Atomic bomb blockbuster Oppenheimer leads Oscar nominations; Gerwig, Robbie, DiCaprio snubbed

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Oppenheimer, the epic film about the World War II race to build the first atomic bomb, landed a leading 13 Oscar nominations on Tuesday and cemented its role as frontrunner for the prestigious best picture trophy.

The three-hour drama directed by Christopher Nolan outpaced gothic comedy Poor Things, another best picture contender that scored 11 nominations for the film industry’s highest honors.

Both movies will compete with feminist doll adventure Barbie, Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, about the 1920s murders of members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, among others.

Mr. Nolan, a best director nominee, said it was “a real thrill” to see Oppenheimer pile up so many nominations.

“I think it’s a great year for movies, and it’s a real honor to be included,” he said in an interview.

One of Hollywood’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Mr. Nolan has never had a film win best picture at the Academy Awards.

Oppenheimer is considered the favorite for the top prize this year, based on early awards season wins and polling of experts by the Gold Derby website. The movie was distributed by Comcast Corp.’s Universal Pictures.

The remaining best picture nominees were American Fiction, The Holdovers, Past Lives, The Zone of Interest, and French film Anatomy of a Fall.

Barbie, last year’s highest-grossing movie, received eight nominations, including supporting actress for America Ferrera — who gave a memorable monologue about the challenges of womanhood — and supporting actor for Ryan Gosling. Voters passed over lead actress Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig.

Oppenheimer secured a lead actor nomination for Cillian Murphy, who played scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, and for supporting cast Emily Blunt and Robert Downey, Jr.

With Barbie and Oppenheimer in the mix, the Oscars telecast on March 10 will showcase two big-screen blockbusters. The films collected nearly $2.4 billion combined in a summer box office battle dubbed “Barbenheimer.”

FIRST-TIME NOMINEESTen of the 20 acting contenders were first-time nominees. Among them were Native American Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone, and Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown for American Fiction, the story of a Black writer fed up with book publishers pushing stereotypes.

Killers of the Flower Moon actor and past Oscar winner Robert De Niro received a supporting actor nomination for the movie.

Emma Stone nabbed a best actress nod for her role in Poor Things as Bella, a woman who goes on a journey of self-discovery after being raised from the dead. “I am forever thankful for the opportunity to play Bella and see the world through her eyes,” said Ms. Stone, another previous Oscar winner, who was also nominated for best picture as a Poor Things producer.

SNUBBSDirector Greta Gerwig and actress Margot Robbie, the women who helped make Barbie the runaway box office success of 2023, failed to land directing and lead actress Oscar nominations on Tuesday.

Their omissions sparked a sharp reaction from Barbie actor Ryan Gosling, who earned a best supporting actor nomination and lauded Ms. Gerwig and Ms. Robbie’s “talent, grit and genius.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, the lead actor in director Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, was also passed over by Hollywood’s film academy in that category.

Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon did snag two of the 10 best picture nominations, though they face formidable competition from the awards season frontrunner, Oppenheimer, which led Tuesday’s Academy Awards nominations with 13 nods.

Ms. Gerwig landed a nomination for best adapted screenplay for Barbie, along with her husband, Noah Baumbach. The movie, which earned over $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office in 2023, snagged eight nominations in total, and Ms. Robbie is credited as a producer for the best picture nod.

Mr. Gosling, who played Ken opposite Ms. Robbie’s Barbie, said he was “extremely honored” by his nomination for best supporting actor, but added, “There is no Ken without Barbie.”

“And there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film,” Mr. Gosling said in a statement.

“No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius,” he added. “To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”

Also not making the Oscar nomination cut was Past Lives star Greta Lee, who was vying for a best actress nod for her role in the romantic drama set in Seoul, South Korea, and New York.

Joining her, Ferrari actress Penelope Cruz did not receive a nomination for her supporting role in the high-speed racing drama despite good reviews for her performance.

Bradley Cooper was left off the best director list for Maestro, though he was nominated for best actor for starring in the film as composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Mr. Cooper also was snubbed in the directing category for 2018 best picture nominee A Star is Born.

