Barbie has become the commercial success of the year. While 2023 has been a disastrous year in terms of releases, with dozens of commercial disasters that have changed the perspective of cinema, Barbie has emerged this summer as the savior of a panorama that seemed to be completely lost.
But does this go beyond the purely commercial? Well, it is true that it did quite well critically, falling one step short of Oppenheimer but winning over critics around the world. Although many want Greta Gerwig’s film to go one step further; and yes, they want Barbie to be considered for Oscars in many of its categories.
Categories in which Barbie could stand out
There has been talk of Ryan Gosling as best supporting actor, Margot Robbie as best leading actress, Greta Gerwig as director… but, going by the history of the Oscars, what are Barbie’s real chances of winning an award? Actually, there is a double reading: although she can get many nominations, she can get few awards, and it is difficult for her to stand out in some categories… but there are some where she can do it more than the rest.
The main category where she can, and likely will, stand out is in original screenplay. Gerwig has already been nominated for best original screenplay for Lady Bird and adapted for Little Women, so it is clear that the Academy likes her writing. And if we add to this that Barbie does not have a clear competitor in this sense -Oppenheimer would dispute in adapted screenplay and others like Killers of the Flower Moon as well-, it is possible that Gerwig takes the award.
Of course, there are other categories where the film may surprise. From production design (for its crazy art direction) to original score or original song for I’m Just Ken, it wouldn’t be surprising if these technical aspects were more valued. But there’s still a long way to go before the ceremony… and a lot of films to be released.
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