One Barbie Scene Was Such a Shameless Ad Placement Fans are Using It to Justify Why Greta Gerwig Didn’t Get Best Director Oscar Nod
Mia Walsh
Updated on April 03, 2026
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie gained traction for many things, whether it’s Margot Robbie’s iconic performance as the Mattel doll or the wonderful message the film delivers through its narrative. The film not only became the highest-grossing movie of 2023 but has also earned critical acclaim, including eight nominations at the 96th Academy Awards. However, the movie star Robbie, and film director failed to land nominations for Best Actress and Best Director, respectively.
Amid several discussions surrounding the same, one of the scenes from the film is now being considered as a potential reason the acclaimed filmmaker lost what could have been her second Academy Awards nomination.
Read More: Margot Robbie’s Barbie is Not Among Cillian Murphy’s Top 2 Movies of 2023
Barbie’s Shameless Product Placement of General Motors Vehicles
While Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster movie has received praise from critics and audiences alike, it hasn’t escaped significant scrutiny due to apparent product placement. And one thing that has constantly made an appearance in the film is General Motors vehicles.
Barbie’s pink Chevrolet C1 Corvette has been considered essential, considering its association with the Mattel doll. However, it wasn’t the only appearance of General Motors vehicles in the movie. The sequence in which Gloria (America Ferrera) and her daughter help Barbie escape Mattel has been highly criticized for making the ad placement so obvious.
It featured Ferrera and Margot Robbie in a Chevy Blazer SS EV as they were chased by Mattel executives in Chevy Suburban SUVs. The brief sequence has earned substantial criticism, with some now attributing it as a factor to Greta Gerwig’s omission from the Best Director nomination list at the 2024 Academy Awards.
Fans Argue This One Scene Led to Greta Gerwig’s Oscar Snub
As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the nominations for the 2024 Oscars, many expressed astonishment upon not seeing Greta Gerwig among the Best Director nominations despite the film’s exceptional acclaim.
However, the chase sequence has now led many to claim that the apparent product placement in the middle of the film could be the reason she failed to make it to the Best Director nomination list. One Twitter user took to Twitter to argue the same as they stated, “This scene singlehandedly justifies Gerwig not getting a best director nomination.”
Greta Gerwig explaining the necessity of a 6 minute Chevy commercial with original music in the middle of Barbie:
— AlaskanTzar (@AlaskanTzar) July 26, 2023
every single scene shot in the real world looked so ugly and dull, was just a pain to get through. im sure it was a creative decision to show the contrast between the two worlds but it just didnt work for me at all.
— okstlzrr (@okstlzrr) January 28, 2024
One of the most egregious product placements/ads in a movie I can think of honestly
— Taylor ⌬ (@TayJens67) January 28, 2024
This scene made me turn it off
— 𓆡 (@crunsd) January 28, 2024
It’s crazy that this was legit a full blown car commercial. Like not even product placement just a flat out commercial
— 🇵🇸 (@SpoelstraLegacy) January 28, 2024
People are saying it wasn't her but just the fact that it's the kind of movie this could happen in in the first place should disqualify it, much less from one of the most stacked best director lineups of all time.
— Croaker (@IggfeTheFella) January 28, 2024
Many others also joined in the conversation as they remarked the particular sequence as “dull” and “ugly” and claimed that it was a pain to go through. People also stated how the sequence looked like a “full-blown car commercial.” It would have been Gerwig’s second Oscar nomination after Lady Bird. The filmmaker, however, is nominated under the Best Adapted Screenplay category for Barbie.
Barbie is available to stream on Max.