Among the overlooked films, The Color Purple, the musical adaptation of the 1982 book and the 1985 film, was almost completely shut out of the 2024 Oscars race, receiving only one nomination.

Danielle Brooks received the movie’s sole Oscars nod for best supporting actress, while American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino was snubbed for the best actress nomination.

Winners of the gold Oscar statuettes will be chosen by the roughly 11,000 actors, producers, directors and film craftspeople who make up the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The organization added more women and people of color to its ranks after the #OscarsSoWhite uproars of 2015 and 2016, and it increased membership from outside the United States. This year, votes came in from a record 93 countries.

Late-night talk show’s Jimmy Kimmel will for the fourth time host the Oscars ceremony, which will be broadcast live on Walt Disney’s ABC. — Reuters

By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES, Jan 23 — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Oscars nominations on Tuesday. Winners of the 96th Academy Awards will be announced at a live, televised ceremony from Hollywood on March 10.

The following is a full list of nominees.

Best PictureAmerican FictionAnatomy of a FallBarbieThe HoldoversKillers of the Flower MoonMaestroPast LivesPoor ThingThe Zone of InterestOppenheimer

Best ActorBradley Cooper, MaestroColman Domingo, RustinPaul Giamatti, The HoldoversCillian Murphy, OppenheimerJeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Best ActressLily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower MoonSandra Huller, Anatomy of a FallCarey Mulligan, MaestroEmma Stone, Poor ThingsAnnette Bening, Nyad

Best DirectorJonathan Glazer, The Zone of InterestYorgos Lanthimos, Poor ThingsChristopher Nolan, OppenheimerMartin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower MoonJustine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall

Best Supporting ActorSterling K. Brown, American FictionRobert De Niro, Killers of the Flower MoonRobert Downey Jr., OppenheimerRyan Gosling, BarbieMark Ruffalo, Poor Things

Best Supporting ActressEmily Blunt, OppenheimerJodie Foster, NyadDa’Vine Joy Randolph, The HoldoversDanielle Brooks, The Color PurpleAmerica Ferrera, Barbie

Best Adapted ScreenplayAmerican FictionBarbie”OppenheimerPoor ThingsZone of Interest

Original ScreenplayAnatomy of a FallThe HoldoversMay DecemberPast LivesMaestro

Best Animated Feature FilmThe Boy and the HeronElementalNimonaSpider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseRobot Dreams

Best Animated ShortLetter to a PigNinety-Five SensesOur Uniform</i >PachydermeWar is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko

Best International FeatureIo Capitano, ItalyPerfect Days, JapanSociety of the Snow, SpainThe Teachers’ Lounge, GermanyThe Zone of Interest, United Kingdom

Best Documentary FeatureBobi Wine: The People’s PresidentThe Eternal MemoryFour DaughtersTo Kill a Tiger20 Days in Mariupol

Best Documentary ShortThe ABCs of Book BanningThe Last Repair ShopNai Nai & Wai PoThe Barber of Little RockIsland in Between

Best Original ScoreAmerican FictionIndiana Jones and the Dial of DestinyKillers of the Flower MoonOppenheimerPoor Things

Best Original Song“It Never Went Away,”American Symphony“I’m Just Ken,” Barbie“What Was I Made For?,”Barbie“The Fire Inside,” Flamin’ Hot“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” Killers of the Flower Moon

Best SoundThe CreatorMaestroMission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part OneOppenheimerThe Zone of Interest

Best Production DesignBarbieKillers of the Flower MoonNapoleonOppenheimerPoor Things

Best Live Action ShortThe AfterInvincibleKnight of FortuneRed, White and BlueThe Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Best CinematographyEl CondeKillers of the Flower MoonMaestroOppenheimerPoor Things

Best Makeup And HairstylingGoldaSociety of the SnowMaestroOppenheimerPoor Things

Best Costume DesignBarbieKillers of the Flower MoonNapoleonOppenheimerPoor Things

Best Visual EffectsThe CreatorGodzilla Minus OneGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part OneNapoleon

Best Film EditingAnatomy of a FallThe HoldoversKillers of the Flower MoonOppenheimerPoor Things