The Golden Globes announced two new categories on Tuesday (Sept. 26) recognizing cinematic and box office achievement in motion pictures, and best stand-up comedian on television. Winners will be announced live at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.

The Golden Globe for cinematic and box office achievement will include nominees from among the year’s highest earning and/or most viewed films that have gained extensive global audience support and produced exceptional creative content. The award for best performance in stand-up comedy on television recognizes outstanding work by a comedic performer.

“We are proud to recognize the hard work and innovation that goes into making a film that is both a blockbuster and artistically exceptional,” said Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes president.

“The new cinematic and box office achievement award is more than just rewarding the year’s top earning and most viewed motion pictures,” said Tim Gray, Golden Globes executive vice president. “These films have typically not been recognized among industry awards, but they should be.”

The category is reminiscent of one the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced five years ago — outstanding achievement in popular film. Announced on Aug. 8, 2018, it was the first new category at the Oscars since best animated feature film in 2001. The category was not well-received by the media or by some Academy members, with many saying it appeared to be transparent attempt to pander to mainstream audiences in an effort to boost the ratings of the annual telecast.

Some worried that having a separate category for blockbusters could diminish those films’ chances of being nominated for best picture (even though the Academy had said they would still be eligible in that category). The name of the category was also criticized, with some arguing that using the word “popular” implied that films nominated in other categories were not popular or were not of interest to mainstream audiences.

The following month, the Academy announced that the award would not be presented at the 91st Academy Awards as planned. It would be postponed to “examine and seek additional input regarding the new category.” The Academy appears to have shelved the category.

The Golden Globes, of course, are not the Oscars, and what was widely seen as misstep for that show might not be seen in the same light here. Also, they are not using the word “popular” in the name of the new category.

The Golden Globes’ submission website for motion picture and television entries will open on Oct. 2. Nominations are set to be announced on Monday, Dec. 11.

Multi-Emmy Award-winning producing duo Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment will serve as executive-producing showrunners for the 81st Golden Globe Awards, with Weiss also set to direct. Dick Clark Productions will plan, host and produce the annual show.

Here are more details on the two new Golden Globe categories.

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

The cinematic and box office achievement award will recognize the year’s most acclaimed, highest-earning and/or most viewed films that have garnered extensive global audience support and attained cinematic excellence. A total of eight nominees will be named in this category.

Eligibility:

Motion pictures are eligible for the cinematic and box office achievement award if they achieve a box office receipt total/gross of $150 million, of which $100 million must come from the U.S. domestic box office, and/or obtain commensurate digital streaming viewership recognized by trusted industry sources.

Films that are released after Nov. 22 up until the end of the year may qualify based on projected box office performance and/or digital streaming views from trusted industry sources.

Cinematic and box office achievement contenders can also be considered for best motion picture in their respective categories, i.e., drama, comedy or musical, animated or non-English language if they meet the eligibility requirements for each of those awards.

Box office and streaming views will determine eligibility; once a film meets the box office-related qualifying criteria or streaming criteria, Golden Globes voters will determine the nominees and winner based on excellence.  ​

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

This new category, also known as best stand-up comedian on television, gives standups a dedicated award for an individual performance or as part of a comedy group/ensemble. A total of six nominees will be named in this category.

“The Golden Globes has a rich history of supporting and celebrating the work of comedians, and we’re thrilled to honor their brilliance alongside outstanding motion picture and television performances of the year,” said Hoehne.

Eligibility:

Traditional stand-up comedy performances of at least 30 minutes, other than roles in television series, limited series, anthology series or motion pictures made for television, are eligible for this award.

Television includes works released by broadcast, basic and premium cable, streaming, and pay-per-view cable. To be eligible for Golden Globe awards, television programs must be released on a recognized media platform (individual social media accounts do not qualify).

Only programs first aired (or made available for viewing on demand) in the U.S. during the qualifying calendar year are eligible.

Penske Media Corporation, Billboard‘s parent company, is a part-owner of dick clark productions and has a partnership with Eldridge.