Going to the movies is one of my favorite things to do, and I was there a whole lot in 2023 seeing all the latest and greatest. I saw Barbie twice (and sobbed both times, BTW) and my Hunger Games obsession had a resurgence when The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes came out.
I was looking forward to seeing how these movies, and many more (May December, The Iron Claw, Priscilla for example), would be recognized by critics, especially at the Oscars. And it’s safe to say that I’m pissed off, because these movies did not receive much recognition, and I’m not the only one who’s upset about this. Many are heated that the 2024 Oscar Awards snubbed actors such as Charles Melton, Margot Robbie, and Zac Efron. Of course, social media has been filling up with fans sharing their reactions to this news and to say they’re pissed off would be an understatement.
IMO, Barbie was robbed. While it received seven nominations, the film’s director, Greta Gerwig, and the star of Barbie, Margot Robbie, did not receive any Oscar nominations in the top categories in the top categories this year. Barbie was one of the most successful movies in 2023 and is also the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros.’ 100-year history. It’s truly upsetting that Gerwig was not included in the Best Director category for this.
Robbie did not receive any nominations, but her co-star, Ryan Gosling (who played who played Ken in Barbie) was nominated for “Best Supporting Actor.” The internet is pissed about this too. While Gosling did an amazing job, Robbie was literally Barbie, and she deserved to be recognized.
Like fans, Gosling and America Ferrera (who played Gloria in Barbie) were shocked to learn that both Robbie and Gerwig failed to receive 2024 Oscar nominations.
“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,” Gosling said in a statement. “No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”
Ferrera had a similar sentiment. “I was incredibly disappointed that they weren’t nominated,” she told Variety.
Another snub was for May December, particularly Charles Melton’s role as Joe Yoo. Despite his impressive performance, Melton did not receive any Oscar nominations for the role. Aside from Melton’s Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, he was not recognized at the BAFTA’s longlist either.
Zac Efron’s performance as Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw, described as being his “finest hour,” also wasn’t recognized for a 2024 Oscar. Efron’s performance in the film was incredibly emotional and unforgettable. He truly showed his versatility as an actor, and the internet is shocked he was not nominated for anything.
It’s safe to say the internet is not happy about these nomination snubs, and I’m right there with them.
I’m happy for those who did receive nominations, but I’m still in shock over the snubs. If you need me, I’ll be drafting an angry email to the Academy.