(CNN) The Golden Globe Awards historically have a taste for star power, hit movies, musicals, and international talent. Happily for the broader awards-industrial complex, this year's roster of contenders includes an abundance of all of them, in a year where the Oscars flirted with creating a "popular film" category.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., the group of roughly 90 journalists who wield outsized influence because of the Globes, will unveil its annual nominations in movies and TV on Thursday, marking what amounts to the kickoff of an official three-month "awards season," with all the sharp elbows and jockeying of a political campaign.

Although a host of factors have contributed to lower ratings for televised award shows -- including the fact that there are simply too many of them -- having more broadly seen films has improved tune-in in the past, theoretically because people have more rooting interest if they've actually seen the movies.

More recently, though, the market has exhibited a fairly wide split between what are deemed award-caliber movies and those that Hollywood relies upon to fuel its profits -- namely, blockbusters like those from Marvel and "Star Wars" proprietor Lucasfilm.

Chadwick Boseman (left) and Michael B. Jordan in 'Black Panther.'

The looming question remains whether this year's biggest moneymaker, "Black Panther," can surmount skepticism toward superhero movies and break into the awards race, after the well-regarded "Wonder Woman" was overlooked last year. But voters have many popular films to consider, including "A Star is Born" -- a heaven-sent hit, with Lady Gaga as an extra draw -- the upcoming "Mary Poppins Returns," and animated hits like "Incredibles 2" and "Ralph Breaks the Internet."

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