Barbie and Oppenheimer made their 2024 Oscars presence felt with a rumbling roar as they bagged nominations across several categories. However, the biggest triumph for both Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan came in the form of both their joint summer releases earning the Best Picture nominations. While a win may land the Tenet director his first-ever Academy Award, massive inroads into history have already crept into this category.

For the 2024 Oscars, a total of ten movies are vying and competing against each other for a win. Alongside the summer behemoths, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Poor Things, Past Lives, The Zone of Interest, American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, and The Holdovers also find themselves up. A major crowding, incidentally, the ten nods in one category stand as the highest number permitted by the Academy, making it historic in its own way.

In the leading run between the two twin releases, Oppenheimer left Barbie far behind. Standing tall with thirteen nominations to the latter’s eight, Christopher Nolan has a more guaranteed chance of success than Greta Gerwig. Furthermore, with Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorcese also entered as the oldest Oscars contender in the category at the age of 81. Overall, in terms of making history, the 2024 Academy Awards has taken a pitch in the right direction.

Ironically, however, with Barbie standing to compete in several categories, it also found itself snubbed by many major ones.

Barbie falls behind Oppenheimer in Oscars 2024 race

Greta Gerwig lost out on the Best Director Oscar category while Margot Robbie will sit out on the Best Actress nod. The two women who made the flick as resounding as it stands, being snubbed, came as a major blow to the fans. With regards to actual nods, Ryan Gosling made his way to a Best Supporting Actor nomination even as he lost one in the Best Song (Original Score) category. As a saving grace, America Ferrera became the sole woman from the main cast of Barbie to race for a 2024 Academy Award.

Owing to its billing, Oppenheimer also sat out in the Best Visual Effects category despite a strong footing. The film’s use of practical effects over CGI meant it featured significantly fewer VFX shots than other contenders. Yet, the race still has the two summer releases vying for the Best Picture spot, which may land either way with the Golden Globes acting as a precursor.

What are your reactions to Barbie and Oppenheimer witnessing history at the Oscars 2024? Let us know in the comments below.