]Given this year’s lineup of widely well-received, highly praised and box-office record-breaking film releases, the 76^th annual Golden Globes Awards has become one of the most anticipated award shows of the new year. From groundbreaking movies like Marvel’s Black Panther to instant comedy classics like Crazy Rich Asians, the 2019 nominees promise no obvious winners.

On December 6^th, with the help of actors Leslie Mann and Terry Crews among others, this year’s Golden Globes nominees were announced. Since then, critics and moviegoers alike have been left in nail-biting anticipation. Will it be the year of Gaga and Cooper with A Star is Born, or will newcomers like the Emily Blunt starring Mary Poppins Returns  steal the show?

Here are some of the most praised films of the year and their respected nomination categories.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

The Golden Globes’ “Best Picture” award is one of the most respected accolades a film can acquire. Therefore, each year audience members and filmmakers sit in suspense eagerly waiting a winner to be crowned.

2018 was the year of record-breaking box-office numbers as Black Panther became the second highest grossing superhero film of all-time (standing only behind The Avengers). The Marvel film earned over 200 million in its debut weekend. Black Panther expressed historic African conventions and traditions and made history with its predominantly black cast, starring Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B. Jordan. With stunning visual effects in the fictional and El Dorado-like nation of Wakanda, epic fight scenes between Boseman and Jordan, nods to African culture and original songs from Kendrick Lamar, the Ryan Coogler-directed Black Panther is a tough competitor in the “Best Picture” category and undoubtedly a fan favorite.

Other nominees for “Best Picture – Drama”; Blackkklansman, If Beale Street Could Talk and A Star is Born.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

The “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy” category for the 2019 Golden Globes Awards is equally as loaded with highly praised film contenders. The Yorgos Lanthimos-directed historical period drama-comedy The Favourite dominated at this year’s film festivals. Audiences and critics cited the film as “wickedly witty and a raucous good time.” Actresses Emma Stone and Olivia Coleman were also noted for their memorable comedic and bold performances, making this film a bit of a triple threat at the Golden Globes. The Favourite is nominated for five awards total.

Given that The Favourite has already collected a few awards in the past film festival season, it will be tough to beat. However, the recently released musical Mary Poppins Returns may have manifested just enough theatrical allure and adoration for the Disney film to take center stage. The original Mary Poppins film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke became an instant classic with exceptional performances from the leading roles and original songs that have endured decades later. The new film’s songs have already been approved by one Disney’s longtime composers, Dick Sherman. One critic even declared Mary Poppins Returns “practically perfect in every way.”

Other nominees for “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy”; Crazy Rich Asians, Green Book and Vice.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED

As noted in Mary Poppins Returns, 2018 came with its own share of sequels, and some successful ones at that. The 2012 Rich Moore-directed animated film Wreck-it Ralph was applauded for its visual work, a solid storyline that was even emotional at times, and its nostalgia for multiple generations, whether gaming of their days was centered around Pac Man or was of the age of the racing rage.

The video game villain Ralph (John C. Reilly) who longs to be understood and perceived as more than “a bad guy,” beautifully forged a friendship with the rowdy outcast Vinallope (Sarah Silverman) in the first film. The pair helped each other overcome their personal doubts and created an unexpected comedic duo. Fans rejoiced at the news of a sequel with the spotlight back on the oversized wrecker and the newly proclaimed President of Sugar Rush. Only this time, Vinallope and Ralph find themselves in a world far more completed than arcade gaming, the internet. Directors Phil Johnston and Rich Moore received mixed reviews for the sequel’s satire, but still, the film rated highly amongst audience members, possibly placing it as a fan favorite for this year’s Golden Globes.

Another favorite of the animated category is Incredibles 2. The sequel was long-awaited and in high demand by fans of the original 2004 film. The ending of the first Incredibles seemed to imply a sequel, but rumors of a second installment were absent for years. Original writer and director Brad Bird returned 16 years later for Incredibles 2 and to many, the project was worth the wait.

In the second film, Bob (Craig T. Nelson) is left at home with his super-kids, as Helen aka “Elastigirl” (Holly Hunter) continues her hero work. Like the first film, the superfamily struggles to balance their powers with “normal life,” as well as to control baby Jack-Jack’s ever-developing powers. The anticipation of this sequel alone created whispers of immense accolades.

Other nominees for “Best Motion Picture – Animated”; Isle of Dogs, Mi’rai and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.