The 2024 Golden Globe Awards have made it clear that normalcy has returned to Hollywood, with a lack of surprises in decisions that have been conservative, even in categories where one would expect major revelations. The triumph of Oppenheimer, regardless of its merits, confirms that streaming and commercial cinema do not pose a threat to Hollywood's status quo. Instead, "prestige pictures" and "quality series" have become fashionable labels once again in Los Angeles.
The most awarded films of the year were Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's biopic about the creator of the atomic bomb, Poor Creatures, a feminist take on Frankenstein by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos with a star-studded cast (Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe), which are perfect examples of the kind of high-budget, unclassifiable, yet accessible cinema that thrives in Hollywood. Nolan's film won the awards for Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor in a Drama, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Soundtrack, while Lanthimos' film won for Best Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.
Between the two, but especially the latter, they snatched the chances of winning awards from the year's biggest box office phenomenon, Barbie, which settled for the new award for Best Box Office Phenomenon and Best Song. The Golden Globes have continued the trend of the last edition, where Avatar 2 and Top Gun: Maverick were left without awards despite being the highest-grossing films of the year. However, this year's edition is particularly significant due to the positive press that Barbie has received since its release, the praise that Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling have received for their performances, and the phenomenon that the film has become in general, known as "Barbenheimer."
Television also saw a return to prestige, with three series breaking records in terms of awards. HBO's Succession won four awards, unsurprisingly, while Netflix's Bronca and FX's Bear each won three. These are classic examples of "prestige television" in the style of HBO, with intense performances and strong doses of relevant themes. However, Netflix, which used to dominate nominations (not necessarily awards, as seen with the Mank fiasco), is now facing a significant decline in both nominations and awards, as it shifts its focus towards quality rather than quantity.
The term "prestige television" is not only back in style but also in name, with HBO reclaiming its leadership in the awards season. Netflix may not have an equivalent in terms of audience, but the awards are now pointing towards quality options, rather than just those that are successful at the box office. In a year where the box office is expected to be lower than the previous year, Hollywood is taking refuge in the familiar, in quality that allows it to sit comfortably with films that are almost infallible.
The last few years have seen significant changes in the industry, with streaming disrupting the status quo and the tastes of audiences, and Disney releasing blockbuster clones that have bombarded cinemas with films that have been successful at the box office but ultimately forgettable. However, when viewed with perspective, these phenomena have been impactful but fleeting. It seems that the "prestige cinema" of old is back, and it's up to the industry to make it float again.