Is the Social Media Outrage Surrounding ‘Barbie’ Snubs Justified?

Barbie is a 2023 comedy-drama film directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as the titular character, a woman who escapes from a dollhouse and explores the real world. The film was also a box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2023.

However, despite its critical and commercial acclaim, the film was ‘snubbed’ in major categories at the 2024 award season, losing to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things in most of the prestigious awards, such as the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, and the Oscars.

The arguments

Following the release of the nominee list for the 2024 Oscars on Tuesday, enthusiasts of Barbie expressed their disappointment on social media, questioning its absence in significant categories. However, it’s worth examining whether these expressions of displeasure are justified.

Perhaps we should delve into the reasons and underlying factors contributing to these perceived ‘snubs.’

Although no award scheme representatives have come out to explain their criteria for nominations, a possible ground for Barbie’s snubs in major categories this award season could be that the film was overshadowed by Oppenheimer and Poor Things, which were both more ambitious and serious films that tackled historical and political themes, such as the atomic bomb and the climate crisis, and appealed to the Academy’s preference for drama and spectacle.

This reason is affirmed by an X user who wrote “I’m sorry, but a movie like Barbie does not deserve to have Oscar nominations, even the actors.”

Some may argue that the outrage is justified because the film deserved recognition for its artistic merit, its cultural impact, and its feminist message.

Despite the social media outrage, the film was not completely ignored by the awards, as it received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, and won two Golden Globes for Best Song and Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.

The facts

‘Barbie’ only won two Golden Globes for Best Song and Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, a new category introduced this year.

The film also failed to secure nominations for Best Actress for Margot Robbie and Best Director for Greta Gerwig, both considered strong contenders for their role in the 2024 Oscar nominations list.

Greta Gerwig’s film was widely praised by critics and audiences for its witty and heartfelt script, its charming and empowering protagonist, and its clever satire of consumerism and gender norms.

It secured eight nominations for Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song, and Best Production Design.