying with a sea of black, at the strike-delayed 75th Emmy Awards, including a 3D-molded black look for Ayo Edebiri and sparkly chartreuse for Rhea Seehorn.
Edebiri of “The Bear” walked in a strapless custom gown from Louis Vuitton. It was molded to her body and fell above the ankle. “We’re snatched and loving it,” she told E!
▶ This is an excerpt from a full story. Continue reading here.
Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for the fourth time
Jimmy Kimmel is returning as host of the Academy Awards for the second straight year and fourth time overall, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday.
ABC is turning again to its late-night host a year after bringing Kimmel back for a 2023 ceremony that drew 18.7 million viewers, the most since 2020’s pre-pandemic broadcast. In the wake of Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, Kimmel led a cautious ceremony that helped stabilize the Academy Awards after years of turmoil.
▶ This is an excerpt from a full story. Continue reading here.