Australia's Oscar hopes were dealt a blow at this year's BAFTA Awards as 'Poor Things' scribe Tony McNamara and 'Barbie' star and producer Margot Robbie lost out.
'Oppenheimer' leads the film race for February's AACTA International Awards, while 'Succession' has earned the most nominations in television.
Margot Robbie is well positioned to add an AACTA Audience Choice Award to her Trailblazer prize at this Saturday's ceremony, getting a nod for Favourite Actress, while two of the films she produced — 'Barbie' and 'Saltburn' — are up for Favourite Film.
The theatrical success of 'Barbie', 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' and 'Oppenheimer' helped propel the Australian box office to its best year since the pandemic in 2023, though it still trailed pre-2019 levels.
While 'Barbie' may have been snubbed by BAFTA voters for Best Film, Margot Robbie will still carry Australian hopes at the UK awards, alongside Jacob Elordi and Tony McNamara.
Playstation game adaptation 'Gran Turismo' drew respectable crowds at the box office last weekend, but failed to hold a candle to heights of 'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer' or even 'Meg 2: The Trench'.
Blondes, bombs, and underwater bites continue to reign at the Australian box office, with the top three films of 'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer', and 'Meg 2: The Trench' holding their positions from last week.
Jason Statham shark thriller 'Meg 2: The Trench' may have opened significantly below the 2018 original in North America, but here in Australia, receipts were almost on par. That said, the sequel was no match at all for the continued phenomenon that is 'Barbenheimer'.