BEVERLY HILLS, California, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The "Barbie" movie, a pink-themed phenomenon, emerged as the frontrunner at the Golden Globe awards, securing nine nominations, surpassing the historical drama "Oppenheimer" with its eight nods.

The much-discussed summer box office clash, nicknamed "Barbenheimer," positioned the two films in different categories for the upcoming Globes, marking the commencement of Hollywood's awards season in January.

Greta Gerwig's "Barbie," a unique take on the iconic doll, competes for the best comedy or musical film title, facing off against contenders like "American Fiction" and "The Holdovers."

On the other hand, "Oppenheimer" vies for the best movie drama, featuring Cillian Murphy as the mastermind behind the atomic bomb. Competing against it is Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," recounting the tragic murders of Native Americans in 1920s Oklahoma.

In the realm of television, family drama "Succession" leads with an impressive nine nominations, followed closely by "The Bear" with five.

Amid past criticism for a lack of diversity, this year's expanded group of Globe voters recognized the talents of two female directors, Gerwig and "Past Lives" director Celine Song. Acting nominations include Lily Gladstone in "Flower Moon," Colman Domingo in "Rustin," and Jeffrey Wright in "American Fiction."

Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks received nods for their roles in "The Color Purple," though the film itself missed out on the race for best movie musical or comedy.

Tim Gray, executive vice president of the Globes, emphasized the increased diversity in this year's nominations, celebrating the inclusion of female directors and racial diversity.

First-time nominees, such as Pedro Pascal from "The Last of Us" and Greta Lee from "Past Lives," expressed their excitement about the unexpected recognition.

Bradley Cooper's "Maestro" earned nominations for best actor and director, joining the list for best drama. Emma Stone, nominated for "Poor Things," described her character Bella Baxter as her favorite role to date.

Acknowledging the importance of diversity, Leonardo DiCaprio praised co-star Lily Gladstone, labeling her as "the soul of our film." The Golden Globes, a significant precursor to the Academy Awards, will announce the winners on Jan. 7 in a live ceremony broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.