The Critics Choice Association (CCA) has unveiled the much-anticipated film category nominees for the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards, and it’s clear that independent filmmakers and lovers of creative storytelling have reason to celebrate. In a year where Hollywood’s big-budget productions often overshadow the innovative and daring creations of the independent film world, Barbie has emerged as a shining beacon of originality with an impressive 18 nominations.
Topping the list of nominees for this year’s awards, Barbie not only secured nods for Best Picture and Best Comedy but also earned recognition in categories like Best Hair and Makeup. The film’s star-studded cast received their fair share of praise, with Margot Robbie earning a nomination for Best Actress, Ryan Gosling for Best Supporting Actor, and America Ferrera for Best Supporting Actress. Young talent Ariana Greenblatt is in the running for Best Young Actor/Actress, and the entire ensemble received a nomination for Best Acting Ensemble. Furthermore, Greta Gerwig’s directing skills were acknowledged with a nod for Best Director, and both Gerwig and Noah Baumbach are contenders for Best Original Screenplay. The technical aspects of Barbie were also recognized, with nominations for Best Cinematography, Production Design, Editing, and Costume Design. Notably, the film’s captivating soundtrack and score received nods, with several hit songs and composers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt being nominated for Best Score.
Barbie isn’t the only independent gem shining brightly at this year’s Critics Choice Awards. Oppenheimer and Poor Things both earned an impressive 13 nominations, highlighting their creative brilliance. Killers of the Flower Moon followed closely with 12 nominations. These films, along with American Fiction, Maestro, Past Lives, Saltburn, The Color Purple, and The Holdovers, round out the highly competitive Best Picture category.
CCA CEO Joey Berlin expressed the organization’s excitement, saying, “We are so excited to celebrate this year’s remarkable projects, performances, and the people who made it all possible at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. This year saw an incredible number of blockbuster hits and beautiful stories brought to life in these exceptional films.”
The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast live on The CW on Sunday, January 14, 2024, from 7 – 10 pm ET (delayed PT, check local listings). Historically, these awards have proven to be the most accurate predictors of Academy Award nominations, further emphasizing the significance of this recognition for independent filmmakers.
FILM NOMINATIONS FOR THE 29th ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS
BEST PICTURE
- American Fiction
- Barbie
- The Color Purple
- The Holdovers
- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Maestro
- Oppenheimer
- Past Lives
- Poor Things
- Saltburn
BEST ACTOR
- Bradley Cooper – Maestro
- Leonardo DiCaprio – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Colman Domingo – Rustin
- Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
- Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
- Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction
BEST ACTRESS
- Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall
- Greta Lee – Past Lives
- Carey Mulligan – Maestro
- Margot Robbie – Barbie
- Emma Stone – Poor Things
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
- Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction
- Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer
- Ryan Gosling – Barbie
- Charles Melton – May December
- Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
- Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
- America Ferrera – Barbie
- Jodie Foster – Nyad
- Julianne Moore – May December
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
- Abby Ryder Fortson – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
- Ariana Greenblatt – Barbie
- Calah Lane – Wonka
- Milo Machado Graner – Anatomy of a Fall
- Dominic Sessa – The Holdovers
- Madeleine Yuna Voyles – The Creator
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
- Air
- Barbie
- The Color Purple
- The Holdovers
- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Oppenheimer
BEST DIRECTOR
- Bradley Cooper – Maestro
- Greta Gerwig – Barbie
- Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things
- Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
- Alexander Payne – The Holdovers
- Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
- Samy Burch – May December
- Alex Convery – Air
- Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer – Maestro
- Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach – Barbie
- David Hemingson – The Holdovers
- Celine Song – Past Lives
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
- Kelly Fremon Craig – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
- Andrew Haigh – All of Us Strangers
- Cord Jefferson – American Fiction
- Tony McNamara – Poor Things
- Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
- Eric Roth & Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Matthew Libatique – Maestro
- Rodrigo Prieto – Barbie
- Rodrigo Prieto – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Robbie Ryan – Poor Things
- Linus Sandgren – Saltburn
- Hoyte van Hoytema – Oppenheimer
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
- Suzie Davies, Charlotte Dirickx – Saltburn
- Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman – Oppenheimer
- Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer – Barbie
- James Price, Shona Heath, Szusza Mihalek – Poor Things
- Adam Stockhausen, Kris Moran – Asteroid City
BEST EDITING
- William Goldenberg – Air
- Nick Houy – Barbie
- Jennifer Lame – Oppenheimer
- Yorgos Mavropsaridis – Poor Things
- Thelma Schoonmaker – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Michelle Tesoro – Maestro
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
- Jacqueline Durran – Barbie
- Lindy Hemming – Wonka
- Francine Jamison-Tanchuck – The Color Purple
- Holly Waddington – Poor Things
- Jacqueline West – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Janty Yates, David Crossman – Napoleon
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
- Barbie
- The Color Purple
- Maestro
- Oppenheimer
- Poor Things
- Priscilla
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- The Creator
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
- Oppenheimer
- Poor Things
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
BEST COMEDY
- American Fiction
- Barbie
- Bottoms
- The Holdovers
- No Hard Feelings
- Poor Things
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
- The Boy and the Heron
- Elemental
- Nimona
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
- Wish
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
- Anatomy of a Fall
- Godzilla Minus One
- Perfect Days
- Society of the Snow
- The Taste of Things
- The Zone of Interest
BEST SONG
- “Dance the Night” – Barbie
- “I’m Just Ken” – Barbie
- “Peaches” – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- “Road to Freedom” – Rustin
- “This Wish” – Wish
- “What Was I Made For” – Barbie
BEST SCORE
- Jerskin Fendrix – Poor Things
- Michael Giacchino – Society of the Snow
- Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer
- Daniel Pemberton – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Robbie Robertson – Killers of the Flower Moon
- Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt – Barbie