Barbie was one of the biggest blockbusters of 2023. It made history not only by moving audiences with its pink-themed frenzy but also by propelling Greta Gerwig into the prestigious billion-dollar club as a filmmaker. However, despite its immense success, Margot Robbie faced continued snubs at the award season, even at the 2024 SAG awards. Lily Gladstone triumphed over Robbie in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category, for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon. 

Before SAG, Robbie had the biggest snub from the Oscars nomination list and also lost at major award races like the Golden Globes and Critics Choice. She only won an AACTA Trailblazer Award this year for her performance in Barbie. Robbie also lost out to Emma Stone’s performance in Poor Things at the BAFTAs. The decision stirred up a lot of debate among fans who were championing this movie for its feminist representation to be a major contender this award season, including the Oscars.

To many, Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s snub from the Oscars felt even more disappointing that Ryan Gosling earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Ken. Countless articles surfaced, each seemingly more impassioned than the last. Gosling responded with a statement expressing his disappointment over the snubs. Even former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined the conversation and offered words of comfort to Gerwig and Robbie.

But what could have been the reason that this movie, despite having a strong cast, performing well at the box office, and featuring impactful themes, could not get enough Oscar nods?

Why did Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig lose out on Academy Nomination?

Without a doubt, Barbie is among the most impactful cinematic works of last year. With Greta Gerwig at the helm and Margot Robbie’s instrumental contributions, both as the lead and the producer, the film’s global box office earnings exceeded a whopping $1.4 billion. It also built a strong connection with the audiences, bringing in the contemporary pop culture milieu of 2024. However, some critics believe that the issue with Barbie could be that the film may have become too large-scale.

The movie went viral in a way too big way, and award gurus believe that the directing bunch, with their fancy tastes and European vibes, might have brushed it off as another mainstream Hollywood flick. However, if that were the case, Oppenheimer would not have made strides at the awards either, given its business and popularity were just a few dollars shy of Barbie‘s.

What do you think about Margot Robbie’s snub? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!