Barbie Is the Star of Our Golden Globes Issue
CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Cynthia Littleton
It’s a new year, but Hollywood is still talking about “Barbie.” And the highest-grossing movie of last year — with a staggering $1.4 billion in ticket sales globally — is about to make even more news. Based on the iconic doll from Mattel, the Warner Bros. summer tentpole directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie has picked up nine Golden Globe nominations, more than any other film. And in addition to a lot of “Hi, Barbies!” on the red carpet on Sunday, expect to see the film’s cast parade out in a vision of pink. (Or so we can dream.)
Given the film’s potential for the rest of awards season, it seems only fitting that we’re honoring “Barbie” as our first cover of 2024. In this week’s story by Angelique Jackson, we’ve named the co-founders of Luckychap — producers Robbie; her husband, Tom Ackerley; and Josey Mcnamara — as our Showperson of the Year. Their company, whose first movie was 2017’s “I, Tonya,” is also behind another zeitgeist hit: Emerald Fennell’s delicious class satire “Saltburn.” At a time when audiences are craving originality, Luckychap understands how to walk the line between fun and frothy, pushing the envelope while creating culture-shifting art.
Ramin Setoodeh
In a wide-ranging interview, these producers talk about their plans for continuing to shake up and dominate Hollywood. Just take the final line of “Barbie” (no spoilers here, in case you’re the only person on the planet who still hasn’t seen it). Robbie discusses how she was able to manage negotiations with Mattel to close the movie on such a subversive note. It may have initially seemed like a shock to Mattel’s system, but Robbie successfully made the case that Barbie, as always, was simply being herself.
The Globes are the official kickoff to awards season, and our newsroom is thrilled that they are back in full form with first-time host Jo Koy — and new broadcast partner CBS. Follow along on Sunday as our reporters take you inside the ceremony and backstage. And with the actors strike last year having postponed the Emmys (now set for Jan. 15), it’s the first time some of the biggest TV shows of 2023, especially the now-concluded “Succession,” get the chance to celebrate. We’re also pleased to announce that we’ll be partnering with “Entertainment Tonight” this year for the exclusive Globes live digital pre-show. We’ll see you on the carpet.