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Barbie leads a crowded pack for Oscar shortlisting, snagging five mentions in Sound and Music categories

Come on Barbie. Lets go (Oscar) Party.

I'm just Ken Screenshot
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

While the world waits to see who is going to come out on top at the 2024 Oscars, we got a sneak peek at what some of the frontrunners are going to be when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their shortlists for ten of the upcoming categories. Turns out, the Academy liked Barbie just as much as we did, giving it more mentions than any other film of the year.

Three of those mentions come in the Original Song category, with shortlists for Billie Eilish’s 'What Was I Made For?,' Dua Lipa’s 'Dance the Night,' and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s 'I’m Just Ken.' Ronson and Wyatt were also shortlisted for in the Original Score category for Barbie, while the film’s final mention was for Best Sound.

We kind of knew that the Barbie soundtrack was going to do well with the Academy this year – we’re still getting I’m Just Ken out of our heads – but we’re a bit surprised that the movie won’t be in the running for Best Makeup and Hairstyling considering how many iconic looks they threw onto Margot Robbie throughout the film. That is the one area where Oppenheimer, which got three mentions in the ten categories that have been released, has beat out its surprise rival from the summer. The two are also set to go head-to-head in the Sound and Best Score categories.

Other films that were well-represented with the announcement were Killers of the Flower Moon and Society of the Snow, both of which got four shortlist mentions. This was only a small selection of categories that will be handed out at the award ceremony next year. The official nominations won’t be announced until January 23, 2024, so producers have plenty of time to make their case to the judges.


As the year wind downs, it's time to look back and all you've read and watched. Popverse has picked the best movies, best comics, and best TV shows of the year.

But who really cares about what we think? This year, we had you vote for your best movies, best comics, and best TV shows of the year too. Check the lists and mix and see if you agree with our (and your) top choices of the year!